Want to own some of late Hawaiian Tropic founder Ron Rice's stuff? Here's how.

Over the course of his career, the late Ron Rice amassed a vast collection of unusual one-of-kind items such as the hand-carved mermaid chair that adorned the great room of his oceanfront Ormond Beach mansion.

Now you can purchase individual pieces from the Hawaiian Tropic founder's estate. The first of several planned online auctions is currently underway. Bids are now being accepted through 7 p.m. Sept. 12 for "Ron Rice Estate Founder-Hawaiian Tropic Part 1" at dunnsattic.com.

"We're talking about literally thousands of items, so much that you can't put them all in one auction." said Wes Dunn, the owner of Dunn's Attic in downtown Ormond Beach.

Dunn expects to hold online auctions for Rice's estate through early November. Items will be added daily. "We're still pulling stuff out of his house," he said. "This is the biggest collection we've ever handled. It's a very large and very noted estate."

 

How the online auction works

The online auction allows people to place opening bids as well as set an upper limit to how much they would be willing to spend. "Even if your initial bid is only $5, it will automatically increase your bid incrementally to the maximum amount you choose," said Dunn.

 

Items will also be available for in-person viewing

Auction items will be available for viewing in person at the warehouse for Dunn's Attic at 140 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach, Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning Aug. 15.

Who is Ron Rice?

 

Rice was a high school chemistry teacher in the 1960s when he developed his own suntan lotion to sell to beachgoers in the Daytona area.

His Hawaiian Tropic business grew into an international multimillion-dollar empire also known for its Miss Hawaiian Tropic beauty pageants. He hosted lavish parties at his home whose guests included celebrities and swimsuit models.

Rice sold his company in 2007 to Playtex Corp., maker of the rival Banana Boat sun care brand. Playtex was in turn acquired that same year by Energizer.

The Hawaiian Tropic plant on North U.S. Highway 1 in Ormond Beach is now part of an Energizer spin-off called Edgewell Personal Care.

Late entrepreneur's mansion is still on the market

Rice died in May 2022 at age 81. His mansion at 175 Ocean Shore Blvd. was put up for sale on Thanksgiving Day. Listing agent Bill Navarra of Realty Pros Assured recently lowered the asking price to $4.75 million, down from the original $6 million.

"We have two prospects that have a strong interest in the property, but neither wanted the possessions. They asked for the house to be cleared out," he said.

'Chance to own a piece of history'

Dunn said he is excited to auction off Rice's collection. "There's some large sculptures and hand-carved furniture and a ton of Cuban art," he said. "There's also a grand piano and a hand-carved billiard table. This is a chance to own a piece of history, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."