2020 YOUR GUIDE TO SERVICES, ENTERTAINMENT, AND LIVING IN THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE REGION.
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY | GLADES COUNTY | HENDRY COUNTY | WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.DESTINATIONLAKEOKEECHOBEE.COM
4 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee
Board Certified Optometrist
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606 North Parrott Ave.
Okeechobee
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606 North Parrott Ave Okeechobee 863-763-3937 Visit : www.biglakeeyecare.com THE REGION | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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OkeechObee 907 NW Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 (863) 763-2984
A rc A D i A 1101 East Oak Street Arcadia, FL 34266 (863) 494-6088
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Content Make Your Destination Lake Okeechobee............................... 9 Area Map.............................................................................. 23 Fishing On Lake Okeechobee............................................... 27 Fishing Areas Map.......................................................... 28 Fishing Tips............................................................... 30-31 Welcome to Okeechobee County.....................34 TDC Welcome Letter......................................41 History.............................................................45 Things To See & Do.........................................52 Important Numbers..........................................58 Places of Worship.............................................61 Business Listings........................................ 63-65 Welcome to Glades County............................ 68 Economic Development Council Welcome Letter.............................................. 73 History........................................................... 74 Things To See & Do....................................... 76 Important Numbers........................................ 78 Places of Worship........................................... 78 Business Listings,....................................... 79-80 Welcome to Hendry County.......................... 82 Chamber Welcome Letter.............................. 87 History.......................................................... 90 Things To See & Do...................................... 94 Important Numbers........................................ 96 Places of Worship.................................... 98, 99 Business Listings...................................102-103 Welcome to Western Palm Beach County..... 105 Chamber Welcome Letter............................. 111 History.......................................................... 113 Things to See & Do....................................... 120 Important Numbers....................................... 122 Places of Worship.......................................... 124 Business Listings................................... 126, 127
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2020
Published by Kuimba River Publishing, LLC dba Okeechobee The Magazine. 314 NW 5th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-0054 Publisher David Jones Managing Editor Rachel Buxton Art Director Francesca Peeples Graphic Designer Valerie Wegener Contributors Susie Hoover | Joyce Klevin Chase Marsocci | Sandra Pearce Dana Williams Advertising/Production Staff Trish Grygo | Jane Van Tassel Cover photo: Sharon Cannon Special thanks to the Chambers of Commerce of Belle Glade and Clewiston, the Okeechobee and Palm Beach County Tourist Development Councils, the Glades County Economic Development Council, and especially all of the executive directors of each. Many thanks to all the contributors who provided pictures as well as information. Without the help of these and so many others, too numerous to mention, this guide would not have been possible. The information in this guide is intended to provide readers with resources and information which they may find useful and of interest. Kuimba River Publications, Inc. takes all reasonable steps to keep this information current and accurate and assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Destination Lake Okeechobee, is published yearly in Okeechobee, Florida. Copyright 2019, all rights reserved by Kuimba River Publications, Inc. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising. The publisher accepts no responsibility for advertisement errors beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error within the advertisement itself. The publisher accepts no responsibility for submitted materials. All submitted materials subject to editing. Š 2019 Okeechobee The Magazine
Join Our Team At U.S. SUGAR Apply online at www.USSUGAR.com/Careers
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Family Dentistry of Okeechobee Founded in 1971, Family dentistry oF okeechobee is a Full-service, state-oF-the-art dental oFFice with a compassionate and proFessional team to serve you. From preventative care, to Full mouth restoration, we oFFer excellent dental care in a peaceFul environment. our many years in practice, along with the testimony oF our patients, reFlect our genuine desire to care For each patient that comes into our oFFice.
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Your Local Vacation Destination Here at Okeechobee KOA Resort, we offer a vacation like no other. Enjoy golf, pools, tennis, pickleball, the Shanty Lounge, weekend entertainment, banquet facilities, family reunions, and Deluxe Cabins. What are you waiting for?
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THE REGION | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Celebrating 26 Years of Exceptional Service Serving The Lake Okeechobee Region
HOME • LIFE • HEALTH • FLOOD • AUTO • COMMERCIAL BOAT • MOTORCYCLE • RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
You May Qualify for Home & Auto Packages
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OKEECHOBEE 1802 S. Parrott, Okeechobee, FL 34974 Direct: 863-763-7711 PORT ST. LUCIE 10791 SW Tradition Square Port St. Lucie, FL 34987 Direct: 772-345-7700 8 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | THE REGION
Make Your Destination
Lake Okeechobee
A little something for everyone.
THE REGION | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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A
re you looking for the perfect place to start a family? Launch a career? Just relax? If so, Destination Lake Okeechobee has got you covered. Even if you aren’t familiar with Lake Okeechobee or the surrounding region, you can’t miss it. It’s the huge body of water right in the middle of the state, spanning 730 square miles and bordering five counties. At its widest points, the Big O, as it is referred to by the locals, is approximately 40 x 40 miles. Known as the Bass Fishing Capital of the World, Lake Okeechobee is the largest freshwater lake in Florida and the second largest freshwater lake within the contiguous U.S. When the lake is at full capacity, it can hold five trillion gallons of water. Together, the Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District maintain the water level to ensure it is deep enough for good fishing but not too high that it pours over. To prevent overflow in instances such as during a hurricane, Lake Okeechobee is surrounded by the Herbert Hoover Dike which stands 30 feet high and stretches 143 miles. The dike was built after the deadly 1928 hurricane that claimed over 2,500 lives when the lake flooded its perimeter. Today, the lake includes several channels, locks and levees known as the Okeechobee Waterway. This man-made passageway is 154 miles long and stretches from the west coast of Florida to the east coast, beginning near Ft. Myers and traveling up the Caloosahatchee River and across the lake through the St. Lucie Waterway into Stuart. The five counties that border Lake Okeechobee include Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry, Western Palm Beach and Martin. Martin County, however, is relatively undeveloped, with its main communities lying further to the east, therefore the focus of Destination Lake Okeechobee is on the other four counties. Rich history and the massive lake connect Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry and Western Palm Beach Counties. Their communities share similar values, all offering a combination of modern growth tempered with a relaxed country lifestyle. Yet, with all these similarities, each county has its own individual characteristics making it unique and worthy of a visit.
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Quail Creek Plantation
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The counties around the lake provide an ideal home base that is centrally located with easy access to all of Florida’s events and attractions. Orlando and Disney World are just an easy drive north; Ft. Myers and Naples are a quick ride to the west; and the always-lively beaches of West Palm and Miami, simply minutes away to the east and south. There’s no need to stay in one place, and you won’t want to. Pick a starting point and hop around the lake and visit each county and see what it has to offer. Each county and each community offer enough to keep you busy for days and weekend after weekend. They are all thriving wonderful communities full of family-owned businesses and residents more than eager to support their small, locally-owned mom and pop shops. Whether you want to make one of these counties your winter residence or perhaps your full-time home to raise your family and expand your business, you won’t be disappointed. Fishing may be what Lake Okeechobee and its surrounding communities are famous for, but once you take a look for yourself, you’ll see, there is so much more that this region has to offer, and that includes lots and lots of agriculture.
Land For Miles – Old Florida Each of these counties offer the advantage of being just next door to dense, action-packed cities, but the true advantage can be found right in their own backyards with wide-open space that leaves beautiful property that is covered with untouched hammocks and canopies of oak trees. It also leaves the opportunity for the production of agriculture, something that has provided for each county over the years and throughout history. Much of the land around Lake Okeechobee was converted to agricultural use once canals were created to help drain the Everglades, which made available the rich muck soil (known as “Black Gold” by locals) for farming, as well as provided a means of transportation. To the north in Okeechobee, dairy farms and beef cattle are the major land uses, while in the south and Glades region, sugar cane and vegetable farming is the primary use for much of the land.
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Locally Grown Right in our Backyard Florida agriculture supports more than 2 million jobs and contributes over $120 billion annually to our state economy that just hit $1 trillion this past year. Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry and Western Palm Beach Counties all help Florida rank nationally in their production of cattle, vegetables and sugar cane. Together, the four counties cultivate over 970,000 acres of land and are the number one producer in the nation of sugar cane, citrus, sweet corn and winter leaf crops. Each spring, the Lake O region supplies millions of pounds of fresh produce by the truckload throughout the country. When other crops across the country are hit with cold weather and snow, Lake O crops continue to thrive. Crop rotation, including the planting of rice during the summer, allows farmers to use fewer chemicals and increase production due to the fact that pests and weeds are under control.
Florida’s economy wouldn’t be what it is if it wasn’t for the hard work of local and family farms in Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry and Western Palm Beach Counties. The majority of farms are family owned and have been passed down through the generations. Our regional farmers help provide American families with tables of homegrown fruits and vegetables. When looking at your plate at Thanksgiving dinner, almost everything on that plate could have come from one of the four counties around the lake.
Florida’s sugar industry produces 50 percent of America’s raw cane sugar and contributes more than $3.2 billion to Florida’s economy. In 2017, Florida produced approximately 16.88 million tons of sugar cane. The sugar industry, including growing and processing sugar cane, provides over 12,000 jobs statewide with many of them created right here in our region. The Lake O region is home to U.S. Sugar in Clewiston as well as the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative in Belle Glade. For decades, local farmers have farmed sugar cane on more than 440,000 acres across Hendry, Glades, Martin and Palm Beach Counties, with most being in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). The EAA is the largest single producing region east of the Mississippi and the fifth largest in the nation. Florida also ranks tenth in overall cattle numbers nationwide, with Okeechobee County being the top producer in beef and dairy, and the Florida Heartland counties, which includes Okeechobee, Glades and Hendry, representing 31 percent of the overall Florida cattle/calf herd size. Okeechobee alone, milks approximately 25,000 head of dairy cows daily. Given the current market price of milk (not the price you see in the store), that equals $325,000 a day or $120,000,000 a year in dairy revenue for Okeechobee County.
Natural Caretakers of the Land Local farmers and the agricultural community tend to get a bad rap due to the publicity surrounding the Lake Okeechobee water releases and back pumping. However, this reputation could not be further from the truth. Members of the EAA, U.S. Sugar, Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative and other community farming groups are some of the most passionate stewards of the land. Local farmers have worked hard to ensure that lake water leaving farms and reaching its ultimate destination in the Everglades is cleaner than most bottled natural spring water. The water leaving most of the farms in the Lake O region is twice as clean as the water leaving Lake Okeechobee. In fact, U.S. Sugar’s property doesn’t even connect directly to Lake Okeechobee. U.S. Sugar and neighboring farmers have paid over $400 million to clean the water and help build and operate the Storm Treatment Areas (STAs). STAs are man-made wetlands where overflow water from farmlands is filtered and cleaned. Farmers in the EAA achieved another successful year of water-quality success, announcing a 66 percent reduction in phosphorous for Water Year 2018. That’s a reduction by nearly two times the goal set by the state. And if these numbers don’t prove their case, simply look at the fishing stats for the year. Lake Okeechobee is definitely healthy, with fishing tournaments producing some of the heaviest weights in years.
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Regional Agriculture
Fun Facts
Florida Agriculture
• Supports 2 million jobs • Generates $120 billion annual economic impact in Florida • Responsible for $3 billion in tax revenue for local county and state governments
EAA Farmers Grow:
• Enough sweet corn to supply one billion people one ear a day for two months • Enough rice to feed 150 million people one time a day for two months • Enough lettuce for a billion salads a year • 36 million pounds of radishes • 120 million stalks of celery a year • Enough cabbage to make 250 million servings of coleslaw a year • 350 million servings of green beans a year
Florida’s Sugar Farmers
• Operate 4 raw sugar mills, 2 sugar refineries, and North America’s largest renewable power plant • Produce 50% of America’s raw cane sugar
Livestock
• Okeechobee milks approximately 25,000 head of dairy cows daily • The average milk produced per cow is 65 pounds THE REGION | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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The Wonder that is Lake O — Nature at Its Finest Lake Okeechobee’s main attraction, by far, is bass fishing, but the lake and the land on the outskirts of each county have so much more to offer people, especially those who enjoy wildlife and pure scenic beauty. On the lake you can find largemouth bass, crappie, bluegills and some pickerel deep in the waters. And more often than not, you will catch a glimpse of a manatee swimming by. There are several ways you can enjoy nature on the lake. Boats, such as a pontoon boat, are a great way to cruise through the different locks enjoying wildlife sightings while friends and family sit back and enjoy. And if you prefer a little more excitement, a ride around Lake Okeechobee on an airboat is a must. Airboats are perfect for taking deep out in the marsh and shallow places to enjoy some of the lake’s more hidden beauties. There are numerous places around the lake offering sightseeing airboat rides, such as Billie Swamp Safari and the Roland & Mary Ann Martin Marina and Resort in Hendry County and Eagle Bay Airboat Rides in Okeechobee County. If you prefer to keep your feet on dry ground, you might enjoy one of the many scenic trails along the lake, including the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST), which connects all four counties. You can start in one county and finish in another. On this trail that was created along the top of the Herbert Hoover Dike, you can go hiking, cycling and sightseeing. In 1993, it became part of the 1,400-mile Florida Scenic Trail, which is a part of the National Scenic Trail. You can see wildlife of all kinds line the rim. There is no charge to use the trail and there are access points approximately every seven miles around the lake. With all four counties lining the lake each have either locks or piers that you can walk along and observe an overview of the lake or enjoy several different wildlife sightings, such as seagulls and turtles. Alligators and several species of birds can be seen among the lily pads in the water. No matter which
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county you’re in, you have a place on the water to take in the view. There’s Torry Island Campground and Marina in Belle Glade, the Pahokee Marina in Pahokee and the Roland & Mary Ann Martin Marina and Resort in Clewiston that all offer spectacular scenic views and fantastic service and accommodations. If birding is your interest, Okeechobee, Glades and Hendry Counties have thousands of acres of Stormwater Treatment Areas that are wetlands constructed and managed by the South Florida Water Management District. On the land, there are trails where you can see the remnants of cypress trees and other wetland tree species. Birders can expect to see a variety of migratory and resident birds, including sandhill cranes, crested caracara, wood storks, great blue and tricolored herons, roseate spoonbills, black-necked stilts and white and glossy ibises. The Hendry-Glades Audubon Society has organized trips for anyone looking for a coordinated birding and wildlife adventure.
