The Daytona Highlands was constructed originally in 1926 and was a replica of an old Spanish landmark in Tarragona. The octagonal tower stands 45' high and at one time a 150 foot double arch gateway which served as the entrance way to a wealthy subdivision in Daytona Beach called the highlands. The Tarragona Arch has been newly restored in 2004 and is now a historical landmark near the speedway where the Daytona 500 is. Millions have passed this landmark but very few perhaps have never thought about how haunted this place is but now you will as this is a place we really wanted to bring you a story on.

It took roughly 4,000 cubic yards of coquina shell stones, 1,000 bags of cemetery, 1,800 feet in roof tiles imported from Spain and $50,000 dollars to construct this landmark. The floor tiles were also imported from Spain and handmade Spanish Furniture was lined throughout the structure. This was an extremely expensive structure but today it stands out from any other in Daytona and just about anybody you ask about it has at least seen it.

In 1942 a segment of the arch which crossed over International Speedway Blvd. was torn down by the U.S. Army. They tore it down because they felt it would be an obstacle for troop movement at the time of WWII. At the time it was torn down years later the Army never ended up using the road and they did admit that it was unnecessary for there actions. So today only one of the arches stands unfortunately to remind us of the past.

The main purpose of the tower was to attract potential buyers for the highlands neighborhood. All the way to the 1950s the locals used it as a community center perhaps for various meetings and activities. Since that time the tower suffered over 1 million dollars in termite damage and had to be repaired by the Middleton Pest Control Company. They did a very good job with it and today the structure looks as it did many years ago. Today this landmark is used during the holiday season for light displays.

When I first moved to Daytona I asked quite a few folks about this landmark most told me it was from the 1600s to 1700s and was the oldest structure in the area. I thought it to be true since it does look like part of a fort or castle. However based on some research finding out this was not the case led to some amount of disappointment. However the ghost that lurk here are not a let down although not active you can feel something lurks the tower and grounds. But we must ask who are these ghost maybe those who built such a beautiful structure? Maybe those who once resided this rich neighborhood. Either way the Daytona Highlands will always be a special place to the paranormal world.

© By

Rick-AngelOfThyNight

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this  message is being distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those  who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for  non-profit research and educational or criticism purposes only.  Notwithstanding  the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phone   records or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement.Anotherwards a few photos are borrowed we do not make any profit off pictures mainly they are used for historical, criticism, theories and other educational purposes therefore we can use them as long as we do not claim them as our own.