Influential visitors have been flocking to the Greater Daytona Beach area for centuries, and their contributions live on for all to enjoy!
Famous explorer Ponce de Leon, during his 1513 search for the Fountain of Youth discovered the now- popular DeLeon Springs, located just west of Daytona Beach. Dr. Andrew Turnbull homesteaded 101,000 acres of land as the New Smyrna colony (now called New Smryna Beach), just south of Daytona Beach. Matthias Day, a wealthy northern tycoon, was so completely enamored with the entire area that he became the founding father of Daytona (now called Daytona Beach) and built its very first hotel in 1874. And Henry DeLand, for whom the nearby city of DeLand was named, founded world-famous Stetson University in 1883.
Many more entrepreneurs endeavored to bring commerce and vision to the community. Famous philanthropist John D. Rockefeller discovered Ormond Beach's immaculate golf courses and made his winter home at The Casements. Baseball legend Jackie Robinson played in the first integrated spring training baseball game in 1946 at the now-called Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Civil rights leader and educator Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune overcame great obstacles to found now-called Bethune-Cookman University in 1904. And of course Bill France founded NASCAR in 1948 and built the World Center of Racing, Daytona International Speedway, in 1959.
Today, the Daytona Beach area entertains nearly 8 million influential visitors each year! These visitors, who influence friends and family with their vacation stories, come from around the world to relax and enjoy the area's many treasures, both old and new.
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