Outdoor Recreational Fun
Thanks to Florida’s year-round summer-type weather, residents, young and old, are able to stay busy outdoors all year long. From seasonal sports and racing to outdoor fun in the woods, visitors will never be left looking for something to do. With most days filled with sunshine and warmth, you never have to worry about it being “golf season.” Each county has courses open to the public, including one of Okeechobee’s located at the largest KOA in the system, one in Moore Haven that is a nine-hole championship golf course designed by Mark Sauger located at The Glades RV Resort, Golf and Marina, and the championship 18-hole Clewiston Golf Course. With the several woodlands that surround Lake Okeechobee, hunting and shooting are a great way to pass the time. North in Okeechobee, there are two premier outdoor-shooting and recreational facilities, Quail Creek and OK Corral, which both offer pistol and rifle shooting and possible hunting packages depending on the season. There is also Okeechobee Shooting
• BEAUTIFUL LODGING • SPORTING CLAYS • • QUAIL, TURKEY AND PHEASANT HUNTING • • WEDDINGS • CORPORATE EVENTS • SPECIAL EVENTS • Restaurant Open to the Public • Big Game Hunting Breakfast Buffet 7:30-10:30 every Saturday and Sunday at the Lodge
Quail Creek Plantation 12399 NE 224th St. Okeechobee, FL 34972 863.763.2529 www.quailcreekplantation.com Open to the public Wednesday thru Sunday, 8am-5pm
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Sports, a 100-acre outdoor facility rated five stars by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
throughout the various counties depicting not just beautiful pieces of art but also a long history of perseverance and growth.
In Glades County located near the small town of Palmdale, Fisheating Creek Outpost gives visitors a chance to fish and hunt while enjoying the outdoors. And situated on the outskirts of LaBelle, lies Silver Lakes Preserve, owned and operated by Lykes Bros. Inc. This pristine hunting preserve offers a variety of hunting and shooting opportunities, including deer, turkey, alligator and pheasant, along with spacious and comfortable accommodations for overnight guests.
Theaters, including the renowned Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center located on the Palm Beach State College campus in Belle Glade, showcase professional and local talent and provide clean, family entertainment.
If your idea of fun is being in the driver’s seat then the lake region can suffice, there are dirt bike and ATV tracks. And if you prefer to experience speed by controlling vehicles via remote control, the lake region also offers gatherings and clubs for that liking.
So Much More Than Fishing As you can see, there is so much more the lake region has to offer than just fishing. If you have a hobby, one of the counties or cities is bound to be able to accommodate. If history is what interests you, there are several city museums you can visit and tour. Murals and statues can be located
An abundance of events and festivals can be taken in and experienced throughout the year. There is always something to do no matter where you are. From skydiving at Skydive Spaceland to star gazing in the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park and even mining for crystals at the Fort Drum Crystal Mine or trying your luck at the Seminole Brighton Casino, Lake Okeechobee and the surrounding counties can keep you entertained.
Explore – Destination Lake Okeechobee No matter what your interests may be, one of these four great counties surrounding Lake Okeechobee can provide it. Each thrives in its own unique way, but all offer safe and supportive communities that are excited about growth. So, if you are looking for the perfect place to launch a new business, start a family, or simply just relax … take a look within this guide and see what each county has to offer. l Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center
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Join us for a 3 1/2 hour exciting and informative agriculture tour. See our field and milling operations, Lake Okeechobee and our citrus operations. Sample our fresh Florida orange juice and our sweetest crop.
Book Your Tour Today! MENTION THIS MAGAZINE TO RECEIVE A FREE GIFT AFTER YOUR TOUR
#SouthFloridaAgTour #DiscoverHendryCounty
109 CENTRAL AVENUE CLEWISTON, FL 33440
863.983.7979
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DISCOVER FLORIDA’S Torry Island Campground and Marina
Campground Planned Activities • MONTHLY SOCIALS - POTLUCK DINNERS - PANCAKE BREAKFASTS • ICE CREAM SOCIALS • GAME & MOVIE NIGHTS • KARAOKE NIGHTS
• GOLF TOURNAMENTS & NIGHT GOLF • LADIES’ AND MEN’S PUTTING CONTESTS • EXERCISE CLASSES • CHURCH SERVICES
The City of Belle Glade Welcomes You! 20 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | THE REGION
FRESHWATER PARADISE! Second Largest Freshwater Lake in the United States
Amenities • • • • • •
FISHING BOATING / AIRBOATS HIKING TRAILS BIKING TRAILS PICNIC AREA / PAVILION OBSERVATION TOWER
• • • • • •
GOLF COURSE (18 HOLES) 350 CAMPSITES ACTIVITY CENTER PLAYGROUND DOG PARK ON-SITE PUTTING GREEN
• BATHROOMS • LAUNDRY FACILITY w/AC • SECURITY GATES & CAMERAS • WiFi
50 0 0 W. Ca n a l St re et Nor t h , Bel l e Gl ade, F L 33 4 3 0 ( 5 61) 9 96. 63 2 2 | Tor r yI sl an dCampg rou n d.com THE REGION | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Live Entertainment•5K Run/Walk & 10K Run Volleyball Tournament•Car Show•Parade•Art Show
NYC3 tist TBA
Special Headline Ar
e e r FAdmission
PLEASE VISIT www.blackgoldjubilee.org for CURRENT Entertainment
UPDATES!
2020 ATorrypril 4 Island Campground 5000 W Canal St N \ Belle Glade, FL 33430
•
Kids Fishing Tournament Corn & Sweets Cook-Off Harvest Queen Pageant Games and Rides Corn Hole Tournament Photography Contest
• •
and so much
MORE!
For more information contact the Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce
540 S Main St, Belle Glade, Florida 33430 / 561.996.2745
melanie@bellegladechamber.com or brenda@bellegladechamber.com 22 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | THE REGION
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY US 441
Okeechobee
U S
Buckhead Ridge
98
US 27
Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation
GLADES COUNTY
78 FL-
Lakeport Palmdale 27 US
Ortona LaBelle
Canal Point Pahokee
Moore Haven
FL-80
MARTIN COUNTY
Clewiston
US 27
US 98
Muse
Port Mayaca US 98
Lake Okeechobee Area Map
Belle Glade South Bay
HENDRY COUNTY
WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY
Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation
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DON’T MISS THE ACTION PORT MAYACA POLO CLUB OFFERS EXCITMENT AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN IN A CASUAL ENVIRONMENT.
Constant Action. Laid-back Atmosphere. Free for Spectators. Spectators are welcome! You can come watch practices and tournament games; admission is free, with the exception of Molly’s House Charity Match. We encourage guests to dress comfortably, and bring a picnic if you plan to stay for awhile. There are public restrooms on site, but no concessions. Well behaved dogs are welcome, but must stay on a leash. Check the Schedule on this website, or call our hotline for times of upcoming events.
Many people envision polo as the Kentucky Derby where ladies don their beautiful dresses and elaborate hats. But polo at Port Mayaca is a family event; casual and laid back. Comfortable shoes, jeans, or casual dress is perfectly acceptable. Of course, if you’d like to don your fanciest hat, you are more than welcome!
We look forward to seeing you at Port Mayaca Polo Club!
Plan your trip to the polo club. Visit us online for see our schedule of events.
Main Entrance: 12499 SW Conners Hwy, Okeechobee, FL 34974
WWW.PORTMAYACAPOLOCLUB.COM
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r e g r u B t s e B d e t o ! V e e b o h c e e in Ok
307 N Parrott Ave • 863.623.4245 • OKEECHOBEE THE REGION | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Lake Okeechobee
Always Plenty of Fish to Be Caught
L
ake Okeechobee, or the “Big O,” as it’s commonly known as, remains as Okeechobee and the surrounding counties’ greatest attraction and source for recreational fun. It is one of the most famed bass fisheries on the planet. Sprawling over more than 450,000 acres of prime largemouth habitat, the massive lake is relatively clear and sports an abundance of aquatic vegetation — hydrilla, eelgrass, peppergrass, hyacinth, reeds, cattails, lily pads — that holds loads of baitfish and bass. For its size, the lake is actually quite shallow, with an average depth of only nine feet. The abundance of shallow cover and ample supply of food are what makes this body of water a bass fishing Mecca.
Okeechobee’s water level is a reoccurring topic when discussing the lake’s fishing conditions. The 2019 summer lake levels allowed for vegetation growth, which cultivated vital habitats for the marine life. Lake Okeechobee maintained an average water level of 13.47 for the month of October, making most areas of Lake Okeechobee fishable. Bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee is alive and well. Every year, the temperatures get high enough that algae begins to grow. That is common throughout the southern part of the United States all the way to California. It is not toxic, and a fish kill will not occur from the algae bloom. Over the last few years, the lake lost most of the submerged vegetation due storms. However, with time, the grass has grown back leading to cleaner water and a healthier lake. Anglers might feel overwhelmed on how to fish Lake Okeechobee or even where to begin. This massive body of water is covered in vegetation both visible and submerged. To
someone not familiar with large shallow lakes it appears to all look the same from one area to the next. Here you will find key advice on how to be successful on Lake Okeechobee. Water level plays a major role in the health of our beautiful lake. The water level has been well above average for the past few years. Due to the excessive water being stored on the lake, the vegetation is much thinner than usual. With that said, it still has more grass than most lakes you may fish. The vegetation is the key to filter the water, so with less vegetation comes low water clarity. With low water clarity, less sunlight reaches the bottom and makes it more difficult for new grass to grow. The water levels being higher than average has opened up areas for anglers and fish deeper in the marsh than we have seen in years. The quality of fish being caught recently is at an all-time high. Tournament anglers are enjoying Lake Okeechobee and proof of the lake’s vitality can be found in the results of those tournaments. Lake Okeechobee is not just known for giant bass but lots of bass as well. On an average day, you can expect to catch 30 to 60 bass, and it’s possible to catch over 100 on some days. Navigation on the lake can be difficult if water levels are low and you are not familiar with the lake. It is always a good idea to stop by a local tackle shop and ask the water levels and about navigating the lake. They can let you know if there are areas you need to avoid. If the water level is below average, it is a good idea to stay outside the visible grass lines while using your motor and use a trolling motor to move in to the grass. If the water levels are above average, it should be safe to navigate the boat trails in the marsh used by the locals. Hiring a guide, however, is a great option to help you navigate on the lake. THE REGION | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Lake Okeechobee Fishing Areas
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1- Indian Prairie 2- 4th Point 3- Tin House Cove 4- 3rdPrairie Point 1- Indian Buckhead 2- 4th5-Point 6- King’s Bar
3- Tin House Cove 4- 3rd Point 5- Buckhead 6- King’s Bar 7- Open Water Drifting
7- Open Water Drifting for Crappie 8- Kissimmee River 9- Little Grassy for Crappie 10- Eagle Bay River 8- Kissimmee 11- Government Cut
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12- Taylor Creek Key: 13- Henry Creek 14- Rim Canal
18- Rita Island 19- East Wall 20- Clewiston Canal 21West WallWall 21- West 22Observation Shoal Shoal 22- Observation 23- North Shore
15- J & S Canal 14- Rim 16- Kreamer 15- J & S Island 17- Long Point 9- Little Grassy 16- Kreamer Island 23- North Shore 10- Eagle Bay 17- Long Point Tips for Fishing Areas 11- Government Cut by Season/Fish 18- Rita found Island on page 34-35. ➢ 12- Taylor Creek 19- East Wall THE REGION | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2019 33 13- Henry Creek 20- Clewiston Canal
Tips for Fishing Areas by Season/Fish found on page 30-31. 28 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | THE REGION
Fishing Information Lake Okeechobee offers two types of bass fishing: • Artificial Lures • Live Bait (Golden Shiners) Live bait is the “best bait” to catch giant bass on the Big O. Fish the shiners hooked in the nose or behind the dorsal fin. A 3/0 kahle hook or 5/0 light wire circle hook with a 1-1/2” to 2” bobber 2’-5’ above the shiner. These golden shiners is recommended produce 75 percent of the trophy bass caught on Lake Okeechobee.
