Ormond mansion of Hawaiian Tropic's Ron Rice finally sells for $3.6M

Six months after it was put under contract following a previous buyer backing out, the sale finally closed this month for the oceanfront mansion of the late Hawaiian Tropic founder Ron Rice.

The all-cash $3.6 million purchase of the four-bedroom, five-bath luxury home at 175 Ocean Shore Blvd. in Ormond Beach officially closed on March 15, confirmed Bill Navara, the broker/owner of Realty Pros Assured. Navarra represented both Rice's estate as well as the buyers.

"It was definitely a long one," said Navarra of the greater than typical time it took for the sale to close.

In February, the median time it took for homes to sell once they are put under contract in Volusia County was 37 days, according to data compiled by the Florida Realtors.

The sale of the Ron Rice mansion took 191 days to close after being put under contract on Sept. 6.

The property was listed on Nov. 18, 2022 with an original asking price of just under $6 million.

Why did it take so long for mansion to sell?

The delay in closing the sale had to do with the fact that the massive three-story home with more than 12,400 square feet of living space hadn't been updated since it was built in 1987.

"Structurally, it was in great shape, but the mechanicals were of great concern," said Navarra. "The roof was at the end of its life and the big water heater needed to be replaced. And going through the electrical systems, it was clear that they hadn't been touched since the house was built.

"It was essentially a true 1980s time capsule."

Navarra said the buyers plan to do an extensive restoration and remodel of the house, "which is the best news. It's such an iconic home in our community."

Dozens of $1M+ sales so far this year in Volusia

The sale of the Ron Rice mansion is one of more than 40 single-family homes to be sold for $1 million or more in Volusia County so far this year.

Florida Realtors data provided by the West Volusia Association of Realtors shows nine homes countywide sold for $1 million or more in January with 28 more sold in February.

As of March 22, at least 13 homes have sold in Volusia County for $1 million or more, according to data from the respective Multiple Listing Services used by the Daytona Beach Area Association of Realtors and New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors.

The Ron Rice mansion so far sold for the second highest amount this month, topped by only the $5.185 million fetched by the home at 700 N. Peninsula Ave. in New Smyrna Beach which closed on March 1.

Who was Ron Rice?

Rice died at his home on May 19, 2022 at the age of 81.

He is a former Volusia County Schools high school chemistry teacher and lifeguard who in the 1960s developed his own sun tan lotion product to sell to beachgoers to earn extra money.

Rice initially mixed up batches in a $4 garbage can using a broken broom handle as a stirrer.

He started out calling his product Tropic Tan, but changed it to Hawaiian Tropic after learning the previous name was already being used by another business.

Rice's company became an international sensation, thanks in part to the Miss Hawaiian Tropic swimsuit contests he hosted as a way to promote his sun tan products.

By 2007, Hawaiian Tropic was the nation's fourth-best selling line of sun tan products. Rice sold his company that year for $83 million to Playtex, maker of Banana Boat, the No. 2 brand.

Playtex got acquired by Energizer which eventually spun off its skin care business as Edgewell Personal Care. The plant that Rice built at 1190 U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach continues to produce Hawaiian Tropic, Banana Boat and other products.

Rice is survived by his daughter Sterling who lives in Texas.

The Ron Rice mansion was frequented by celebrities

Rice frequently threw parties at his house that drew celebrities and politicians as well as friends and business associates. His guests included singer Julio Iglesias, "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous" host Robin Leach, NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal, OJ Simpson, action movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme, rockabilly pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and former Vice President Al Gore.

What's inside the home?

The mansion sits on a full acre that includes a 200-foot-long stretch of beach.

Rice bought the northern portion of the property in 1983 and expanded the original 1950s-built house by building a three-story addition on an adjoining lot to the south that he also purchased.

The addition included a room that he turned into a discotheque modeled after the legendary Studio 54 nightclub in New York City, a huge great room, a spacious master bedroom with an 180-degree view of the ocean, and an underground three-car garage accessible from both the dining room as well as the third floor via a spiral staircase.

The home's crowning feature is an indoor swimming pool adorned with statues of fairy-winged sea nymphs that connects to one of the property's two outdoor pools.

Navarra said the buyers decided to keep the indoor pool statues.

What happened to Ron Rice's stuff?

Rice was an avid collector of unusual items and paintings as well as knickknacks and Hawaiian Tropic memorabilia that filled his mansion. His collection was sold off in an online auction put on by Dunn's Attic in Ormond Beach.

"I personally bought several items, including a framed photo of the house as well as the 'Spanish House' next door that Ron also owned," said Navarra. "I sold both homes. I'm going to display the photo in the office in my house so I can look at it everyday."

The "Spanish House" at 201 Ocean Shore Blvd., sold in August 2018 for $2.15 million.

Navarra also bought a photo of the Lamborghini sports car that Rice owned that was featured in the Burt Reynolds movie "Cannonball Run."

The house was briefly under contract to another buyer

The Ron Rice mansion was initially put under contract on Aug. 21, 2023 to a family from the Midwest who were represented by Realtor Taylor Giles of Exit Real Estate Property Solutions in New Smyrna Beach. The family backed out of the deal almost immediately, she said.

Who wound up buying it?

Navarra, in addition to representing the Rice estate, wound up becoming the Realtor for the buyers that completed their purchase this month. Their offer had already been submitted prior to the Rice estate's decision to accept the bid from Giles' clients. When that initial deal fell apart, the estate quickly accepted the back-up offer.

Navarra declined to disclose the name of the family. The deed-of-sale document as of Friday had not yet been posted on the Volusia County Property Appraiser's website.

"One of the family members is going to move into the house from Miami," said Navarra. "The parents live in South Carolina."

Navarra described the family member who will be moving into the house as a "young entrepreneur."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ormond mansion of Hawaiian Tropic's Ron Rice finally sells for $3.6M