Bulow Creek State Park is located at 3351 Old Dixie Highway in Ormond Beach. The park covers more than 5,500 acres, more than a quarter of which is submerged. There are several trails for walking, biking, and wildlife viewing. The park is full of natural beauty and history – and also a mysterious past.

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The crown jewel of Bulow Creek is the majestic Fairchild Oak, named after the same famous botanist as the lovely Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens in Coral Gables.
Flickr/Tadson Bussey
At nearly 70 feet tall and more than 400-years-old, this striking tree is one of the oldest oaks in the South. As its plaque notes, it has stood the test of time through hurricanes, war, fires, and droughts.
Flickr/Rain0975

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What it doesn't mention, however, is the haunting legend that has become associated with it. Legend has it that two of the previous owners of this land (before it became state property) were rumored to have suffered tragic deaths near this ancient tree.
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The first was James Ormond II, who owned a plantation here. (The ruins can be seen at nearby Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park.) There are different theories about the mysterious details of his death, one of which is that he was either killed or killed himself at the foot of this tree.
Flickr/melystu
The second death was that of Norman Harwood, who purchased this land in 1880 while attempting to outrun debtors in Minnesota. He attempted to grow oranges and sugar cane, but he was disliked and mistrusted by his neighbors.
Flickr/melystu
It is rumored that Harwood hanged himself from one of the branches of this oak, partly because of the very large life insurance payout that his family received after his death.
Flickr/Shawna Pairan

Some people that have visited the famous tree have reported seeing the ghostly figure of a man who fills the viewer with deep sorrow. Whether you believe these stories or not, this Bulow Creek State Park and the Bulow Plantation Historic Site are definitely worth exploring.

Have you ever visited the Fairchild Oak at Bulow Creek State Park? Do you have any other interesting local legends to share with us?

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