The Spruce Creek “Fly-In” is an airpark or airport that offers residential properties with access to the homes by aircraft. Spruce Creek is located 7 miles south of Daytona Beach, Florida – the “World’s Most Famous Beach”. Only a short drive from the beaches of Daytona, Ormond, Ponce Inlet, and New Smyrna, Spruce Creek is a blend of lush tropical landscapes, Florida sunshine and ocean breezes, combined with a paved, lighted, GPS-approach 4,000-foot runway.
Daytona Beach Area Video
https://youtu.be/BwiVfFCwzig
In addition to the special aviation amenities, Spruce Creek is a wonderful community with the security of a gated community and access to great family living, excellent schools, youth athletics, nearby colleges, year-round events and a vibrant arts scene.
Things to do at spruce creek include flying, golfing, fishing, swimming, community social events, bridge, canoeing, jogging & walking or just enjoy the solitude.
Old aerial photo of Spruce Creek airport
History
The runway was part of a practice field built during World War II. No aircraft or personnel were ever based here. Construction on the community began in the mid seventies.
Spruce Creek, as a residential airpark, was conceived in the late sixties.
Five businessmen purchased the unwanted outlying military airfield in the late 60’s. Originally it was to be a real estate investment but later they investigated the idea of developing the neglected and obsolete airfield into an airpark.
At the time the only airparks that were a success were industrial airparks with offices, warehouses and factory buildings along the taxiways. The Spruce Creek investors came-up with an idea to develop a community where one could live, work and play with flying machines at their home.
Spruce Creek was to have industrial buildings along the southern end of the complex and homes on the north side. They included plans for a country club with tennis courts, a swimming pool and a 36 hole golf course. The plans included a complete civil infrastructure with water and sewer systems, electricity, and cable TV for the community. Additional plans incorporated a campground and marina.
At the time, 1969, the airport was accessed by a dirt/sand road appropriately named Airport Road. It approached the property from the east side of the field and utilized some of the existing taxiways then transitioned to Pioneer Trail to the south of the property.
The first order of business was to construct a bridge on the north entrance and design a golf course. They operated out of two mobile offices in the center of the airport and later construct five attached living areas with T-hangars.
The first homes were completed in the mid seventies.
Shortly after – in the late 70s, there was the great gas crunch and the buyers stopped coming. The five owners brought in several other investors, but ended up surrendering the property to the mortgage holder, an insurance company. That company tried to continue the project with little success. The development project was put up for sale in the early eighties and purchased by Jay Thompson.
Out of nowhere there came a lot of gasoline and a lot of buyers and the rest is history.