While the landscape of American Beach has changed, the ethos of the community remains largely the same. Initially spanning 216 acres, American Beach today is roughly half that size. As multimillion-dollar golf and vacation resorts erode the community, residents and visitors are committed to preserving the beach’s spirit and legacy.
Featured Landmarks
Many of American Beach’s early buildings still stand today, including:
Ervin’s Rest
Ervin’s Rest was the second home erected in 1938 on American Beach by Afro-American Life Insurance Company executive Louis Dargan Ervin. The oceanfront home maintains its original architectural design.
Franklintown Community Church of Amelia Island
In 1888, ex-slave and Union soldier Gabriel Means and his wife, Edith Means, donated land for a church. The first Franklintown Chapel was constructed in 1892. In 1949, the building was demolished to make way for A1A, and a new building was constructed. In 1972, the 1949 building and the bell from the original 1892 church were relocated to American Beach.
First Home Built on American Beach
The first home on American Beach was built in 1935 for Abraham Lincoln (A. L.) Lewis, president of the Afro-American Life Insurance Company.
Evans’s Rendezvous
In 1948, Willie Evans opened Evans’s Rendezvous on American Beach. Evans’s Rendezvous was a popular beach gathering place that featured food, drinks and entertainment. County, community and nonprofit leaders are working to revitalize the building.
American Beach Villas
The A. L. Lewis Motel, a 22-unit ocean-view motel, opened in 1950. Known for its superior hospitality and service, the business is still in operation today under the name American Beach Villas.
American Beach Community
In its heyday, American Beach attracted celebrities including writer Zora Neale Hurston, heavyweight champion Joe Louis, entertainer Cab Calloway and civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph. Today, the seaside community is a mix of illustrious names and everyday residents and visitors. As MaVynee Oshun Betsch, “The Beach Lady,” pointed out, “Where else in America do maids own beach homes?” Today, property owners include The Honorable Henry Lee Adams Jr., The Honorable Brian Davis and Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole (MaVynee’s sister and A. L. Lewis’s great-granddaughter), to name a few.