COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Firefighters from several agencies were battling a major fire Tuesday night at the iconic Cocoa Beach estate once owned by Al Neuharth, the founder of Florida Today and USA Today.
No injuries were reported in the fire, which broke out around 9 p.m. at the home at Third Street South and South Orlando Avenue.
Crews from Cocoa Beach Fire Department, Cape Canaveral Fire-Rescue and Brevard County Fire-Rescue were called to the home to battle the blaze as hundreds of bystanders converged along the street watching as the Pumpkin Center fire continued to burn.
"Very distinct landmark especially from the ocean," said Bruce Reynolds, who lives a block south. "We raze a lot of really nice things to the ground to build new, and that thing had lasted a long time. And it was a visible landmark to people that walked the beach and used the beach."
"It's devastating,'' said Teresa Skare, who lives in a nearby apartment complex. "It hits too close for me because I only live right there. All I know (is) it's a beautiful place. I love going by there and looking at it."
The property recently sold for nearly $5 million, the highest price ever paid for a house in Brevard County.
The estate, built in 1975, is massive, with 10,000 square feet of living space, 11 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. It has tennis and basketball courts, 200 feet of beach, plus a tree house with running water, electricity and an ocean view.
After Neuharth died in April 2013, his wife, Dr. Rachel Fornes lived there with her children until the estate was sold. Neuharth reportedly had named his estate the Pumpkin Center after a bar and grill in South Dakota where he once worked. The Pumpkin Center was the site of meetings where Neuharth and his team came up with the concept for USA Today.
Shey Anderson, who lives on 8th Street, said the fire grew rapidly.
"We saw the embers in the air and everything. It's really sad. It's been an iconic part of Cocoa Beach for a while now. I know that everybody knows the Pumpkin Center," she added.
The home is a complete loss.
Investigators said it may take days or even weeks to determine the cause.