Hiring a Professional Guide For experienced and inexperienced anglers alike, time on the water with a fishing guide can pay dividends. Some people hire guides simply so they can catch fish. Other folks want to learn the basics of the sport, or have the guide teach them a particular technique. Still, others hope guides can help them unlock the secrets of their favorite bodies of water.
Availability of Professional Fishing Guides Lake Okeechobee is home to some of the best freshwater fishing guides in the United States, catering to thousands of anglers every year. Three hundred and sixty five days a year, rain or shine, anglers can always find a licensed guide available. During the “season” (December through March), some guides will be booked out a year or more in advance for certain dates. To guarantee your specific trip date and guide, it is recommended to book several months in advance during this time.
Why Hire a Local Professional Fishing Guide?
1. Unmatched knowledge — A guide can reduce the angler’s learning curve drastically, allowing for more time catching fish than trying to figure out how to catch fish.
2. A professional guide provides anglers with proven techniques and fishing locations to assure a fun-filled experience on the water.
3. Lake Okeechobee is home to world-class largemouth
Fast Break Professional Guides 863-824-3474 | 866-213-2474 www.OkeechobeeBassFishingGuide.com
Captain Allen Duke Captain Kyle Monti Captain Robbie Ward Captain Brad Gibson Captain Nathan Shellen
Captain Wade Lightsey Captain Justin Morgan Captain Larry Crossman Captain Mike Jones
•••••••••
Okeechobee Fishing Headquarters 863-357-0892 | 863-763-2248 www.fishokeechobee.net Captain Michael Shellen
•••••••••
Roland Martin Marina Professional Guides 863-983-3151 | 800-473-6766 www.RolandMartinMarina.com
Captain Mike Balon Captain Chet Douthit Captain Mark King Captain Kevin Long Captain Dave Schneider Captain Jerry Ware
Captain Fred Barraks Captain Terry Garrels Captain Steve Lake Captain Tom Mann Captain Ed Steadley
bass and black crappie fishing, and hiring a professional guide gives anglers their best opportunity to catch these world-class fish.
4. The shallow waters of Lake Okeechobee can give anglers new to the lake a little trouble but the knowledgeable local fishing guides can provide new anglers navigation tips for staying safe.
THE REGION | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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BASS
Use Fishing Area map on page 28 for number reference below.
Summer Time (June, July, August) Areas
4 — 3rd Point 6 — King’s Bar (East Side) 12 & 14 — Taylor Creek/Rim Canal 15 — J & S 16 — Kreamer Island 17 — Long Point 22 — Observation Shoal
Look For
• Shad flickering • Outside grass edges • Diving birds • Depressions, offshore structure, and deeper water • Brim beds • Shad balls
Baits
• 4 x 4 Swim Jig (White) • Zara Spook (Okie Shad) • Rattletrap (Chrome/Black Back) • Trick Worm (Black) • Spinnerbait (White) • Stick Baits
Summer time is all about getting on the water early, typically 15 minutes before sunrise. The first hour or two is great for spinnerbaits, zara spooks and swim jigs fished along the outside grass lines or outer edge of vegetation. After the morning bite, slow down and fish a Carolina rig or Texas rig with a trick worm or 10” worm around deeper water.
Fall Fishing (September, October, November) Areas
1 — Indian Prairie 2 — 4th Point 6 — King’s Bar (South End) 9 — Little Grassy 16 — Kreamer Island 17 — Long Point 18 — Rita Island 22 — Observation Shoal 23 — North Shore
Look For
• Topped out hydrilla • Lily pads • Pepper grass • Thick cover
Baits
• Popping Frog (Natural Green) • Gambler Big EZ (Copperfield) • Medlock Jig (1oz Black/Blue) • Speed Worm (Junebug)
The fall brings cooler weather and the bass start feeding heavily this time of year. Look for topped out grass to fish popping frogs and Gambler Big EZ over the thickest submerged grass you can find in the morning. After a morning bite, switch to targeting reed heads on the outer edge with a Medlock jig or a magnum speed worm. The popping frog and Medlock jig produce big fish, just be patient they are proven on the Big O.
Winter Fishing (December, January, February) Areas
3 — Tin House Cove 5 — Buckhead 6 — King’s Bar (North End) 13 — Henry Creek 17 — Long Point 19 — East Wall 22 — Observation Shoal 23 — North Shore
Look For
• Hard bottom in grass • Hydrilla, reeds, cattails • Matted hydrilla • Spawning Bass/Fry • Clean water • Isolated lily pads
Baits
• Swimbaits (Copperfield) • Devil’s Horse • Speed Worm & Senkos • Sweet Beaver & BB Cricket • Boy Howdy • Stick Baits • Buzz Frogs • Bladed Jigs
The winter puts the giant largemouth bass into spawning mode. Look for large groups of bass to move into the shallows to spawn a few days before both the new and full moons. Target and locate these fish with swimbaits, devil’s horse, and speed worms. Fish these baits around hydrilla, reeds, and any other areas with hard bottom. Look for isolated lily pad clumps and make long casts so you don’t spook the fish. If a cold front moves in, target the thickest cover with a 1oz-2 oz tungsten weight with a sweet beaver or BB cricket and pitch/flip/punch for some big fish. Clean water will increase your catch rate during the spawn (2 foot plus is sufficient).
Spring Time (March, April, May) Areas
1 — Indian Prairie 3 — Tin House 6 — King’s Bar (South End) 10 — Eagle Bay 16 — Kreamer Island 18 — Rita Island 19 — East Wall 22 — Observation Shoal 23 — North Shore
Look For
• Clean water 1’-3’ • Kissimmee grass lines • Topped out hydrilla • Reeds • Subtle points or depressions
Baits
• Spinnerbait (White) • Swim Jig (White) • Horny Toad (Black or White) • Medlock Jig (1oz Black/Blue) • Big EZ (White) • Skinny Dippers • Heavy Flipping Jigs • Buzz Frogs
March ends the bass spawn and starts the bluegill and shellcracker spawn. Look for bass to feed on these sunfish as they spawn in large groups creating a feeding ground for the bass. The bass will start to move to the outer edge of the cattail wall this time of year. Swim jig and Big EZ are the baits to target these areas. Shad will start to spawn on the outside grass lines for the first hour of daylight, look for shad flickering and bass busting. Target these areas by throwing spinnerbaits, swim jigs, horny toads, and Big EZs. Switch to a Medlock jig and fish reed heads after the morning bite.
30 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | THE REGION
Areas
1 — Indian Prairie 7 — 2 Miles SE of Kissimmee (Open Water Drifting) 8 — Kissimmee River (Mouth) 11 — Government Cut
Look For
Baits
• Structure • Drop-offs, humps, deeper water • Schools of fish on sonar • Outside grass lines
• Minnows • Hair Jigs • Rubber Jigs
Prime crappie time is between November and April, providing anglers with great success. Although they are caught year round, the warmer months are much slower. The mouth of the Kissimmee River is the most popular spot, while government cut is the second most popular spot. Both provide anglers great opportunities. Target crappie by fishing minnows 3’-10’ deep under a small bobber. You will find success during the day and at night. Anglers can also jig for crappie in the grass and reeds to catch crappie around Little Grassy, King’s Bar, and Buckhead areas.
SUNFISH (BLUEGILL/SHELLCRACKER) Areas
5 — Buckhead 6 — King’s Bar (North End) 8 — Kissimmee River 11 — Government Cut 15 — J & S
Look For
• Hard Bottom • Reeds, eel grass, hydrilla • Grass points • Structure, Fingers, and banks of deeper water canals
Baits
• Red Worms • Crickets • Grass Shrimp • Beetle Spin
Looking for a good way to get kids into fishing, this is it! These sunfish spawn in groups of five to 2,000 fish in one little area with the average group being 20 to 50 fish. Look for these fish spawning anywhere with clean water and hard bottom. Ease around while looking down into the water until you find groups of small white circles together and start fishing. These small white circles are spawning beds and can be seen very easy in clean water.
2020 OKEECHOBEE AREA FISHING EVENTS January 4
Lake Okeechobee Crappie Series Scott Driver Park
April 4
Lake Okeechobee Crappie Series Okee-Tantie Marina
May 16
American Bass Anglers Tournament Scott Driver Park
January 25
American Bass Anglers Tournament Roland Martin Marina & Resort
February 1
Lake Okeechobee Crappie Series Okee-Tantie Marina
March 7
American Bass Anglers Tournament Scott Driver Park
March 7
Lake Okeechobee Crappie Series Okee-Tantie Marina
March 12
Costa FLW Series Roland Martin Marina & Resort
March 28
American Bass Anglers Tournament Roland Martin Marina & Resort
THE REGION | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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CRAPPIE/SUNFISH
CRAPPIE
S U N R I S E T H E AT R E 2 019 / 2 0 2 0 S E A S O N
tickets on sale now! AEG Live Presents: Michael Carbonaro Live!.................................................................Saturday, November 23 2019 7PM Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical................................................................Sunday, December 22 2019 3PM The National Ballet Theatre of Odessa Presents: The Nutcracker....................................Thursday, December 26 2019 7PM Top of the world: A Carpenters Tribute..................................................................................Friday, January 10 2019 8PM The Righteous Brothers W/ Bill Medley & Bucky Heard.................................................... Saturday, January 11 2020 8PM Chris MacDonald’s Memories of Elvis - Rockin’ Birthday Bash.......................................... Saturday, January 18 2020 7PM Jack Hanna’s Into The Wild Live Presented by Nationwide..............................................Thursday, January 23 2020 7PM The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston Starring Belinda Davids...................Friday, January 24 2020 8PM The Temptations...............................................................................................................Saturday, January 25 2020 8PM A Bronx Tale Starring Chazz Palminteri...........................................................................Saturday, February 01 2020 8PM AEG Presents: Kris Kristofferson - The Strangers Tour.......................................................Saturday, February 05 2020 7PM Kyman Entertainment & Preemo Prod. Present “Bring Back The Memories”.....................Saturday, February 08 2020 8PM Kyman Entertainment & Preemo Prod. Present That Motown Band.......................................Friday, February 14 2020 8PM w/ Special Guest LaLa Brooks ABBA Mania: The Original from London’s West End.......................................................Saturday, February 15 2020 8PM The Man In Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash......................................................................Sunday, February 16 2020 8PM Catapult: The Amazing Magic of Shadow Dancing.........................................................Thursday, February 20 2020 7PM The Beach Boys..............................................................................................................Saturday, February 22 2020 8PM Dinosaur World Live!........................................................................................................Sunday, February 23 2020 3PM Hotel California - A Salute To The Eagles........................................................................Thursday, February 27 2020 7PM Georgia On My Mind: Celebrating The Music of Ray Charles............................................Saturday, March 07 2020 8PM Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes..........................................................................Wednesday, March 11 2020 7PM . Stellar Entertainment Presents: The Australian Bee Gees Show.............................................Thursday, March 12 2020 7PM An Intimate Evening With David Foster....................................................................................Friday, March 13 2020 8PM National Touring Company Presents An American In Paris..................................................Saturday, March 14 2020 8PM Brian Regan.......................................................................................................................Saturday, March 15 2020 7PM NY Rockabilly Presents “Shake, Rattle, Roll”.......................................................................Saturday, March 18 2020 7PM An Evening With the Stars - Las Vegas Edwards Twins & Special Guest Johnny T............Wednesday, March 25 2020 7PM Rocktopia – Direct from its smash-hit run on Broadway........................................................Thursday, March 26 2020 7PM Up, Up and Away - Starring Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr...............................................Sunday, March 29 2020 7PM Chris Botti..............................................................................................................................Thursday, April 16 2020 7PM My Little Pony Live.................................................................................................................Thursday, April 30 2020 7PM One Night of Queen: Performed by Gary Mullen & The Works.............................................Saturday, May 02 2020 8PM The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston Starring Belinda Davids
Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild Live
the beach boys
shows booked to date, more shows will be added throughout the season! www.sunrisetheatre.com 117 South 2nd St. Box office M-F 10am-2pm Historic Downtown Fort Pierce 772.461.4775. 32 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Follow us!
