Palatka, Florida ACL Railroad Station

Palatka Florida ACL Railroad Station

Palatka, Florida ACL Railroad Station

Same as above

Palatka, Florida ACL Railroad Station

Palatka, Florida ACL Railroad Station

Informational Plaque

Amtrak Welcome Sign

Palatka, Florida ACL Railroad Station

Same as above

Palatka Florida ACL Railroad Station

P

Palatka Florida ACL Railroad Station

Palatka Florida ACL Railroad Station

Same as above

Palatka Florida ACL Railroad Station

Same as above

Informational Plaque

Caboose in front of Palatka Florida ACL Railroad Station

     The current Palatka Railroad Station was constructed  in 1908 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. It is located at 220 N. 11th Street,Palatka Florida.

     The building is a one story brick structure. Its style is Richardson Romanesque. Over the years the depot served the ACL Jacksonville–Tampa– Sarasota Mainline, the Florida Southern Railway, the Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad. It also served the short lived Ocklawaha Valley Railroad.

     In 1988, the depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It currently services Amtrak Silver Services Trains.

     The station, platform, and parking lot are owned by the city of Palatka. The railroad tracks are owned by CSX.

     The most recent renovation was in 2007-2008 by Robert E. Taylor, Architect.  Interior items renovated include heating and cooling systems, ventilation, rest rooms, ceiling and floors.

     The Palatka Preservation Society and the Browning Railroad Museum have exhibition space in the Depot

Atlantic Coast Line Depot Winter Garden, Florida

Atlantic Coast Railroad Station Winter Garden, Florida

     The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad played a major role in the history of Winter Garden Florida.   Its first depot was built in 1893. It was located at 1 Main Street. The building measured 16 x 20 feet.  In 1908, the Atlantic Coastline Railroad built a wooden frame building as a replacement.

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot Winter Garden, Florida

    In 1928, the Atlantic Coastline Railroad built a one story brick building as a replacement for the wood frame depot.  It still stands at 21 East Main Street.  This building is currently used for the Winter Garden Heritage Museum.

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station Winter Garden, Florida

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Winter Garden, Florida

Informational Plaque Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Winter Garden Florida

Same as above

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot Winter Garden Florida

Informational Plaque

Caboose in front of depot

Same as above

Tavares and Gulf Railroad Terminal

Informational Plaque about The Tavares and Gulf Railroad Depot

     The first Tavares and Gulf Railroad Depot in Winter Garden was built in 1899.It was an all wooden structure. A replacement depot was built in 1913.  It was a one story brick structure. It was located on 101 South Boyd Street. Construction costs were $1,736.

Tavares and Gulf Railroad Depot

     The T and G Railroad line was purchased by the Seaboard Airline Railroad in March, 1926. It was operated as a wholly owned subsidiary until August 1,1969. It then became  a branch of the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. The station closed on March, 1976.

     The depot was sold by the Atlantic Coast Railroad Line in 1979 to the central Florida Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.  The central chapter rehabilitated the building for use as its headquarters.

Tavares and Gulf Railroad Depot

     On August 13, 2012, the chapter voted to withdraw  from the National Railway Historical Society.  This entity runs the Central Florida Railroad Museum.

Tavaras and Gulf Railroad Depot

Tavares and Gulf Railroad Depot

Same as above

     The chapter subsequently voted in 8/13/2012 to withdraw from the 

Citrus Tower Clermont, Florida

Citrus Tower Clermont, Florida

     The Florida Citrus Tower is a 226 feet observation/radio broadcasting tower located in Clermont, Florida. This was the project of A.W. Thacker and  Jack O’Toole to showcase the the Lake County Citrus Industry.

     Construction on the tower began in 1955 and extended into 1956. 5 million pounds of concrete and 149,000 pounds were used in the construction. During its first several years of operation, the tower averaged 500,ooo visitors/ year.  Due to its central location and the nearby orange groves.

Citrus Tower Clermont Florida

Citrus Tower Clermont Florida

     In 1983, 1985, and 1989, there were harsh freezes which destroyed a significant portion of the citrus crop in Lake County.  In 1964, the Florida turnpike was extended north providing a faster route south through Central Florida.  Both of these ended in decreased visitors to the tower.

Same as above

     Over the years, the tower was sold many times. In 1988, a tram was built to offer visitors tours of various citrus crops.

