Over 50 Guests Displaced After Truck Crashes into Historic Florida Hotel

The 1876 Heritage Inn in Orange City suffered major damage, forcing the evacuation of long-term residents.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A truck crashed into the historic 1876 Heritage Inn hotel in Orange City, Florida on Tuesday, February 17, displacing over 50 guests, including 11 children. The crash caused significant damage to the building's electrical and sprinkler systems, as well as water damage, leading officials to condemn the structure. The Red Cross opened an emergency shelter about 28 miles away to provide lodging for the displaced occupants, many of whom relied on the hotel as their long-term residence.

Why it matters

The 1876 Heritage Inn is considered the oldest hotel in Volusia County, Florida, making this incident a significant disruption to the local community. The displacement of over 50 long-term hotel guests, including families, highlights the impact of such unexpected events on vulnerable populations and the importance of emergency response and support services.

The details

The truck crashed into the hotel after the driver attempted to drain water from his truck bed, lunging back and forth several times before plowing into the building. The driver was cited for reckless driving but was uninjured. Officials determined that 36 units were affected by the crash, and the building's electrical, sprinkler, and water systems were damaged, leading to the decision to condemn the structure.

  • The incident occurred on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 around 1:30 p.m.

The players

1876 Heritage Inn

A historic hotel in Orange City, Florida, considered the oldest in Volusia County.

Stacey Conte

The owner of the 1876 Heritage Inn, who is working to get the hotel reopened and back in business.

Justin Vallejo

The Orange City public information officer, who stated that the building had to be condemned due to the damage.

Georgia Wiseman

A resident of the 1876 Heritage Inn who is struggling to find alternative housing options due to the distance of the emergency shelter.

Rowlinson

A resident of the 1876 Heritage Inn who expressed concerns about the distance of the emergency shelter and the impact on their daily life.

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What they’re saying

“It was later determined from city officials that they would have to condemn the building. It's an unfortunate thing that had to happen, but, you know, the main priority is people's safety, and if it's not safe to be in there, you know, that's what we're prioritizing.”

— Justin Vallejo, Orange City public information officer (Spectrum News 13)

“My tires [are] about to [blow] out on my van. I can't take it anywhere. I have somewhere we can go to shower, we can eat, but to lay our heads — it's very hard.”

— Georgia Wiseman (WKMG)

“I have no car. I have four kids. I have a job I have to go to at 11 o'clock in the morning, and how am I supposed to do all that when I based my life in these 2.5 miles that works for us?”

— Rowlinson (WKMG)

What’s next

The hotel owner, Stacey Conte, stated that drawings are being submitted to the city for final approval to begin the process of repairing the hotel and getting it reopened.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of emergency preparedness and the need for affordable and accessible housing options, especially for vulnerable populations who rely on extended-stay accommodations like the 1876 Heritage Inn. The displacement of over 50 guests, including families, underscores the ripple effects that unexpected events can have on a community.