Bring Some FUN Into Tourism Biz
In 2000, the Florida Public Service Commission announced that the 904 area code was becoming overloaded and would have to be broken up. A proposal put forth would have the southern counties — Putnam, Clay, St. Johns, Flagler and Volusia — included in the new area code.
A small group of concerned Volusia County citizens came together to study the proposed configuration. The citizens, as a group, had no affiliation with any government body or activist group. These were people who believed that the Volusia-Flagler area is a wonderful place to work and live, and wanted to see the area prosper. The group decided that there should be a commonality among the counties to be included in the new area code. At the time, Volusia and Flagler counties were promoted as a wonderful family vacation area.
The group decided to study the opportunities for uniqueness in Volusia and Flagler counties. We began by listing the fun activities that were available to tourists with special emphasis on family fun activities. The list was long and included: our beautiful beach; auto racing; motorcycle racing; fresh, saltwater and deep-sea fishing; golf courses and tennis courts galore; the Museum of Arts and Sciences; freshwater swimming at DeLeon Springs State Park and manatee watching at Blue Spring State Park; sky diving in DeLand, the cultural activities at the Bandshell, Ocean Center, Peabody Auditorium, Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University), Stetson University, Daytona Beach Community College (now Daytona State College), and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and many theatrical performances by local talent. These counties were a short drive from Kennedy Space Center, St. Augustine, Walt Disney World and Orlando International Airport. No other place in the state could offer as many fun activities for all members of a family.
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Because of the uniqueness of Volusia and Flagler counties, the group advanced the idea that the area deserved its own area code. The citizens group traveled to Lake City, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Daytona Beach and Deltona where the Public Service Commission held hearings regarding the breakup of the 904 area code.
The group spoke at each of these meetings to convince the commission members, county leaders, city officials from other counties, other presenters and the many spectators that Volusia and Flagler counties comprised a unique area of Florida. We maintained that an area code just for this “Fun Capital of Florida” was in order. Most of the people in attendance at these meetings agreed with our presentations. Assigning an area code just for these two counties allowed the other counties to retain the 904 designation.
At the conclusion of the Deltona meeting, the last city on the agenda, the Public Service Commission announced its decision that area codes should be assigned on the commonality of the counties if possible and granted the group from Volusia and Flagler counties their request. The citizens group was overjoyed.
The chairman of the Public Service Commission asked what area code we would like to see for the Volusia and Flagler area. The group announced that, since the counties had all these family fun activities. that area code 386 — which spells F-U-N on a touch-tone telephone — would be appropriate. The commission members agreed and granted the area code of 386 to Volusia and Flagler counties.
The group had achieved its mission. Now, it was up to the local tourism authorities to go to work to promote the “FUN Capital” of Florida. But apparently, local tourism authorities have chosen not to use the area code 386 — FUN — as an advertising tool. The members of the citizens group are very disappointed. Maybe the group stepped on the domain of the tourist organizations. But they are happy that they had the opportunity to promote the Volusia and Flagler area as a wonderful place to enjoy a family vacation.
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