The
Surf Studio Motel was built in 1948 by Norman
Greenwald.
Norman Greenwald
was originally from Greenwich Village. He spent many summers of
his youth as a lifeguard in Miami. In the early 1940's, Norman
served his country in World War II. His dream was to build a little
motel on Florida's East Coast, and he promised himself that if
he got out of the war alive he would fulfill that dream. While
on the front lines, he sold his rations and saved every extra
penny. And in 1948 his dream came true; the Surf Studio Motel
was built in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
In the early
days there was not much to the Cocoa Beach area; the Banana River
Naval Station, now Patrick Air Force Base, the Space Center, and
some other NASA related businesses. The motel catered to visitors
from all over the country. One guest to visit Cocoa Beach during
the summer was from Birmingham, Michigan. Helene Parks. It was
a summer romance that turned into a life long partnership. Norman
married Helene, fondly known as "Boots" to her friends,
in 1957, and together they built not only a family, but a life
that has brought pleasure to many, friendships beyond compare
and a business that has withheld the test of time.
The Greenwald
family still owns and operates the motel. There is always someone
on the property, happily looking forward to greeting another sunny
day and all the possibilities that it may hold.
