As a child I have always been fascinated with the ocean and now I live 18 miles from it. The beautiful smell of the ocean, cool breeze, warm sand is all such a treat. This was even my sons first time visiting the ocean. Over time however after careful research and a few times visiting here it was obvious that there had to be some level of paranormal activity on the beach. You often hear of boardwalk ghost walks and even some people who tell tales about how strange at times the beach is. Although the Bermuda Triangle is south of here Daytona has there own series of strange ship wrecks some tragic and some done on purpose to create reefs. I would like to talk about them ships at least a few of them for you ship lovers like me.

There is a wreck called the Twelve Mile Wreck  which nobody can identify divers think its a gunrunner ship that was sunk in the Spanish American War of 1898. Often people who dive find Gatling gun ammunition on the oceans floor. Just as roughly 30 miles south of here the hurricane were washing up some gold coins from perhaps another wreck. 

Then we have a freighter wreck which is another unidentified one. It was carrying war supplies during WWII when it was torpedoed and sunk 50 miles offshore. Divers today still find much of her cargo spread out on the ocean floor. They also use it to spear fish and of course find artifacts of value from the wreck.

One of the most famous ships sunk was the Liberty Ship Mindanao which was originally launched as a Elbert Hubbard but instead was completed to be an internal combustion repair ship. She was built and launched in 1943 around the time of WWII from Baltimore MD.  An ammunition vessel Mount Hood only a few hundred feet away blew up. This caused extreme damage to the Mindanao. When the explosion happened 180 crewman were killed and wounded. A year later the ship was rebuilt and was used as a supply ship in the Okinawa region for US forces. The state of Florida acquired it in 1980 and eventually sunk in 85 feet of water off the coast of Daytona and now this 446' ships serves as a reef.

Then during WWII off the coast of Daytona Beach divers found two TB_M torpedo bomber airplanes. Apparently the two planes crashed in midair and fell into the ocean. Today shell casings from the plane's machine gun are found scattered on the oceans floor.

Many other ship wrecks sit off the coast as well such as the Rio Yuna Ship, Atlas Barge, Alexandra McAllister all used for rock ledge reef systems like Party Grounds, Nine Mile, East Eleven Etc. Most of them were caused by man but how many other ships divers have not found still lay silently in the water? It is a fact that some crew to some of these vessels did die off the coast of Daytona so a ghost ship or pirate ghost is not an outrageous story after all.

Daytona Beach in history has been known to have some of the most Shark Attacks even most recently one of the largest Hammerhead Sharks was caught off the coast south of here. I believe it was 13' quite large for a Hammerhead. But I have read stories about tiger sharks and even a stray great white occasionally in these waters. Many planes who fly over the beach often spot sharks but they pose no threat. 

Millions of years ago the most fierce shark in the sea called Magalodon was said to have swam just off the coast of Daytona Beach. Of course fossils have been found all over the world it seemed Daytona was a real hotspot for these beast of the ocean. The reason could be because it fed on whales. This shark was said to be 60 feet long, largest then a school bus, 200 teeth the size of dinner plates and over 100,000 lbs. The bites it would take out of its pray literally were the size of a small car. Some people have had sightings of this creature although its said to be extinct its possible that they prove just as elusive as Bigfoot. But occasionally one can find fossils off the Daytona Coast from this 3 million year old shark.

The founding father of Daytona Beach was Mogul Mathias Day built the first hotel called the Palmetto House in 1874. After that trend many other wealthy tycoons from New England had a dream to build up Daytona. Commodore Charles Burgoyne also a founder of Daytona was responsible for building it up he would hold concerts along the Riverfront to promote the town and its entrepreneurs. To learn more information about Burgoyne you can read about him from our Pinewood Cemetery Investigations and JL Saxon Riverfront Park. 

Bourgoyne built a community center in Daytona Beach in the early 1900s and he played a huge role into the development in Daytona Beach. Many other famous tycoons also visited and eventually lived on Daytona Beach another one is John D. Rockefeller. He resided at the casements a place I would not mind investigating someday in the future.

But what is even more spectacular about Daytona is that it shaped the future of racing. In 1903 auto racing began here right on the beach. The first race Alexander Winston drove what we called The Bullet at 68 mph.  Up north a little ways Ormond Beach became the Birthplace of Speed and at one time some racers came as close to 300mph on the beach. The National Association Of Stock Car Auto Racing was found in Daytona Beach and by 1959 the opening of the Daytona International Speedway has had millions of visitors. Famous Racers like Bill France or Richard Petty use to race to earn money. Today Nascar races now takes place all over the country but at one time this beach was famous for its races up and down the coast. Even small airplanes would land right on the beach when they could not they would land up here in DeLand. Today though it is one of the only beaches you can drive up on as long as you do not drive near the Sea Turtle Beds where they lay there eggs.

Another thing Daytona is known for is its boardwalk. The Main Street Pier perhaps is the most well known since other piers like the Sunglow have either been washed up in storms or torn down. When you enter onto the beach or the pier a very large coquina Moorish structure states Welcome to Daytona Beach. Later on over the years hotels, beach shops, a clock tower and other things were added along this boardwalk.  The boardwalk and this coquina stone structure were built around 1936. The pier has helicopter rides and what's known as the space needle which takes you 400 feet up in the air. Also nearby is a little amusement park for bungee jumpers and daredevils its rumored at least one was killed while bungee jumping. 

So there you have it I mean after all Daytona is near one of the oldest cities in the nation so a haunting or two on the beach is likely true beyond a reason. I sense most of the energy near the pier and boardwalk areas where anything supernatural can hide near. But its an area with alot of history after all most shops surrounded main street and the beach then eventually the hotels and such were built further down the coast lines. Now we are able to bring you a little bit about the mystery of Daytona one of the most famous beaches in the country.

© By

Rick-AngelOfThyNight

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