Old DeSoto jail to become training ground for car racing

ARCADIA, Florida – An old jail and mental health facility in Southwest Florida is going to be turned into a training ground to race cars.

"It's gonna be fantastic for DeSoto County," said Bob Miller, a DeSoto County Commissioner.

Rally car racing involves cars that can cost close to a half a million dollars.

"It's a driving school for tactical ATVs, tactical military, rally cars and has some manufacturing components which is even more exciting so it will be bringing new people into the community to use this facility which will help generate economic impact to our community," said DeSoto County Administrator Mandy Hines.

It will be at the old juvenile jail which before that was a facility where mental health patients were kept. Both were run by the state.

"The state may not be the best landlord for maintaining buildings," said Hines. "We watched them over the past 12 years deteriorate and degrade to a point where they may no longer be serviceable."

Realtor Mac Martin is excited, "We understand that it's gonna become a destination for people of high net worth to come to little Arcadia to bring their sports cars and their families."

The land is over 500 acres and went for $2.5 million. The same company reportedly tried to buy land in Collier County for the same purpose but ran into public resistance before deciding to move the idea to DeSoto County.