It is said that in
1513 (almost 100 years prior to the failed Jamestown
experiment), Juan Ponce DeLeon was exploring the land and waters
around the inlet that today bears his name. By the time Spain
ceded Florida to the newish United States, live oak lumbering
(that premier ship planking that created the legend of "old
Ironsides") was the main industry. Replacing a lighthouse on the
New Smyrna side of the inlet, the present landmark went into
service in 1887 and was the only navigational aid between St.
Augustine and Cape Canaveral.
The soaring red tower is 175 high (the second tallest in the
United States) can be seen 19 miles at sea. Shut down by budget
constraints in 1970 the mammoth tower was saved from ruin by the
non-profit Ponce DeLeon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation
Association, Inc. In 1982, a navigational beacon was
re-installed in the tower and once again serves mariners. The
Association manages the restored light along with the museum,
theater, and store and all are open to the public. In 1963, the
Town of Ponce Inlet was incorporated in a manager / council
format to control the destiny of the fragile peninsula tip.
Volusia County manages the beaches, access to them, and the
park itself. Around the peninsula tip and along the Halifax
River there are marinas, restaurants, charter fishing boats, and
even a casino boat to add a little excitement to this beautiful
piece of land.
Community dedication and pride is nowhere more apparent than
in the handsome Ponce Inlet Community Center. Run by trustees
and volunteers, the center hosts governmental, civic and private
activities. |