We’re PROUD to be ranked #1 Nursing Home in Florida by Newsweek Magazine!
“WE LOVE TO CARE”
Sonny and Betty Williamson enjoy the Mardi Gras party with Sandy Perry
! We LOVE to have Parties
Family owned and operated, Okeechobee Health Care Facility began providing Long-term and Rehab care to the citizens of Okeechobee and the surrounding communities in December of 1984. Rehab Therapy, consisting of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Out-Patient Therapy, is available six days a week in a kind, caring environment. Long-term care is available for loved ones who can no longer be cared for safely at home, in addition to a secured Dementia/Alzheimer Memory-Care Unit.
• Dietitian-Developed Nutritious Meals & Snacks • Stimulating & Fun Daily Activities • Dedicated Nurses and CNAs Provide • Pastoral Services Personal Care 24 Hours Every Day • Home-Like Atmosphere • Loving End-of-Life Comfort Measures • Sit-and-Visit Spots • 5-Star Federal and State Rated
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Okeechobee Health Care Facility Rehab Care • Long Term Care • Memory Care Personal Nursing Care 24/7 5 Star Federal and State Rated • Governor’s Gold-Seal Award Recipient
1646 US Highway 441 North • Okeechobee, Florida 34972
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863.763.2226 H H H H H
www.Okeechobeehealthcare.com
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Residential community
KOA Golf Course
Okeechobee County lifestyle
Welcome to
OKEECHOBEE County
O
n the northern point of Lake Okeechobee is where you will find its namesake, Okeechobee County. For those looking to escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city, they will feel right at home in Okeechobee County, a county that welcomes diversity but retains its small-town family atmosphere. As Okeechobee Main Street’s logo states, Okeechobee has “old values and new visions.” And those values and visions are coming together to make Okeechobee the rich thriving community that it is today. Okeechobee County is centrally located in South Central Florida and offers easy access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. With Okeechobee only 70 miles from West Palm Beach, 115 from Tampa, 105 from Orlando and 135 from Miami, the crossroads in the center of town offer a perfect escape to Florida attractions, beaches and amenities of larger cities. The major interstates, railway, waterways, ports and airport provide unlimited access. And with the Kissimmee River on the western boundary, Okeechobee has access to miles of river channels and wetland habitat which provides unlimited opportunities for water sports, fishing and wildlife viewing. Top that off with a moderate climate with summer temperatures averaging from 72 to 93 and mild winters from 49 to 73, outdoor activities are always an option no matter the month or season.
Okeechobee life extends past county limits with Buckhead Ridge and the Brighton Seminole Reservation residents calling Okeechobee home. Located on Hwy 78 immediately across the Kissimmee River, these two communities, even though they are technically part of Glades County, work, attend school and otherwise participate in the life of Okeechobee. The Seminole Tribe of Florida and Okeechobee have a longstanding relationship, with the Seminole Tribe continuing to play a very active role in Okeechobee’s past and present. Okeechobee is proud of its history and proudly retains its links to the past. Visitors can take a look back through Okeechobee’s history on display at the historical museum as well as various murals around town depicting local historical times and events. The city’s active cultural environment includes an annual arts festival held in the center of town, a community theater program that has entertained residents for over 35 years, as well as drama and art activities for the youth. The Arts & Culture Committee of Okeechobee Main Street works tirelessly to bring free public outdoor art to the community through projects such as the Butterfly Sculpture Project that can be viewed downtown in Flagler Park. Throughout the year, there is never a lack of activities and events for residents to partake in. Many civic associations and service clubs help sponsor and put on events, such as a community blood drive, seasonal festivals in the park, year-
34 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
round rodeos and an annual re-enactment of the battle of the second Seminole War called the Battle of Okeechobee. There are also monthly mixers and after-hour events hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Okeechobee and Okeechobee Main Street that bring businesses and the community together. One of Okeechobee’s newest annual events, the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival draws thousands of visitors from all across the world for a four-day concert event that features award-winning artists such as Usher and Snoop Dogg.
Okeechobee County Fair
Okeechobee is also home to the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, which offers hiking, wildlife viewing, camping and one of the darkest night skies. The park is designated as an “International Dark Sky,” one of only 20 in the world. With an excellent road system encircling the lake, travelers have several scenic viewpoints to visit, including several campgrounds and RV parks, including the Okeechobee KOA — the largest KOA with a nine-hole golf course. Just north of town, nature enthusiasts can take a walk, run or bike ride along a winding path through 170 acres of trees and wetlands where Taylor Creek once flowed. Known as the Taylor Creek Stormwater Treatment Area, it is the perfect destination for bird watchers and photographers as it attracts a variety of migratory and resident birds, including sandhill cranes, crested caracara, wood storks and great blue and tricolored herons. Wild turkeys, deer and alligators are also occasionally seen on the trail. The lake, however, isn’t the only thing this small vibrant county is nationally known for. All that one must do is simply drive outside of city limits and instantly Okeechobee’s other commodity becomes visible — cattle. Okeechobee has been recognized as the top cattle and calf-producing county in the state of Florida with over 180,000 head. Many of Okeechobee’s original cattle farms are now owned and operated by third and fourth generation farmers. Nationally, Florida ranked 10th in beef cows, with Okeechobee County producing the largest head at roughly 82,000. The beef cattle industry in Okeechobee primarily produces feeder Downtown Okeechobee murals
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Butterfly Sculpture Project calves, which are sold off annually at six to 10 months of age and around 500 pounds. Along with leading the state in beef cows, Okeechobee is also a leading dairy county in Florida. Okeechobee alone is milking approximately 25,000 head of dairy cows daily resulting in $120,000,000 a year in dairy revenue for Okeechobee County. With an ever-growing campus, Indian River State College (IRSC) is becoming a top college choice for graduating seniors in Okeechobee and surrounding communities. With over 100 bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees and technical certificate programs available, IRSC Dixon-Hendry Campus is making college more affordable and accessible to students. Students no longer have to travel to receive a quality education. Combining quality and affordability, IRSC was honored as a Top Three Finalist with Distinction for the Aspen Prize for Excellence out of more than 1,000 colleges nationwide and has been ranked as the 3rd Most Affordable College in the country by the U.S. Department of Education.
Top of the Lake Art Fest
Okeechobee Livestock Market
36 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Downtown Okeechobee
Come visit Dr. Matthew Schiermyer in our Okeechobee location
GET YOUR LIFE BACK! Our Mission:
to provide the very best patient care while achieving the highest quality results. At Simpson Advanced Chiropractic & Medical Center, we strive for excellence through superior patient treatment, education and satisfaction.
OKEECHOBEE
863-410-2860 319 N Parrott Ave
STUART | PORT ST. LUCIE
772-463-2344
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This is accomplished through the utilization of the most current techniques and advanced technologies, as our staff continually expand their education and practical applications. Simpson Medical prides itself on using the most advanced technology and equipment that is available to quickly alleviate the most severe health problems.
Our Services:
• Chiropractic Adjustments • Physical Therapy • Laser Disc Relief • Cold Laser • Spinal Disc Decompression
• Neuropathy Treatment • Arthritis Relief • Massage Therapy • Internal Medicine • Weight Loss / Nutrition Counseling
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Okeechobee’s hospital and nursing home have also made names for themselves. Raulerson Hospital has been recognized as a ‘Top Performer’ by the Joint Commission on Key Quality Measures for five years in a row. It is one of only 117 hospitals nationwide to achieve this recognition. And Okeechobee Health Care Facility has received the Governor’s Gold Seal Award for its excellence in providing long-term care and has been named a 5-Star rated facility for over 15 years. With endless activities, quality education, cutting-edge medicine and open space for relaxation, Okeechobee offers it all but without the pressures of intense urban living. A community where residents once had to drive out of town for basic conveniences is no more. With businesses and new opportunity constantly popping up, Okeechobee is the perfect place to launch a career or start a family. l
Okeechobee High School
Indian River State College (IRSC)
38 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
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40 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
The
Okeechobee County
Tourist Development Council
welcomes you to our paradise!
O
keechobee County would like to invite you to come outside and play. Okeechobee is most commonly known for Lake Okeechobee. This beautiful freshwater lake is over 730 square miles of fishing paradise. Fishing can be done year-round with local guides ready to take you out to get that trophy catch instead of just talking about it! Not a fisherman, the lush landscape offers some of the most productive hunting grounds in Florida. Boar, deer, pheasant, quail and don’t forget gators are just some of the prizes you can brag about when you get back home. Hunting and fishing not your thing? Okeechobee offers visitors and residents a friendly walkable downtown with unique boutiques and small local eateries that will tempt your taste buds with truly delicious dining. The downtown Flagler parks allow for patrons to stroll leisurely from shop to shop as well as host to a number of local events and most recently a stunning public art project of beautifully painted butterflies by local artists and coordinated by our Okeechobee Main Street Arts & Culture Alliance.
Okeechobee also offers some historical sites to see and murals that depict the treasured historical culture of this rural community. This small-town prides itself on it’s hospitality and agricultural roots so don’t be surprised to see that cows outnumber people and we like it that way, as will you. Your trip can really come to life when you request your free Visitor’s Guide to Okeechobee County. Don’t hesitate to request your guide online at www.visitokeechobeecounty.com or to give me a call at (863) 763-3959. So, make time to spend time in Okeechobee where natural Florida is the attraction.
Sharie Turgeon Tourist Coordinator Okeechobee County Tourist Development Council
Sharie Turgeon
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
41
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42 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
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OKEECHOBEE COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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44 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Louisiana and Peter Raulerson
Park Street c.1940
Okeechobee County
5
HISTORY
First schoolhouse c.1909
O
keechobee means “big water” in the Seminole Indian language, an appropriate name being that Lake Okeechobee is the second largest fresh water lake in the United States, second in size only to Lake Michigan. Over the years, Lake Okeechobee has had many names, the earliest of which being Mayaimi (an early Indian Tribe). It has also gone by the names Laguna del Esperitu Santo, meaning Lake of the Holy Spirit, Lake Mayacco and Lake Mayoco before finally being named Lake Okeechobee. Until the late 1830s, the dense untamed landscape of Central Florida deterred exploration. Following efforts to relocate native tribes to the west, the Seminole Indians had only one avenue of escape, south. The U.S. Army pursued a band of Seminoles to the shoreline of Lake Okeechobee in an event that would later be referred to as “Col. Zachary Taylor’s Christmas Party.” On Dec. 25, 1837 the Battle of Okeechobee was fought between the Seminole Indians and Col. Zachary Taylor’s U.S. Army unit. What became the bloodiest battle of the Second Seminole War ended with many U.S. casualties
and the Seminole Indians retreating deep into the swamp. Today, the 145-acre Okeechobee Battlefield State Park, commemorating the event, is located just off US Hwy 441 SE, just a few miles southeast of the city. Following the Seminole’s escape, the marshy region on the lake’s northern coast remained unexplored until the 1880s when Hamilton Disston brought dredges. Disston began work on the Kissimmee River in an attempt to open the land for development. At that time, only wild game, birds and Native Americans occupied the region. Disston began work on a route through land covered with water oak, cypress, rubber and palmetto trees, beginning in the City of Kissimmee and heading south to Lake Okeechobee. Soon after the excavation began people started to take notice of the beautiful land and lake. In October 1896, Peter and Louisiana (Chandler) Raulerson arrived at Taylor Creek, a few miles north of the lake. The Raulersons stretched 30 miles of fence from Taylor Creek to the Kissimmee River, enclosing the river’s bend.
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Seminole Indians c.1850
Raulerson cattle crew
Shortly thereafter, other settlers began to arrive. W.A. “Buster” Ferrell built a home just west of Taylor Creek and Samuel L. Gray paddled his way down the Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee in 1899.
a Connecticut Yankee the children nicknamed “Mother Hubbard,” served as the first teacher.