View from the Citrus Tower Clermont, Florida

     In 1995 the tower was bought by Greg Homan.  He painted it white and turquoise.

View from Citrus Tower, Clermont, Fl

View from Citrus Tower Clermont, Fl

Same as above

View from Citrus Tower Clermont, Fl

Same as above

Yellow Fever Creek  Preserve, Del Prado Blvd

Signage Yellow Fever Creek Preserve

This preserve is located at 2801 Del Prado Blvd,Cape Coral, Florida. It was developed after the purchase of 2 parcels of land for $3,323,506.74. It is approximately 340 acres. Located in the acreage is is a portion of the headwaters of Yellow Fever Creek; there is also a fishing pond. The preserve is mostly composed of pine flat wood trees.

There is a 2.5 mile unpaved, marked trail system. There is a paved parking lot. The main entrance into the preserve is on Del Prado Blvd.

Maps Yellow Fever Creek Preserve

Trail Signage

Unpaved Trail

Same as above

Unpaved Trail

Same as above

Trail

Pond

Pond

Pond

Only bench on trail

Only Bench on the Trail

Trail Signage

Trail Map

Property Fence

Warm Mineral Springs Park

Warm Mineral Springs Park North Port, Fl

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Cyclorama Structure Warm Mineral Springs

Same as above

     The park is located at 12200 San Servando Avenue, North Port, Florida.  The Warm Mineral Springs is a water filled sink hole in carbonite rock formed by the collapse of the roof of a cavern.  The water supply is a spring vent deep beneath pools surface.

Warm Mineral Springs Pool Note Chairs Provided

     The land surrounding the sinkhole is flat.  The circular opening of the sinkhole is 72 meters across.  It is 70 meters deep.  The opening narrows to 48 meters a few meters below the surface. The opening narrows to 38 meters across at 30 meters from the surface. It opens up again 72 meters at the bottom. The primary source of water is a vent 63 meters below the surface which discharges 20,000, 000 gallons of water 86 degrees.  It is heavily mineralized.

Warm Mineral Springs Pool

     The buildings in the area of the springs have been attributed to Jack West, Sarasota School of Architecture. They were built in the 1950’s.   There is an entry building with a gift shop, locker rooms,  shower rooms and a restaurant.  Not all of these areas are currently in operation.

     There is a circular building named the Cyclorama.  It measures 226 x 13 feet. It contains a 360 degree mural depicting P once De Leon Arrival in Florida and the search for the fountain of youth.  The building was built in 1959.  The mural was painted by A local artist Don Putnam.  The Cyclorama has been closed since the 1970’s.

     There are currently portable washrooms and changing rooms

    The city of North Port owns the Warm Mineral Springs Park.  It has contracted with the National and State Park Concessions to operate the springs and its facilities.

   Both the park and the buildings are listed with the National Register of Historic Places.

Venice Area Audobon Rookery

    The Venice Area Audobon Rookery is located on Annex Road, Venice, Florida 34293. It is located in a Sarasota County Park. It is an easily accessible resting and roosting site for a variety of wading birds.  There is a covered pavilion and grassy areas to observe a variety of birds.

   Among the species are Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Anhingas, Snowy Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Glossy Ibises, Green Herons, Tri colored Herons, Black Crowned Night Herons.

     The birds engage in various activities such as nest building and enhancing, courting, incubating eggs and raising chicks.

Venice Area Rookery Island. Notice the Many Birds in the Trees

Same as above

Single Bird Roosting in the Tree

Lakeland, Florida Amtrak Railroad Station 

     The current railroad station is located at 600 E. Main Street, Lakeland, Fl. It was built in 1998. It was a replacement for the ACL Station built in 1960 which was 1.1 mile west of the current station.  That station became a Seaboard Coastline Railroad Station in 1967 when the Atlantic Coastline Railroad merged with Seaboard Airline Railroad.  That building was demolished in 2008.

Lakeland Florida Amtrak Station

    The current depot is owned by the city of Lakeland Florida. The building was constructed of concrete and stucco. Construction costs were 2 million dollars. It features arched windows, art deco lamps and high backed benches.

Signage Lakeland, Florida Amtrak Station

Lakeland Florida Amtrak Station

First Railroad Station Located in Lakeland, Florida

   

Undated Photo Lakeland Florida Railroad Station.