Named after the town in New York where Melvil Dewey – he of the Dewey Decimal System – moved from when he came to Florida to retire, Lake Placid started as a resort that Dewey started as a retirement project. It’s a quiet town among the rolling hills of the Lake Wales Ridge, now known for its public art projects, murals large and small.
Nearby: Arcadia, Fisheating Creek, Okeechobee, Sebring
Trails and Parks in Lake Placid
Bobcat Trail- The Bobcat Trail at Lake June-in-Winter State Park leads to a 3.3 mile trail system atop snow-white ancient dunes on the Lake Wales Ridge, where rare and unusual plants thrive
Gatorama- Started in 1957 as a roadside attraction to show tourists one of the two Florida experiences they wanted - alligators! - Gatorama still has that funky Old Florida feel.
Hickory Hammock Trail- With moss-draped oaks and tall hickory trees, stands of cabbage palms and a beautiful campsite, the Hickory Hammock Trail is an enjoyable destination
Highlands Hammock State Park- One of the grandaddies of the Florida Park System, Highlands Hammock State Park protects the amazing beauty of an ancient oak and palm hammock dense with trees many centuries old. A network of short trails and a scenic one-way loop drive make it easy for all visitors to appreciate the natural grandeur of this park.
Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park- Protecting 845 acres of the whitest, brightest sand on the Lake Wales Ridge, Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park has one of the highest concentrations of rare plants in North America.
Tomoka Trail- Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park is a pristine snapshot of Florida’s scrub atop the Lake Wales Ridge. This short nature trail follows Tomoka Run, a fern lined waterway