News:

Thanks to everyone for the feedback on what errors you encountered from the forum database changes made in Fall 2023. Let us know if you discover anymore.

Main Menu

Article: Florida's Brick Road

Started by kurumi, May 10, 2017, 09:52:26 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

kurumi

http://floridatraveler.com/florida-ghost-highway/

Quote
Deep in the scrub forest of central Flagler and southern St. Johns counties, this 10-mile stretch of red-brick, ghost highway once brought a regular stream of "˜Tin Can Tourists' in Model-T Fords from as far as Chicago to the exotic, tropical wilderness of Florida.

Welcome to the Old Brick Road, one of the few remaining segments of the original Dixie Highway. This portion was completed in 1916 but became obsolete within 15 years. What remains is a rugged (and sometimes bumpy) trip down memory lane...

Apparently you can drive on this road and it's not that congested (but the conditions are a bit bumpy)
My first SF/horror short story collection is available: "Young Man, Open Your Winter Eye"


formulanone

#1
It's on the National Register of Historic Places. Are any other specific routes on the NHRP?

I didn't see a single vehicle on it during a summer Sunday in 2013:









I'm not sure how much that area floods, but I'd probably steer clear of the Old Brick Road if you see lots of standing water along some of the roads leading to it, unless you have plenty of ground clearance.

NE2

pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".

formulanone

Quote from: NE2 on May 10, 2017, 10:25:14 PM
Quote from: formulanone on May 10, 2017, 10:10:15 PM
It's on the National Register of Historic Places. Are any other specific routes on the NHRP?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Roads_on_the_National_Register_of_Historic_Places

Thanks...I thought I'd read long ago that Old Brick Road was the only one.

Max Rockatansky

Heh...That brings me back, I have a Flickr album from the Old Dixie Highway up in Espanola when I used to live in Orlando:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskQft1Jm

I like that the article pointed out that 4WD drive isn't necessary.  The road is rutted as all hell but if you're careful it can still be done by car.  That particular segment fell into disfavor once US 1 was built to the east more directly to Bunnell.  There is another brick segment of an Old Dixie Highway connector route that was actually part of US 17/92 southwest of Kissimmee called the Old Tampa Highway which is far better driving condition:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/AC36Tx

formulanone

There's also a small, but well-preserved brick section of old US 92 at the Tiger Bay State Forest.

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.1210525,-81.1790182,405m/data=!3m1!1e3

Henry

Follow the Red Brick Road! I think this is an interesting find!
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!

kurumi

My first SF/horror short story collection is available: "Young Man, Open Your Winter Eye"

Max Rockatansky

Did a little bit of the gravel segment in Pasco County today.  I could have sworn it was closed down previously because of phosphate mine but it appeared to be open.  Basically the segment is on the Gulf Coast from Aripeka south to Hudson.

Max Rockatansky

I was in the neighborhood myself yesterday so I went back to the Old Dixie Highway for a visit:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/8A4f06

There is actually a couple CR 13 shields from US 1 which would imply it is still a very much active route.  The road is very narrow leaving CR 205 in Espanola but it is about another mile before the bricks, there is even a street blade which says "CR 13 Old Dixie."  I think the biggest challenge along the entire brick highway would be the sand on the side which was very soft at times.  There appeared to be some very old concrete extensions on each side of the bricks like there was an attempt to widenthe roadway at some point.  There is signage not to steal the bricks, I guess that's a thing also.



Opinions expressed here on belong solely to the poster and do not represent or reflect the opinions or beliefs of AARoads, its creators and/or associates.