Wilbur by the Sea

Ponce Inlet Florida

Ponce Inlet is located close to Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, and the Kennedy Space Center on the Atlantic Ocean in Florida and boasts of 300 days of sunshine each year!

The most popular tourist destination is the Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station, which is Florida's tallest lighthouse at 175 feet with visitors being able to climb 203 steps to the tower's gallery deck to enjoy the spectacular views. In 1998 it was designated a National Historic Landmark.

In 1803 Antonio Pons (Ponz or Ponce) was granted the 175 acres where the lighthouse now stands, which he had farmed for 20 years. In 1806 he was driven off by Indians and in 1812 was killed during the Patriots War. In 1820 his widow was given an additional grant of 230 acres because of his service to Spain.

In 1834 the first lighthouse was destroyed by a storm and the Indians, and it wasn't until 1870 that Congress appropriated $60,000 to buy a site and build another lighthouse which went into service on November 1, 1887. The Interior Department deeded it to Ponce Inlet in 1972.

Another interesting place to visit is the Marine Science Center at Lighthouse Point Park featuring sea turtle and bird rehabilitation, an observation tower, artificial reef, aquarium, and more.