One of the mysteries of Old New Smyrna is the purpose and origin of what is now known as the Turnbull Ruins.
One of the mysteries of Old New Smyrna is the purpose and origin of what is now known as the Turnbull Ruins. Consisting of a foundation made of sea coquina blocks, theories about the nature of the ruins have run the gamut from a pre-colonial Catholic church to a 16th-century Spanish fort to a warehouse.
Although their true origins remain unknown, the most accepted theory today is that the ruins represent the 1760s colonization of the area by Andrew Turnbull, who may have attempted to build his palace on the remains. Located in Old Fort Park, the three-foot-thick foundation walls of the Turnbull Ruins still draw curious visitors anxious to try their hand at solving this local mystery.