A year earlier, the Raulerson family built the first schoolhouse at the river’s bend to provide an education for their children. At the time six children were required to start a school. To have enough children the Yates children were “borrowed” from Fort Drum, just to the north. Dr. George M. Hubbard,
The U.S. Government sent Henry Hudson Hancock and his brother James to survey an area of the lake. Henry decided to move his family to Taylor Creek and took over as the schoolteacher. Later, he became instrumental in establishing the area’s first voting precinct in 1903 with seven voters. As the population increased, Tantie Huckabee, a well-educated lady from South Carolina was brought down to teach. The
46 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
community honored her energy and enthusiasm by naming the school after her. Her name was also given to the first post office, and the town began to be known as Tantie. A thriving economy drew even more settlers to Tantie. Numerous industries such as hunting, citrus and farming were already growing, but none as much as the catfish industry. In 1906 the steamer Success carried 6,000 pounds of fish from the lake on its first haul. In 1912, Robert Upthegrove established Upthegrove Beach, a tiny town on the north shore of Lake Okeechobee. In time, it became a large fishing site on what is now Hwy 441 SE. In 1911, the St. Lucie County Tribune announced that work would soon start on a branch line of the Florida East Coast Railway that would run from Maytown, north of Titusville on the east coast, to Tantie. Because of the new developments in and around the town, on Oct. 4, 1911 the name Tantie was deemed inappropriate and was changed to Okeechobee. Later that year, P.L. Jenkins enlisted a civil engineer to lay out and survey the new city. Many of the street names originated from the area’s Indian heritage: Okeechobee, Seminole, Osceola, Hicpochee, Miami, Kissimmee, Parrott, Tallahassee, Cherokee, Hiwasee, Micanopee, Meridith and Oklosnokee. Those names remained until the 1970s when streets and avenues were given new names and numbers.
After a visit to the region, South Florida Railroad Company owner Henry Morrison Flagler initiated a re-design of the city to include wide streets, a central park and many wooden buildings, some of which still exist today. He envisioned it becoming the “Chicago of the South.” Created from portions of Osceola, St. Lucie and Palm Beach counties, the boundaries of Okeechobee County and the incorporation of the city were formalized on June 4, 1915. Florida Gov. Park Trammell (1913 to 1917) appointed municipal officers that included Mayor Peter Raulerson, Clerk of Accessory Henry Chandler, and Councilmen L.M. Raulerson, W.L. Coats, Dr. C. R. Darrow, S.J. Drawdy and C.L. Hatch. The first city council meeting was held on July 13, 1915. Okeechobee’s first chief of police or city marshal was Benjamin F. Hall, who was appointed July 14, 1915 and served until September 1915. He was succeeded by J.W. Raulerson and William E. “Pogey Bill” Collins. Okeechobee was finally recognized as a county on May 8, 1917. In 1919 the name of the city was changed from Okeechobee City to the City of Okeechobee. Over the years, Okeechobee has endured many devastating storms and hurricanes. Two of the most deadly occurred within two years of each other. In 1926, a storm came rolling through with 125 mph winds. Lake Okeechobee flooded killing hundreds and injuring thousands. But the real blow came in 1928 when a second and even worse storm struck. As it moved throughout South Florida the floodwaters of Lake
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Okeechobee rose as high as 12 feet. The death toll went into the thousands. To prevent such devastation in the future, the Hoover Dike was created in 1929. The dike protects areas around the lake from flood damage during hurricane season. Lake Okeechobee is the water lifeline for South Florida. It stores and supplies water to many cities and agricultural communities to its south. Locks located approximately every seven miles around the lake provide fishing and boating access.
Peter Raulerson’s log cabin
Today, Okeechobee is truly a crossroads linking the east and west coasts of Florida. The county comprises 771 square miles with a population of approximately 40,000, with 5,500 of whom reside in the City of Okeechobee. It is known for dairy and beef cattle, fishing and tourism industries. The industrial park located next to the county airport is a growing area that provides several advantages to manufacturers. Okeechobee may be considered small in size but its history is long and rich. The small-town community is largely cultured and diverse having gone through many changes over the past several centuries. Different names, different people, different buildings. But all the changes, big and small, have made Okeechobee what it is today, a place many are proud to call home. l
Fish house on Taylor Creek c.1915
Florida East Coast Railway
48 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Vicki Anderson (863) 634-4106
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oBattle of Okeechobee Every February history comes alive when the final battle of the Second Seminole War is re-enacted just off US Hwy 441 SE. It is known as the largest and fiercest battle during the Seminole Wars that pitted the Seminole Indians, who fought to escape relocation to western reservations, against U.S. troops led by Col. Zachary Taylor on December 25, 1837. Participants wear authentic costumes of the era and re-enact the bloodiest battle, giving viewers an inside look into history. For further information contact 863-610-2333 or visit www.okeechobeebattlefield.com.
Okeechobee County
Battle of Okeechobee
Things To See & Do oThe Adam Bryant Minimal Regatta In tribute to the cohesiveness of Okeechobee, the Regatta is named for Adam Bryant, an Okeechobee native who was a volunteer firefighter when he was injured in a camping accident that left him paralyzed, before passing away a few years later. Entrants are given minimal supplies, including one sheet of luan plywood, two pieces of lumber, a box of screws and duct tape, and must build a boat of any shape or size to race and keep afloat. For further information visit www. okeechobee.simplerace.com. The Adam Bryant Minimal Regatta
oKissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park Located 25 miles north of Okeechobee on Hwy 441, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is the largest remaining stretch of Florida dry prairie, home to an array of endangered plants and animals. The park consists of over 100 miles of multi-use nature trails where hikers, bicyclists and equestrians can explore the grasslands. Guided swamp buggy tours are also offered seasonally through the 54,000-acre preserve. And for those who want a real once-in-a-lifetime experience, they can reserve a campsite and view the dark night sky over the prairie. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park, the first in Florida. For more information call 863-462-5360 or visit www.floridastateparks.org.
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
52 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Bow Service on ALL Makes & Models Bow Shooting Lessons Bow Fishing Tournaments
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OKEECHOBEE COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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o Rodeo Celebrations
Rodeo Celebrations
Various rodeos, including ranch and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeos, draw competitors from all around the country and are held either at the Cattlemen’s Rodeo Arena on 441 N or the Agri-Civic Center on Hwy 70 E. Events include bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, roping, bulldogging and team roping. For further information contact Okeechobee Main Street at 863-357-6246 or the Chamber of Commerce at 863-467-6246.
o Fort Drum Crystal Mine Located on the outskirts of town, Fort Drum Crystal Mine is a bit of a hidden gem where visitors can possibly unearth a few hidden “treasures” of their own. What once used to be a former mining operation for the fossilized shell rock is now a place where eager diggers can search for fossilized clams the size of your hand filled with honey-colored calcite crystals. For more information call 863-634-4579.
o Okeechobee Community Theatre Founded in 1979, the Okeechobee Community Theatre is a volunteer-based organization of local adults and young people who present high quality live Broadway-style musicals, comedies and dramas at a reasonable price for audiences in South Central Florida. They specialize in entertainment that is suitable for the entire family. All performances are presented in the historic Okeechobee Auditorium located at 610 SW Second Avenue in downtown Okeechobee. The intimate 260-seat facility keeps you close to the action on stage. For more information visit www.okeechobeecommunitytheatre.com or call 863-763-1307.
o Okeechobee
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54 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
County Fair
March welcomes the fair held at the Agri-Civic Center on Hwy 70 E. The fair features rides for young and old, as well as local vendors displaying their unique products. During the weeklong festival, several competitions are held, including beauty pageants, barbecue contests, craft competitions and 4-H’s annual livestock show and sale. The fair offers a little something for everyone ranging from food to entertainment. For further information visit www.okeechobeecountyfair.com.
o Top of the Lake Art Fest
& Taste of Okeechobee Held in January, this festival highlights both local and area-wide artists, as well as youth and amateur artists, and takes place in downtown Okeechobee. The Art Fest has grown to represent art in all forms — chalk artwork done as you watch, paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, woodcarvings and more. The Taste of Okeechobee takes place the first night of the Art Fest and for a small fee participants are able to enjoy an evening of tasty samplers from local restaurants. For further information contact Okeechobee Main Street at 863-357-6246 or visit www.okeechobeemainstreet.org.
o OK Corral Gun Club Open to the public seven days a week, OK Corral Gun Club is a premier shooting sports club featuring trap and skeet, two championship sporting clay courses, covered pistol and rifle ranges, a wobble deck, 5-stand, 10 cowboy action stages and a competition steel park all spread out along 350 acres of real Florida country land. Lodging and picnic areas are also available. To find out more visit www.okcorralgunclub.com.
o Quail Creek Plantation Tucked away in the NE section of town is Quail Creek Plantation, a state-of-the-art hunting and shooting lodge where Florida land still exists as nature intended it to be. It has two 14-station sporting clay courses, wobbletraps and a comfortable, covered 5-stand. Seasonal hunting packages for hog, quail, turkey and pheasant hunting are also offered. Overnight accommodations are available with fully equipped dog-friendly cottages. Visit www.quail creekplantation.com for more information.
Top of the Lake Art Fest
o Arnold’s Wildlife
Rehabilitation Center With new species arriving at any given time, Arnold’s Wildlife is home to over 50 species of mammals, birds and reptiles, with 11 of them on the endangered list. Arnold’s Wildlife is a non-profit educational-based wildlife care facility that rescues, rehabilitates and releases animals back into their natural habitats. Arnold’s Wildlife also has a butterfly garden with 500 to 800 free-roaming butterflies and 88 species identified by the National Butterfly Association. The garden has created its own ecosystem with Mother Nature taking care of it. The rehabilitation center is located just off US Hwy 441 SE. For more information visit www.arnoldswildlife.org.
o Speckled Perch Festival and Parade Hosted by Okeechobee Main Street in March, the annual Speckled Perch Festival and Parade is the oldest celebration in Okeechobee, dating back to 1965. At that time, the festival honored the fishing industry with a parade and fish fry in the park during the height of the tourist season and the tradition continues today. There is local talent, food, arts and crafts and fun. The Speckled Perch Festival also includes a parade on Saturday to kick the weekend off. For more information visit www.okeechobeemainstreet.org.
