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Thunderbird Motor Hotel demolition underway

The historic landmark hosted some of the biggest events in music in its heyday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Demolition is underway at one of Jacksonville's iconic landmarks - the old Thunderbird Motor Hotel.

Once a vibrant event space, the 60-year-old building came down this week.

The Thunderbird Motor Hotel opened in 1959 and once was home to some of the biggest acts in music.

According to Abandoned Florida, The Rolling Stones and Fats Domino once played the venue.

Credit: Donna Stein McNett
The Thunderbird Motor Hotel at northeast Arlington Expressway and University Boulevard North was a popular entertainment venue that booked well-known musical groups and even had a dinner theater at one time. It was destroyed by fire Wednesday.

It turned hands several times over the years, recently as the Bethelite Conference Center, but it sat vacant for more than a decade, with graffiti creeping up many of the walls.

A demolition permit was approved in February. Four months later, and most of the historic building has been bulldozed.

The demolition permits are the last activity on the property - any future development would need to go through the approval process and possibly rezoning.

The property is currently owned by 770 Happy Good Year LLC. First Coast News tried to reach out to the company based in Miami when the permit was processed in February and Sunday after the building came down, but haven't been able to get in touch.

The Renew Arlington Redevelopment Plan calls for markets, antiques shops, restaurants, art galleries, or professional offices with residential space built in above them.

District 1 Jacksonville City Councilman Ken Amaro said he'd like to see something that reinvigorates the area and can serve as an economic driver.

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