And we have another cutie of the day—and yes again Mt. Dora—–lots of pups and friends out an about.
So we’re still on the wandering trip I took several years ago.—–and I am including things that are still there today so you can have some fun of your own away from the things you’re tired of doing. Above is Oakland that we did last Wed/Thurs? and next stop is Minneola.
We return to 438 and head right—or south West…..You’ll eventually cross the Florida Turnpike
Just past the bike trail headquarter on the left is Lake Blvd. If you turn down here after you pass over Hwy 50 you’ll come to John’s Lake, which is reportedly great for bass fishing….The ramp is capable of launching two boats at the same time with a long floating dock to tie boats up to and a small area you can beach your boat on. The Johns lake parking lot is well maintained, and with a combination of the parking lot and overflow parking directly across the street from the ramp can hold up to 30 vehicles. https://bassfishingfl.com/lakes/johns-lake/
Otherwise continue on route 438
On leaving the trail head you pass into Lake County. Where a sign indicates that the road has become Old Hwy 50, distinguishing it from the hustling, multi-lane Hwy 50 that run south of this older road.
Then you’ll cross the Interstate again
This Old Hwy 50 is part of the landscape—not a scar across it. If there is a hill the road goes over and not through it. It runs thru orange groves (or what is now left of them) as well as thickets of wax myrtle and live oaks. While cows graze lazily besides ponds.
Turn Left on 455 back across the turnpike
Follow Old Hwy 50 to the right
Old 50 was once the primary route west. In the horse and buggy days the hills were called the Apopka Mountains. The roadbed consisted of loose sand overlaid with pine needles. Wild hogs, black bears and panthers often emerged from the scrub. When it was paved in 1927 it was often called the Roller Coaster Road. (Best Backroads of Florida: The heartland By Douglas Waitley.)
When you come to North Hancock Rd turn left on the divided road
Follow 50 It turns into E. Washington Street —-Continue on this over US 27.
Welcome to Minneola
‘
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.71 square miles (8.4 km²), of which 10.34 square miles (26.8 km2) is land and 0.37 square miles (0.96 km2) (5.26%) is water.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneola,_Florida
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Elroy Vintage Pocket Watch with Hunting Scene on Back Swiss Movement
$55.40
https://www.etsy.com/listing/562286317/elroy-vintage-pocket-watch-with-huntng?ref=shop_home_active_9
- Along here NOW are:
Minneola Grill (also on Left
Hen’s Nest Mineola Country Store (left side)
+1(352)-242-9484
Antique Store
Get Back 2 Basics another left
Plant based cafe
Hours:
Monday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Location:
205 W. Washington Street, Suite B
Minneola, Florida 34715
Turn Right on Main Street–Head North
George Hull, a surveyor was an early settler in this area when he arrived from Diluth, Minn in the 1880’s, to this nameless settlement. Lake Minneola was called Cow House. However that didn’t last long and Hull reportedly name it Minneola—which legend say it came from a Sioux word meaning many waters and from there you have the inspiration for the name of the town.
When I came to Minneola those years ago it had a population of abut 2,000—by 2018 the population was up to 12,124.
Notable person
- Ryan Villopoto, four-time supercross and five-time motocross champion, who races for Monster Energy Kawasaki.
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ORCHID Glass Pin with matching Orchid Earrings RARE Vintage
$139.86
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If you turn right on West Pearl St
Jack Benny’s Barbeque
https://www.jacksbarbeque.com/
Serving our customers slow, wood-cooked barbeque for over 60 years.
Center abut a lumber mill the town prospered until the trees were ll cur down which left the town with no visible means of income and it was described as “an economic back water” Though it is said that it has improved in more recent years.
Turn left on Virginia Street
and you will arrive at Lake Minneola.
Turn Left on 561A
on the right was the Palisade district which had it’s origins in post Civil War Florida. A husband and wife William and Sylania Smith built a log house near here. They were better known in the area as Uncle Billy and Aunt Silly and they eventually sold the place to the Wlsons–Cyprus and Linda–Yankees from New York in 1880.
They went about clearing the property and selling the wood to the aforementioned sawmill. They replace them with citrus trees. At harvest time they loaded the crop on barges and sailed the fruit across the lake to Clermont where they could ship them our on the Orange Belt Rail Road.
By the late 1920s the land had been converted to the Palisade Golf Course with a large 2-story wooden structure on a hill top with a view of many miles for a club house . The course ran over the hills and down close to the lake—there was a tale that the golfers told that early morning foursomes often had to fight of gars with putters during high water times. The golf course is still there but now surrounded with homes.
Other things to do in Minneola
https://www.lakeminneolainn.com/the-tiki-bar-grill.html
508 Main Ave
Minneola, FL 34755
Minneola Mini golf
650 N Hwy 27
Minneola, FL 34715
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Classic Vintage Oriental Decorated 12″ Dish
$70.25
From the Palisades the Road arches around th lake and in a mile or so comes to a bridg ovr the Palatlahaha RIver which at this point is less a river than a shallow channel. Westward is Wilson Island—Cyprus Wilson’s site for his most productive grove
Come back next week for a visit to Clermont.
