01/26/2026
BIG NEWS! 🍊 We’re Nominated! Best of South Lake 2026: Orange Motel 🏆
Our story isn’t just about a business; it’s about the American Dream, true grit, and a 34-year family legacy that refused to be sold. 🇯🇲🇺🇸
My parents arrived from Jamaica with a vision. After years of hard work, they proudly became United States citizens. They met in NYC, but they knew the city wasn't where they wanted to raise their kids. They wanted warmth, sunshine, and the rolling hills that reminded them of home. That search led us right here to Florida. In 1991, they purchased this building. At the time, even some of our own family didn't see the vision. They couldn't understand the potential, but Mom and Dad never wavered. For years, the motel was quite literally our home. We lived in the guest rooms while they sacrificed everything. Whenever family came to visit, this is where they stayed. This was our first playground and the heart of our family.
This motel wasn't just a place for travelers; it was a sanctuary for our culture. The Caribbean American Lake County Association was actually started right here. For over three decades, we’ve watched the area transform. We are now one of the only original buildings left. While other motels were sold off, we stayed rooted. Many have tried to buy us out, but we have turned them all down. My dad always told us: "Dance a yard before you dance abroad." 💃 We "danced at yard" in these hallways, and this stays in the family.
Growing up, my heart was set on the entertainment industry. But today, as an Army wife and a mother of three boys, I see everything differently. I’ve realized I don't have to choose just one path. Seeing our current President, a former hotel owner, reminds me that I can do multiple things. I can be a wife, a mother, a creative, and the leader of a legacy. 💼✨
In 2025, we lost my father to dementia. Watching his strength fade while I navigated my own journey as a mother transformed me. I have a profound respect for what he and my mother built. Dad, we hope we’re making you proud.
🗳️ CAST YOUR VOTE!
Please help us celebrate being the last one standing!
www.thebestofsouthlake.com vote for Orange Motel! 🧡
