Submitted By: Charlita Whitehead
Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
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Department: Growth Management
FORMAL TITLE:
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Ordinance 2026-4 designating a historic landmark at the southeast corner of 117 E Silver Springs Boulevard (Parcel ID# 2823-064-007) and installing a historic marker titled "Elvis in Ocala, Tom Petty Inspired" (Quasi-Judicial)
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OCALA'S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Quality of Place
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
The applicant, Ocala Sunset Rotary, with representative Paul Stentiford, submitted COA25-0033 requesting installation of a historic marker titled "Elvis in Ocala, Tom Petty Inspired." The marker recognizes Elvis Presley's 1961 visit to Ocala during the filming of "Follow That Dream" at the former Commercial Bank and Trust Company, and the influence of that visit on then-10-year-old Tom Petty, a North Central Florida native who later became a nationally influential musician.
Section 94-81(c) of the Ocala Code of Ordinances establishes the procedures and criteria for historic landmark designations. Eligible resources may include buildings, structures, objects, and sites associated with significant events or people in national, state, or local history.
The proposed marker meets the criteria for historic landmark designation under Sec. 94-81(c)(1)(a) and (c) and supports preservation goals related to public education and cultural interpretation. The installation will be maintained by Ocala Sunset Rotary and placed near the original filming location to retain its historical context.
On November 6, 2025, the Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board reviewed COA25-0033. Staff provided an overview of the marker's purpose, its historical significance, and its alignment with the landmark criteria in Sec. 94-81. Discussion included the 1961 filming of "Follow That Dream" in Ocala and the well-documented influence Elvis Presley's visit had on young Tom Petty's early interest in music. Board members discussed the application,...
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