o Okeechobee Music & Arts Fest Held in the Sunshine Grove, deep in the heart of Okeechobee, the Okeechobee Music and Arts Fest is a four-day musical experience comprised of multi-genre music, immersive art and transformative events. It is an annual event that began in 2016 and brings over 32,000 spectators. It is the largest camping music festival held in Florida. The grounds include a white-sand beach, coined Aquachobee Beach, where attendees can relax and sunbathe or join a game of volleyball. Yoga and holistic workshops are also available to those who desire a calmer break in their day. The Okeechobee Music and Arts Fest is held in the beginning of March and offers a little bit for everyone with major recording artists, such as Usher, Kendrick Lamar, Robert Plant and Hall and Oates, and over 100 other various artists performing late into the evenings. For more information visit www.okeechobeefest.com. l OKEECHOBEE COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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56 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
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Title Insurance • Real Estate Closings
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IMPORTANT NUMBERS All Emergencies........................................911
Pregnancy Center..........................863-467-8748
Rehabilitation Facility.....................863-763-6226
Public Safety..................................863-763-3212
School Superintendent..................863-462-5000
Poison Control Center...................800-222-1222
Senior Services..............................863-462-5180
Social Security...............................800-772-1213
FIRE
Shared Services Network
TDD................................................800-325-0778
.........................................863-462-5000 ext. 257
Tourist Development Council.........863-763-3959
Veterans Service Office..................863-763-8124
State’s Attorney.............................863-763-5557
Police, Fire and Rescue..................................911
Fire Emergency...............................................911 City Fire..........................Business 863-467-1586 County Fire.....................Business 863-763-5544
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Supervisor of Elections..................863-763-4014 Tax Collector..................................863-763-3084
Forest Fire Reporting.....................863-462-5160
Animal Control...............................863-357-3225
POLICE
Driver’s License..............................863-462-5225
UTILITIES
Emergency Management...............863-763-3212
Florida Power & Light....................800-226-3545
Police Emergency...........................................911 City Police......................Business 863-763-5521 County Sheriff Business 763-3117, TDD 763-0077 Project 1511...................................863-763-1511 Coast Guard Marine & Air Emergency ................................... Fort Pierce: 772-464-6100 ............................................... FBI: 772-461-6142
Tax Collector..................................863-763-3084 CITY, COUNTY AND STATE OFFICES
Glades Electric Cooperative..........863-946-6200 CenturyLink....................................800-201-4099 Comcast.........................................800-934-6489
Attorney General (FL) Office..........866-966-7226
Florida Public Utilities....................863-763-2115
City Planning & Zoning
Okeechobee Utility Authority (water)
.........................................863-763-3372 ext. 218
.......................................................863-763-9460
City Hall..........................................863-763-3372 City Street Department..................863-763-3926
CIVIC CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
..........................FL Marine Patrol: 561-624-6935
County Clerk, Courthouse.............863-763-2131
There are numerous clubs and organizations in
HOSPITAL
County Commission Office............863-763-6441 County Finance Office...................863-763-6553
Okeechobee that offer opportunities for locals and
Raulerson Hospital.........................863-763-2151 CITIZEN SERVICES Abuse, Elder & Child Hotline.........800-962-2873 Al-Anon, Alateen, N.A., Adult Children of Alcoholics & AA..............................863-763-1006 Children’s Services Council ........................................863-462-5000, ext. 255 Consumer Affairs Complaints........800-435-7352 Florida Abuse Hotline....................800-962-2873 Hospice of Okeechobee................863-467-2321 Hope Connections.............. (BHR) 863-763-2404 Hope Hospice (Glades Co.) .......................... 863-763-2404 or 800-835-1673 Martha’s House Domestic Violence Shelter .......................................................863-763-0202 Mental Health Services ...............................New Horizons 863-462-0040 ...................................After hours: 888-468-5600 Missing Children Information................................ .................1-888-FL-MISSING (1-888-356-4774) Okeechobee Senior Services........863-462-5180 Physician’s Referral Service ........................................(24 hour) 863-763-9228
County Judge’s Office...................863-763-3193 County Planning and Development .......................................................863-763-5548 Dept. of Children & Families..........863-462-5700 Division of Forestry.........................863-462-5160 Environmental Protection...............863-462-5888 FL Fish & Wildlife Commission......863-462-5190 Health Department.........................863-462-5819 Insurance (Fla. Dept. of Financial Services) .......................................................800-693-5236 Internal Revenue Service (IRS)......800-829-1040 Okeechobee Landfill .......................................................863-357-0824 Okeechobee Sports Complex-Pool .......................................................863-467-7667 Okeechobee Utility Authority .......................... 863-763-9460 or 863-763-3793 .................After-hours emergency 863-357-0490 Parks & Recreation Department .......................................................863-763-6950 Post Office.....................................863-763-3616 Property Appraiser.........................863-763-4422 Public Defende...............................863-763-7977 Public Library.................................863-763-3536
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guests to receive help or become involved in community activities. American Business Women’s Association .......................................................863-763-3131 American Legion #64.....................863-763-2950 American Legion Auxiliary.............863-763-4953 American Red Cross......................863-763-2488 Business Women’s Referral Network .......................................................863-610-2176 Chamber of Commerce (Okeechobee) .......................................................863-467-6246 East Coast Migrant Head Start......863-467-0702 Economic Council Okeechobee County .......................................................863-467-0200 Elks Lodge.....................................863-254-8083 Fraternal Order of Eagles #4137....863-763-2552 Fraternal Order of Eagles #4509....863-467-1154 Friends of the Okeechobee Library...................... 863-763-3536 Girl Scouts.....................................863-801-7365 Guardian ad Litem.........................863-697-1717 Habitat for Humanity......................863-763-1371 Kiwanis Club..................................863-634-1778 Loyal Order of the Moose #2417...863-763-2250 Masonic Lodge #237.....................863-763-1610
Ministerial Association...................863-697-1308 Moose Lodge #1753......................863-763-4954 Okeechobee Battlefield Friends....863-763-6246 Okeechobee County Board of Realtors .......................................................863-467-0004 Okeechobee Co. Education Association .......................................................863-467-1564
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...........................................863-357-MAIN (6246) Okeechobee Co. Recreational Association .......................................................863-763-6950 Overeaters Anonymous .......................... 863-763-7165 or 863-763-5324 Retired Senior Volunteer Program.863-450-9402 Retired Teachers Association........863-763-5755 Rotary Club....................................863-763-4224 Shrine Club....................................863-763-3378 Tantie Quilters................................863-357-0868 VFW Post #4423............................863-763-0818 VFW Post #10539..........................863-763-2308 VFW Post #9528............................863-467-2882 PUBLIC SCHOOLS Central Elementary 610 S.W. 5th Avenue, K-4..............863-462-5077
Our Family Serving Yours For Three Generations
Everglades Elementary
Phones Monitored By Family 24/7 • Burial, Cremation, Transfers Out-of-State On-Site Crematory • Custom Monuments & Memorials Public or Private Gatherings • Guaranteed Pre-Arranged Pricing Full Casket & Cremation Showrooms • Military Funeral Honors Grief Support Programs • Personalized Memorial Tributes
725 S.E. 8th Street, K-5.................863-462-5108 North Elementary 3000 N.W. 10th Terrace, K-5.........863-462-5100 Seminole Elementary
400 N. Parrott Avenue • Okeechobee, FL 34972
2690 N.W. 42nd Avenue, K-5........863-462-5119
Time & Temperature 863-763-0124
South Elementary
863.763.1994
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2468 S.W. 7th Avenue, K-4............863-462-5087 Osceola Middle 825 S.W. 28th Street, 5-8..............863-462-5070 Yearling Middle 925 N.W. 23rd Lane, 6-8................863-462-5056 Okeechobee Freshman Campus 610 S.W. 2nd Avenue, Grade 9.....863-462-5288 Okeechobee High School 2800 Highway 441 N., 10-12.........863-462-5025 Okeechobee Achievement Academy 1000 N.W. 34th Street....................863-462-5125
PRIVATE SCHOOLS Okeechobee Adventist Christian School 412 N.W. 6th Street........................863-763-0763 john.sufficool@floridaconference.com Okeechobee Christian Academy 701 S. Parrott Avenue....................863-763-3072 Grades K4-8 www.okeechobeechristianacademy.net Peace Lutheran School 750 N.W. 23rd Lane.......................863-763-7566
Lutheran VPK Program, 2 year to 5K ksmith-peaceokee@embarqmail.com Rock Solid Christian Academy 401 S.W. 4th Street........................863-763-1847 Baptist, rocksolidca@embarqmail.com COLLEGES
Indian River State College (Okeechobee campus)...................863-824-6000 Indian River State College (Main Campus-Ft. Pierce)..............866-792-4772
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60 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
PLACES OF WORSHIP AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL New Street, Stephens AME 1050 N.E. 16th Avenue, 863-763-5018
ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Abiding Help Worship Center Assembly of God 4550 Highway 441 N., 863-763-3736 Bethel Assembly of God 1109 S.E. 7th Street, 863-467-0060
BAPTIST
Bethel Baptist Church 1258 N.E. 13th Avenue, 863-763-6512 Brighton First Baptist Church Brighton Reservation, 863-763-6626 Buckhead Ridge Baptist Church 1043 Cypress Street, 863-763-7532 Cornerstone Baptist Church 18387 Highway 441 N., 863-763-3338 Everglades Baptist Church at Everglades Elementary, 863-261-2499 Faith Alive Fellowship 3075 S.W. 3rd Terrace, 863-623-4233 First Baptist Church of Okeechobee 401 S.W. 4th Street, 863-763-2171 First Baptist Church of Basinger 19836 Highway 98 N., 863-763-0437 First Missionary Baptist Church 906 N.W. 9th Avenue, 863-763-0716 Mission Okeechobee 309 S.W. 14th Street, 863-763-6573 New Testament Baptist Church 535 N.E. 28th Avenue, 863-763-6682 Northside Baptist Church 51 N.W. 98th Street, 863-763-3584 Oakview Baptist Church 677 S.W. 32nd Street, 863-763-1699 Okeechobee Missionary Baptist Church 4212 Highway 441 N., 863-763-7743 Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana 5051 N.W. 30th Street, 863-357-1300 Seminole Bible Baptist Church 200 S.W. CR721, 863-824-6785 Treasure Island Baptist Church 4209 Highway 441 S.E., 863-763-0550 Trinity Freewill Baptist Church 1840 N.E. 39th Boulevard, 863-763-4962 Victory Baptist Church 500 S.W. 9th Street, 863-763-0669
CATHOLIC
Sacred Heart Catholic Church 701 S.W. 6th Street, 863-763-3727 Street, Teresa of the Child Jesus 1027 Chobee Loop, BHR, 863-824-8701
CHRISTIAN
Okeechobee Christian Church 3055 S.E. 18th Terrace, 863-467-7858 Westside Christian 8082 Highway 70 W., 863-467-2278
CHURCH OF CHRIST
Big Lake Church of Christ 1115 S.W. 3rd Avenue, 863-467-6758 Okeechobee Church of Christ 1401 S. Parrott Avenue, 863-763-4477
CHURCH OF GOD
Basinger Church of God 16050 Highway 98 N., 863-467-5789 Church of God 301 N.E. 4th Avenue, 863-763-4127 Church of God of Prophecy 102 N.W. 10th Street, 863-763-4059 North Okeechobee Church of God 15949 N.W. 30th Terrace, 863-467-6066
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 310 S.W. 6th Street, 863-467-2425
CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Church of the Nazarene 425 S.W. 28th Street, 863-763-3519
EPISCOPAL
Church of Our Saviour 200 N.W. 3rd Street, 863-763-4843
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 8250 Highway 70 W., 863-763-9229
LUTHERAN
Peace Lutheran Church 750 N.W. 23rd Lane, 863-763-5042
METHODIST
First United Methodist Church 200 N.W. 2nd Street, 863-763-4021
NONDENOMINATIONAL
Believers Fellowship 300 S.W. 6th Avenue, 863-763-6848 Calvary Chapel 1963 N.W. 38th Avenue, 863-467-0863 Christ Fellowship 701 S. Parrott Avenue, 863-623-4784 Dunklin Memorial Church 3342 S.W. Hosanah Lane, 772-597-5060 Faith Alive Fellowship 3075 S.W. 3rd Terrace, 863-623-4233 Faith Farm Ministries 7595 N.E. 128th Avenue, 863-763-4224 Ft. Drum Community Church 32415 Highway 441 N., 863-467-1733 Fountain of Life 1302 S.W. 32nd Street, 863-763-8945 Freedom Ranch 11655 Highway 441 S.E., 863-763-9800 The Gathering 1735 S.W. 24th Avenue, 863-357-4418 Gideon’s — Okeechobee P.O. Box 2205, 863-610-6863 Haven of Rest 912 N.W. 2nd Street, 863-357-3053 His Church 1167 Linda Rd., BHR, 863-357-6500 Jesus Holy Ghost Crusade 1401 N.E. Park Street, 863-357-3053 Life Community Church 701 S. Parrott Avenue, 863-763-3218 Living Word of Faith, 863-697-8517 More 2 Life Ministries 605 S.W. Park Street, Suite 214, 863-467-0796 Resurrection Life Church 1803 S.W. 3rd Avenue, 863-763-7770
PENTECOSTAL
Bible Church of God 3666 Highway 70 E., 863-357-2264 United Pentecostal Church 405 S.W. 10th Avenue, 863-763-5300
PRESBYTERIAN
Okeechobee Presbyterian Church (USA) 312 N. Parrott Avenue, 863-824-0013
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST
Seventh Day Adventist Church 412 N.W. 6th Street, 863-763-0655
Back Porch Church 3121 S.E. 32nd Court, 863-763-4843
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Visit RaulersonHospital.com to see our average ER wait times.
Has you covered. Trust the expert physicians at Raulerson Hospital for comprehensive, convenient emergency care. We are here to diagnose and treat you 24/7. Raulerson Hospital also offers: Minimally Invasive Surgery • Orthopedics • Gastroenterology • Radiology
62 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
BUSINESS LISTINGS A/C & HEATING CONTRACTORS CRS -Cooling Refrigeration Services 250 N.W. 102nd Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-4733 www.CRSOkee.com
Echols Plumbing & Air Conditioning
2233 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-6461 www.EcholsPlumbingAndAC.com
Glades Air Conditioning 804 N. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2114 | Monica McCarthy Clark
Miller's A/C
5351 SW 16th Ave Okeechobee, FL 34974 (863) 467-1545 www.millerscentralair.com
ACCOUNTANTS BMH Taxes
110 SE 4th Street Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-467-1040
ADVERTISING/MEDIA Okeechobee The Magazine
314 N.W. 5th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-0054 www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com
AIRPORT Okeechobee County Airport & Commerce Park 2800 N.W. 20th Trail Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-5505 www.co.Okeechobee.fl.us/ departments/airport
ARCHERY Skull Hill Steel
1505 C S. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-484-0032 | Brandon Baughman www.SkullHillSteel.com
ATTRACTION/TOURS Arnold’s Wildlife Rehab Center 14895 N.W. 30th Terrace Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-4630 www.arnoldswildlife.org
Florida Airboat Charters
863.697.1084 floridaairboatcharters@gmail.com www.floridaairboatcharters. com/charters.com
Skydive Spaceland
1090 Airglades Blvd. Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-6151 www.SkyDiveSpaceland.com
Sugarland Tours
109 Central Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-7979 | Mary Ann Muniz www.Clewiston.org
AUTO & TRUCK PARTS Original Equipment
863-623-4459 www.AbneyBuild.com
Penrod Construction Company 210 N.E. 3rd Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-634-0546 | Corey Penrod www.PenrodConstruction Company.com
209 S. Main Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-2500 www.napaonline.com
Edwards Orthodontics
EYE CARE SERVICES
327 Central Ave. Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-5121 www.dredwardsorthodontics.com
Family Dentistry of Okeechobee
2025 Highway 441 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-2332 | Dr. David Wemmer www.WemmerOrthodontics.com
AUTO SERVICE & ACCESSORIES
Tenniswood Dental
208 N.E. 3rd Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3909 www.tenniswooddental.com
Lehman Auto Body
265 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-1691 www.LehmanAutoBody.com
EDUCATION Glades Day School
AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS Commuter Cars
1002 S. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 772-985-5781 | Jake Montgomery www.CommuterCars.net
Gilbert Chevrolet / Ford
3550 U.S. Highway 441 South Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-824-3780 www.GilbertHasIt.com
M & M Auto Brokers, Inc.
