Six years of closed signs and chain-link fences have left residents living near a shuttered golf course fed up with the wait.
River Bend Golf Course closed in 2020 after its last operator filed for bankruptcy. Since then, neighbors have pushed the city to reopen it — and now, three separate groups have submitted letters of intent to purchase the 172-acre property. But significant hurdles remain.
“Now. It looks like a jungle. I was in Vietnam for two years and I think that’s worse,” said Arthur Armstrong, a nearby resident.
Sheila Andrews-Lind, another resident, echoed that frustration.
“It’s not only frustrating, but just look at it. It’s an eyesore. It’s an embarrassment to our community to drive by and see this fence that’s been up for six years and the land not maintained when there’s still Riverbend Golf on the signs, on both corners, at both intersections,” Andrews-Lind said.
Two of the three interested groups want to either reopen or revamp the course. A third has proposed expanding the airport business park and adding hangars to the site.
The challenge: The land is not currently for sale. River Bend Golf Course sits on property that is part of Ormond Beach Municipal Airport, meaning any change in use requires approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Andrews-Lind said residents have raised the issue repeatedly with city officials, with little progress to show for it.
“We’ve been really asking them at every meeting to please open Riverbend, to please move forward with this project. And they’ve come up with new reasons almost every time for why they have not been able to do so,” she said.
Resident Nancy Wiggins pointed to additional complications facing the property.
“All three land areas of the golf course have significant wetlands and various aeronautical constraints. The proper zoning and city land use are still in place for the golf course,” Wiggins said.
News 6 reached out to the city for an interview. A city spokesperson responded with a written statement.
“At the City Commission’s direction, City staff is diligently working with the FAA to determine what options are available for the former River Bend Golf Course property. Because the property is part of the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport, any change in how it is used requires FAA approval. We’re committed to getting clear answers as quickly as possible and keeping residents informed as we learn more.”
The city says it must update its airport master plan and work through FAA requirements before any decision can be made on the property’s future.