The Daytona Beach Story

Daytona Beachis full of stories and memories which have helped build the deep character this Historic city has. Let us take you through a short history of this city and what we believe makes it such a great place to live, work and play today. By the end of this we believe you will want to be a part of this great change and move into your future.

Gilded Ages Ago

Daytona Beachwas a gilded age city back in the day. Robber Barons such as Henry Flagler, John D. Rockefeller, Ransom Olds and others strolled the streets of Daytona Beach. Even Warren Harding, the 29^th President, owned a summer home on Magnolia Avenue. Philanthropist Charles Burgoyne built public spaces like Riverfront Park and the Burgoyne Casino (an open air dance hall overlooking the river).

A Town Dog

Brownie, the town dog in the 1940's was a dog whose home was literally downtown. The merchants would feed him and he became a favorite for the local residents. A topiary and burial plague exists today at the south end of Riverfront Park.

An Island in the City

City Island and Jackie Robinson Ballpark share a long history with an offer coming in the early 1900's from Henry Flagler to buy the island and build a grand resort on the island. The city turned him down and the island went on to become a baseball stadium and civil rights landmark with the first integrated baseball game ever being played on this field by Jackie Robinson.

The Beach and The Race

The Beach and Racing. Of course it is impossible to talk about Daytona Beach and not mention the 'world's most famous beach' or the racing that began on our shores, which grew into a multi-billion dollar industry and the forming of NASCAR in 1947. Daytona Beach is a brand name now due to the 'Super Bowl' event here every year known as the Daytona 500.

A Decline

The decline of the core areas in 1960's and 70's was not unique to Daytona Beach where attention moved away from the old neighborhoods and downtowns to the malls and the suburbs on the fringe. A slow deterioration led to less attention being paid to the original neighborhoods and commercial areas.

The Comeback Kid

A movement back to the core has begun. High gas prices, going green, road rage and a host of other trends are pointing back to the urban centers of America. The urban centers have a broad appeal to young and not so young professionals, young families, empty nesters, retirees and those seeking a lifestyle with easy access to parks, schools, fine dining, culture, galleries, boutiques, recreation, libraries, book stores and of course, the Halifax River. Those who live in the core of Daytona Beach define it as a wonderful mixture of natural beauty and urban convenience.