606 N. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3937 www.BigLakeEyeCare.com
FARM EQUIPMENTS/ TRAILER SALES Ag 98 Trailer Sales
265 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-1691
Eli’s Trailer Sales
908 N.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-4620 www.elistrailersales.net
FEED SUPPLY Rabon’s Country Feed
1852 N.W. 9th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3447 `www.countryfeedokee.com
FINANCIAL INVESTMENT SERVICES
EVENTS/ ENTERTAINMENT
107 S.W. 17th Street, Suite J Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-357-4724 | Sharon Covey www.EdwardJones.com/ Sharon-Covey
Black Gold Jubilee/ BG Chamber
Edward Jones Investments
P.O. Box 1774 Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-2745 www.blackgoldjubilee.org
FISHING & FISHING GUIDE SERVICES
Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center
1505 State Road 78 West Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-0973 | 863-824-3474 www.OkeechobeeBass FishingGuide.com
3565 US Highway 441 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-0330 www.MandMAutoBrokersInc.com
CONSTRUCTION/ CONTRACTORS
Okeechobee Community Theatre
207 N.E. 2nd Street Okeechobee, FL 34972
Big Lake Eye Care
400 Gator Boulevard Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-6769 www.gladesdayschool.com
Palm Beach State College 1977 College Drive Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-993-1160 | Leigh Woodham www.dollyhand.org
Abney Building & Consulting
Sunrise Theatre
DENTAL
Wemmer Family Orthodontics
Performance NAPA
12499 SW Conners Hwy, Okeechobee, FL 34974 (772) 577-9078 www.portmayacapoloclub.com 117 S. Second Street Ft. Pierce, FL 34950 772-461-4775 www.sunrisetheatre.org
202 N.E. 3rd Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2765 www.FDofOkeechobee.com
415 N.E. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3939 www.oeprts.com
Port Mayaca Polo Club
863-763-1307 | Ron and Jacque Hayes www.OkeechobeeCommunity Theatre.com
Fast Break Bait & Tackle
Okeechobee Fishing Headquarters
5286 S.W. 16th Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-2248 www.okeechobeefishingheadquarters .com
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64 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
BUSINESS LISTINGS Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina Resort 920 E. Del Monte Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-3151 | 800-473-6766 www.RolandMartinMarina.com
FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES Buxton Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home & Crematory
400 N. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-1994 www.OkeechobeeFuneralHome.com
FURNITURE SALES/ HOME DECOR Morgan’s Furniture
707 S.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-467-2072 www.MorgansFurn.com
Paradise Home & Patio
4051 S. U.S. Highway 1 Ft. Pierce, FL 34982 772-409-4618 www.paradisehomeandpatio.com
Royal’s Furniture
804 East N. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-6293 www.RoyalsFurnitureInc.com
HEALTHCARE Okeechobee Health Care Facility
1646 U.S. Highway 441 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2226 www.OkeechobeeHealthCare.com
Porcelain Esthetics
221 NE Park St, Okeechobee, FL 34972 863.634.3615
Raulerson Hospital
1796 U.S. Highway 441 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2151 www.RaulersonHospital.com
Simpson Chiropractic
319 N Parrott Ave Okeechobee, FL 34972 (772) 320-5453 www.simpsonmedical.com
HOTELS/MOTELS The Historic Clewiston Inn 108 Royal Palm Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440
800-749-4466 | 863-983-8151 www.ClewistonInn.com
HUNTING/SHOOTING SPORTS & CLUBS Quail Creek Plantation
12399 N.E. 224th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2529 www.QuailCreekPlantation.com
INSURANCE Murray Insurance
210 SW 2nd St #4304, Okeechobee, FL 34974 (863) 763-5551 www.murrayinsuranceservices.com
Pritchards and Associates 1802 S. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 877-763-6625 www.PritchardsInc.com
PROPANE GAS Glades Gas of Belle Glade 5 West Avenue A Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-3046 Dennis and Karen McCarthy www.GladesGasAC.com
REAL ESTATE SERVICES
309 N.E. 2nd Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-5561 | Maurisa Tremain www.GretchenRobertson.com
LIVESTOCK Okeechobee Livestock Market 1055 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3127 www.OkeechobeeLivestockMarket. com
MANUFACTURING & PRODUCTION 111 Ponce De Leon Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-8121 www.USSugar.com/Careers
SupplyLine
Lake O Real Estate
RV PARKS/RESORTS
202 N.W. 5th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-824-6776 | Pat Ragan TitleandLegal@gmail.com
Mixon Real Estate Group 1306 S.W. 2nd Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-6000 www.MixonGroup.com
City of Belle Glade Torry Island Campground 5000 W. Canal Street North Belle Glade, FL 33440 561-996-6322 www.TorryIslandCampground.com
Okeechobee KOA
Brown Cow Sweetery
Okeechobee RV Repair
Crossroads Restaurant
TOURISM
RETAIL/SPECIALTY SHOPS
2800 N.W. 20th Trail Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3959 www.VisitOkeechobeeCounty.com
103 S.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-357-3357 | Paulette Bragel Paulette@BrownCowSweetery.com
Don’s Appliances
NON-PROFIT
Eli’s Western Wear
317 S.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2220
1885 U.S. Highway 441 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 www.OkeechobeeCattlemen.com
1113 S.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-357-1203 TiffSupplyLine@gmail.com
RESTAURANTS/ CATERING
1460 State Road 78 West Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-357-0334 www.d4powersports.com
Okeechobee Cattlemen’s Association
704 N. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-484-8207 www.SearsHometown.com
4276 U.S. Highway 441 South Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-0231 www.KOA.com/Campgrounds/ Okeechobee
113 S.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-623-4267
D-4 Powersports
417 S.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-467-1243
Clear Title & Legal Services
30034 East SR 78 Buckhead Ridge Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-634-4106 | Vicki & Eric Anderson www.AndersonRealtyCo.com
Andrea Noelle’s Boutique
MOTORCYCLE SALES & SERVICE
Nature’s Pantry
Sears Hometown Store
5050 N.E. 128th Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-8333
U.S. Sugar
P.O. Box 3166 Okeechobee, FL 34973 863-634-9792 | Desiree Penrod LuLaRoeDesireePenrod@gmail.com
Anderson Realty Co.
4251 Highway 441 South Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-5253 www.lakeore.com
State Farm — Gretchen Robertson Insurance Agency, Inc.
LuLa Roe
907 N.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 1-800-226-3570 www.ElisWesternWear.com
Mobile Repair 863-261-3892 | Dennis Reynolds Denykay1@yahoo.com
Okeechobee County Tourism Development Council
Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council
2195 Southern Bouvelard, Suite 500 West Palm Beach, FL 33406 561-233-3130 www.ThePalmBeaches.com
WELL DRILLING American Drilling Services, Inc. 405 S.W. 2nd Street Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-3221 www.AmericanDrillinc.com
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VISIT US ONLINE WWW.DESTINATIONLAKEOKEECHOBEE.COM
DA AIRBOA I R O T FL Personalized Airboat Tours ECO / Bird Watching Tours
Captain Jason Williams
CHARTERS.COM 863-697-1084
FloridaAirboatCharters@gmail.com
Porcelain Esthetics “Begin your journey to healthier beautiful skin.” Chemical Peels Microdermabrasion Light therapies Therapeutic customized facials Acne treatment Resurfacing Featuring G.M. Collin
863.634.3615 221 NE Park St.
• Okeechobee, FL
Cheryl Daniels, Licensed Esthetician, Certified Skin Specialist License # FB9750329
Cheryl Daniels, Realtor
®
CELL (863) 634-3615 OFFICE (863) 763-5335 FAX (863) 763-7390
CherylDanielsRealEstate@gmail.com 425 SW Park Street • Okeechobee, FL 34974 www.cbbergerrealestate.com Each office is Independently Owned and Operated.
66 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
BERGER REAL ESTATE
From Your Farm, to Your Family Pet - We Have it All
BAGGED FEED • BULK FEED • MOLASSES • HAY • RANCHING & FENCE SUPPLIES • PET FOOD & SUPPLIES
WE DELIVER!
1852 NW 9th Street • Okeechobee FL 34972 Store 863.763.3447 • Fax 863.763.5205 STORE HOURS M-F 7:30AM-6PM Sat 7:30AM-3PM www.countryfeedokee.com
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
VISIT US ONLINE WWW.DESTINATIONLAKEOKEECHOBEE.COM
RABON’S COUNTRY FEED
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Moore Haven Hotel
Chalo Nitka
Welcome to
GLADESCounty Caloosahatchee River
O
ut of all the counties surrounding Lake Okeechobee, Glades County is by far the county with the most potential for economic growth with its everincreasing infrastructure. Conveniently located on the western shores of the Big O, Glades County encompasses 986 square miles; 774 square miles of land and 213 square miles of water. Founded in 1921 and named for the Florida Everglades, Glades County has an estimated population of 13,000 with residents residing amongst its county seat in Moore Haven and its five unincorporated communities: Buckhead Ridge, Lakeport, Muse, Ortona, Palmdale and Brighton which is home to one of the Seminole Tribe of Florida reservations.
Glades County Court House
Two of the counties, Buckhead Ridge and Brighton, are a bit unusual in that they share a local mailing address with Glades County’s neighbor, Okeechobee
68 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | GLADES COUNTY
River Forest Yacht Center
Wedgworth Fertilizer Plant County. Many of those residents, including the Seminole Indians residing on the Brighton Reservation, often work and send their children to schools in Okeechobee because of the close proximity and convenience. Although their physical address may say Okeechobee, their roots run deep within both counties.
Seminole Veterans Building
Glades County’s central and strategic location along US 27, one of the major connectors between the north and south within the state, has made it a prime location for industrial hubs and supply centers for agriculture produced in and around the surrounding areas. This includes cattle, sugar cane, produce and citrus. In the early years, Moore Haven was often referred to as a “Little Chicago” because of its location and industrial boom. And today, thanks to the construction of Americas Gateway Logistics Center, it is slowly earning that title once again. Americas Gateway Logistics Center is being developed as a rail-served industrial park that offers efficient clusters for warehousing, distribution, manufacturing, outside storage and transportation to the South Florida business market.
R
The Glades County Regional Training Center is another huge addition to Glades County that has had a huge impact on not only the economy and workforce but also on Glades County’s overall future. The Training Center is a 40,000-square-foot training facility that offers fast-track routes to certification within various trade industries. GLADES COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Thanks to the relatively low population, there is very little congestion and pollution in Glades County, and it has been recognized as having one of the lowest crime rates within the state of Florida, making it not only a clean place to live and visit, but also a safe one, only adding to its appeal. Tourism brings an influx of people throughout the year as there is much to see and do in this small but active county. Local attractions including Gatorama in Palmdale, the Seminole Brighton Casino located on the Brighton Indian Reservation and the several campgrounds and RV parks spread out across the county that offer numerous outdoor activities, such as canoeing and boating, draw visitors year-round. People from all over the country are drawn to the many festivals, such as the long-time running Chalo Nitka and Brighton Field Day
Gatorama
Love’s Truck Stop
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Brighton Field Day
events, to join in on the fun. But no matter what, the biggest attraction to the area is most definitely the fishing and hunting on Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River. For anyone looking for a place to unwind and relax, they need look no further than one of the lovely communities in Glades County. From beautiful and breathtaking sunsets on the lake to the numerous wildlife species found in and around Fisheating Creek, it just doesn’t get any more peaceful and enjoyable. History buffs can become immersed in the fascinating history found in Ortona to truly experience what makes this county so diverse. Glades County keeps everything at your fingertips with the bustling metropolis just a quick car ride away with all of its perks. But if you choose Glades County, whether it be permanently or seasonally, you can enjoy housing, employment, entertainment, history, and most importantly, family, all in a place you will be proud to call home. l
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THERE’S EVEN MORE ONLINE
BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2020, YOU’LL FIND MORE LISTINGS, MORE INFORMATION, AND MORE SAVINGS ON DESTINATION LAKE OKEECHOBEE’S ONLINE DIRECTORY.
