Author: canalman

Atlantic  Coast Line Station Everglades City, Florida

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Historic Plaque Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station Everglades City, Florida

Photo of Building when it was abandoned. Note that the length of the building is considerable less than it is now.

Current Picture Entrance Atlantic Coast Line Everglades City, Florida  This is not part of the original construct

Current Picture Entrance Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Everglades City, Florida This was an addition

Same as above

Current Picture Anterior Wall Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station Everglades City, FL

Current Picture Tower Atlantic Coast Railroad Line Everglades City, Florida

Same as above

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station Everglades City, Fl.

Front Wall Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Everglades City Florida Sign on wall is missing letters.

Everglades Seafood Depot Restaurant

ACL RR Station Everglades City Florida  Notice Missing b letters on Restaurant and areas of missing stucco

ACL RR Depot Everglades City Florida Area of Deterioration

Same as above

     The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot in Everglades City opened in 1928.  The railroad line ran from Immokalee to Everglades City from 1928–1956.  It carried freight and passengers.  It was a Spanish style stucco building with a central tower.  The station was closed in the 1956.  For a while, it stood unused.  However, it was converted into a restaurant called the Old Station Restaurant.  Over the years, other restaurants using the depot included Everglades Seafood Depot  and Restaurant, Everglades Seafood Depot, and Everglades Outdoor Center.

     The old depot was used in the movie Wind Across the Everglades.

     The author visited this site on 2/7/2022.  The building is abandoned and padlocked.  There are obvious signs of deteriorating.  It is sad to see this historic building in such condition.

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot Lake Wells, Florida

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      The Atlantic Coast Railroad came to Lake Wales, Florida in 1911.  The first station was a crude unpainted shack and platform. In 1913, the station was replaced by a large frame structure on Scenic Highway.  This handled both passengers and freight.   This was replaced by the  surviving  historic railroad station located at 325 South Scenic Highway, Lake Wells, Florida

Atlantic Coast Line Depot Lake Wales, Florida

Same as above

Signage

Same as above

National Register of Historic Places Plaque

ACL Depot Lake Wales

Same as above

Same as above

Same as above

Same as above

1916 Pullman Caand 

Renovated 1926 Seaboard Airline Railroad red caboose.
   The station was  built in 1928.  Architect was Burrows  Construction Company.  It is a Mediterranean Revival  Building.  It is a one story building. The exterior was built with hollow tiles covered by stucco.  The roof is barrel tile.  Construction costs were $51,000.  A freight room and platform were added in 1938.

     Passenger service to Lake Wales ended in 1954.

    The depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on 8/31/1990.

     Fortunately, the local citizenry advocated to save the historic depot.  A museum was established in the  depot in 1976.  It was dedicated in 1978 as the Lakes Wales Depot Museum. In 1978, the Historic Lake Wales Society (a non for profit ) became the governing authority for the Museum.  Due to financial difficulties, in 1915, the Museum was reorganized under the City of Lake Wales.

     Adjacent to the railroad depot is a 1916 Pullman car, A 1926 Seaboard Airline Railroad red caboose and a 1944 Diesel engine