DESTINATIONLAKEOKEECHOBEE.COM 72 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | GLADES COUNTY
Glades County:
Welcome to
K
Land for Opportunity!
nown for its agricultural heritage, cattle ranching, sugar cane, and citrus production, as well as fishing and hunting, residents believe Glades County to be an amazing place that’s home to an abundance of natural resources, which they enjoy sharing with visitors and newcomers alike. Annual events, like the Chalo Nitka Festival, which celebrates its 72nd anniversary in March this year, the Ortona Cane Grinding Festival in February, and the Sour Orange Festival in Lakeport in January celebrate the county’s heritage, while new events continue to be developed to attract new visitors. Among these are the annual Alligator Hatching Festival at Gatorama in Palmdale, held in mid-August through early September each year, during which participants can hold an alligator egg as it hatches. In January, Art in the Park brings together local artists, craft and food vendors with art enthusiasts. Glades County has a strategic location in the center of the state at the intersection of major highways. This has led to a number of national brands, most recently Love’s Travel Stops, locating in Glades County. Scott’s Miracle Gro operates a mulch and soil bagging and distribution center in Palmdale, while Quikcrete operates a mortar bagging operation in Ortona. Oldcastle, Cemex and Vulcan Materials have operations in Glades County. All have been drawn to Glades County by its centralized location, highway, and rail infrastructure, offering access to the Florida market south of the I-4 corridor. This centrality also offers unparalleled access to a growing workforce in excess of 100,000 within 45-minutes; upwards of a million in an hour. Glades County also boasts the largest Opportunity Zone in the state of Florida, offering investors and businesses locating here unparalled tax incentives relative to capital gains. And because of that confluence of markets, manpower, and monetary muscle, Glades County continues to grow. In Moore Haven, Wedgworth’s, Inc., Florida’s largest custom fertilizer dealer, is expanding and creating new jobs. A new, branded three-story 60-unit hotel, four units of commercial/office space, a 160-seat standalone family casual restaurant, and four units of workforce housing will be built on the former site of the old Glades Inn in Moore Haven. Just up the road, approximately 100 1,000 square ft. apartments are in development along with two acres of commercial space at Heron Bay. On the other side of the river, a new resort is in development, which will feature 69 “first class,” RV spaces for transient RV’ers. Other amenities will include a general store/snack bar, laundry and screened pool with sauna, bathhouse and a 2500 sq ft. strip mall housing a salon, news stand and carryout bakery. In Ortona, River Forest Yachting Center has completed another 50,000 square foot building, capable of housing 150 vessels and is working on dredging a new basin for staging yachts for storage or launch, a $4 million expansion. As people continue to discover Glades County, we’re working to be ready for them, developing state of the art facilities, like the new LEEDS-Silver Certified Glades County Health Department which houses Florida Community Health Centers, offering primary care (including dentistry), the new Glades County Emergency Operations Center, offering emergency services including fire and EMS, and the Glades County Regional Training Center which houses SunState CDL which provides grant-funded training on-site. All these are within the footprint of the 770-acre Americas Gateway Logistics Center which wraps around the county compound, while in the city of Moore Haven, the new $26 million Moore Haven Junior Senior High School aims to provide a college or technical school scholarship to every senior who applies. Looking for your next opportunity? Look no further than Glades County.
Tracy Whirls Executive Director Glades County Economic Development Council
Tracy Whirls
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Moore Haven Train Station c.1917
Glades County
Opening of the Moore Haven Clewiston Railroad c.1917
G
lades County was created in 1921 carved from DeSota County. It lies directly west of Lake Okeechobee, and although it was named partly for the Everglades, only a small part of the county is actually close to the Everglades. Early settlement was limited due to the swampy terrain and mainly consisted of Native Americans, first the Calusa Indians and then later the Seminole Indians. It wasn’t until the 1880s when Hamilton Disston, an industrialist and real estate developer from Philadelphia, made a deal to drain and reclaim millions of acres of land in South Florida that the area known as Glades County today and surrounding communities became populated with settlers. Once the Caloosahatchee Canal, known as the ThreeMile Canal back then, was dug out and opened, freight and passenger service became available. Mail and supplies, such as fish, furs and alligator skin, were brought out of the region. At the time, the only navigation guide on the lake was a cypress tree with a flag. The sole cypress tree would later become Moore Haven.
HISTORY 5 Haven became the supply center for the surrounding area that produced crops, sugar cane and cattle. Tents and shacks were used for housing until permanent homes could be built.
Moore Haven began to grow and develop great potential, but unfortunately, Moore began to suffer financially and his interests in the new town was purchased by Atlantic City developer and banker, Clarence M. Busch, Philadelphia city editor, John J. O’Brien and Philadelphia lawyer, George Q. Horwitz. The partnership was short lived due to management discrepancies. Horwitz died in 1916 and his land was left to his widow, Marian Newhall Horwitz. Prior to Horwitz’s death, he and O’Brien partnered and created the DeSoto Land Company. Mrs. Horwitz had never been to the area so after acquiring the land, she made a trip
In 1884, the state hired John W. Henderson to survey the land Disston purchased. For his work, Henderson was compensated 98,000 acres of land around Lake Okeechobee. Sadly, Henderson died in 1887 and what became known as the “Henderson Tract” was passed down to his heirs. Almost 30 years later, a businessman from Seattle, James A. Moore, purchased the Henderson Tract for $550,000 and platted out a town adjacent to the lone cypress tree. The town was named Moore Haven and began to be developed. Moore promoted the fertile land through the South Florida Land Company, and being the businessman that he was, he sent salesmen across the country promoting his “farming paradise.” It didn’t take long for Moore to sell hundreds of people land in his newly developed town. The small town quickly drew 397 men and three women. Because of its central location, Moore
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Chalo Nitka Festival in Moore Haven
Moore Haven at Caloosahatchee River Locks c.1940
Juke Joint, Moore Haven c.1932
to Moore Haven to check out her late husband’s financial holdings. She quickly became interested in the new town and began promoting the community and the welfare of the citizens herself. While living in Philadelphia, Mrs. Horwitz was extremely involved and known for her civic and social affairs. She carried that trait to Moore Haven and developed a 2,000-acre farm.
Moore Haven’s industrial course and growth. First, a fire broke out on April 26, 1921 in a rooming house along Avenue J. Twenty-two businesses and six residences were destroyed. The very next year, another fire broke out destroying the Moore Haven Times building, along with much of the city’s historical records. Also in that year, floods overcame much of the area, driving many people away.
In September 1917, Mrs. Horwitz and O’Brien married. Together, they helped grow Moore Haven by building a general store, forming a vegetable exchange, and by planting large farm tracts. They also promoted various civic and cultural projects for the town.
The remaining citizens began to pick up the pieces and reopen their businesses. Slowly, the city began to rebuild itself and the population grew to about 1,000 residents. But on September 18, 1926, Moore Haven and the surrounding areas suffered yet another blow in the form of a great hurricane. Winds reached 160 miles per hour and 12-foot tidal waves crashed over the entire area, demolishing most of the community. Moore Haven was left under 10 feet of water forcing many to relocate and ultimately destroying the once prosperous city’s status.
Moore Haven became incorporated in 1917 and held its first election on July 17, 1917. Mrs. Horwitz was elected the first mayor, also becoming the first female mayor in the state of Florida and of the southern United States. Moore Haven was quickly deemed as a prosperous and progressive town. Over the next several years, Moore Haven began to develop and became the commercial center for the entire region. However, in 1921, a series of events began that would change
Through great perseverance, Glades County continued on and rebuilt yet again and continues to thrive today. The Lone Cypress tree once used as a navigational marker continues to stand today as a visual and poetic marker. l
Moore Haven Court House c.1936
Downtown Moore Haven c.1941 GLADES COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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o Art in the Park
o Seminole Brighton Casino
Sponsored by the Glades County Public Library, Friends of the Library and Library Advisory Board, this annual event is held in January and features live music, arts and crafts booths, food and a car show. Admission is free. For more information call Mary Booher, director of libraries at 863-946-0744.
Centrally located in Florida, the Seminole Brighton Casino brings a little bit of Las Vegas to the South featuring over 400 gaming machines, video poker and high-stakes bingo. There is a full-service restaurant and lounge open 24/7 on site and the casino frequently hosts live entertainment. For more information call 863-467-9998 or visit www. seminolebrightoncasino.com.
Art in the Park
Seminole Brighton Casino
o Sour Orange Festival & Rib Cook-Off
Glades County
Things To See & Do
Hosted by the Lakeport Community Association, the annual Sour Orange Festival is held on the first Saturday in February each year. This festival features the celebrated “Sour Orange Dessert Contest,� in which residents and visitors alike are encouraged to enter desserts using the wild oranges, which give the festival its name. Along with listening to live music, visitors can peruse the many vendors on site selling arts and crafts, jewelry, clothing and much more. For more information call 863-227-4674 or 863-233-3014.
Sour Orange Festival & Rib Cook-Off
o Brighton Field Day Festival and Rodeo Held in February, the Brighton Field Day Festival and Rodeo gives spectators and visitors an inside look into the rich heritage of the Seminole Indians. People from all over the country attend the action-packed weekend experiencing aspects of the Native American culture, including native PowWow dancing, alligator wrestling, venomous snake show demonstrations, Indian arts and crafts, and authentic Seminole cuisine. Several musical concerts are also held throughout the weekend, as well a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo where professional bull riders wow the crowds. The event is held on the Brighton Seminole Reservation, just west of Okeechobee. 500 E. Harney Pond Road Okeechobee, FL 34974. Visit www. semtribe.com for more information.
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Brighton Field Day
o Silver Lake Preserve Comprised of 1,876 acres of pristine land, Silver Lake Preserve is an old Florida style hunting facility that offers a variety of hunting experiences. Guests can book guided tours for wildlife, including alligators, deer, turkey and quail. Silver Lake Preserve also offers a five-station multi-level wobble clay shooting experience, ranging from beginner to advanced. On the property there is a lodge that can comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests and offers several amenities. To make reservations contact 863-273-7712 or visit
www.silverlakepreserve.com.
Cane Grinding Festival
o Cane Grinding Festival
Gatorama
o Gatorama An original roadside attraction, Gatorama allows spectators to get up close and personal with many Florida native and exotic animals. This long-standing family-friendly attraction is located in Palmdale, deep in the Glades, and showcases alligators and crocodiles, among many other wildlife species, in their natural habitat. Gatorama also offers exclusive handson experiences where tourists can learn how to catch juvenile gators with their bare hands or sit on the back of a sevenfoot gator for a photo-op. The top-rated destination is open seven days a week and features alligator shows and a gift shop that even sells alligator meat. For more information visit www. gatorama.com.
o Fisheating Creek Outpost Located in Palmdale, Fisheating Creek Outpost offers spacious campsites, canoe and kayak rentals, fishing, hunting, eco-tours and much more. Open 365 days a year, this remote campground is the perfect getaway from the bustling city. A camp store is available for items you may need during your visit. Call 863-675-5999 to make reservations.
Ortona hosts the annual Cane Grinding Festival at the Ortona Indian Mound Park on the first Saturday of February each year. The festival commemorates the early settlers’ cultivation and processing of the delectable sugar cane syrup. The festival features bluegrass music, clogging, arts and crafts booths, and barbecue chicken and rib dinners. Proceeds from the festival benefit the local fire department. For more information visit www.visitglades.org. Chalo Nitka
o Chalo Nitka Started in 1948, Chalo Nitka is one of Florida’s oldest continuous festivals. Meaning “Big Bass” in the Seminole Indian language, this festival showcases the friendship between Glade’s County and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Held in March and in downtown Moore Haven, Chalo Nitka is a weeklong event that includes a parade, ranch rodeo, livestock show, beauty pageant, bass fishing tournament, fair festival and so much more. The weekend festival that wraps up the celebration offers a little bit of everything, including midway rides, local vendors, live music, alligator wrestling, Seminole demonstrations and authentic Seminole cuisine. For more information visit www.chalonitka.com or call 863-946-0300.
o Buckhead Ridge Catfish Festival
Fisheating Creek Outpost
Sponsored by the Buckhead Ridge Volunteer Fire Department as a way to raise money for the department, the Catfish Festival is a family-friendly event that features live country music, craft vendor booths and lots of door prizes. A catfish dinner is included with the entry fee. The Ladies Auxiliary hosts a bake sale with lots of goodies to choose from. For more information visit www.visitglades.org. l GLADES COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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IMPORTANT NUMBERS ALL EMERGENCIES 911 FIRE Glades County Fire Department ................................... 863-946-0711 LAW ENFORCEMENT Glades County Sherriff’s Office Business.....................863-946-1600 CITIZEN SERVICES Animal Control ...........863-946-6001 E-911 Coordinator & Addressing ...................................863-946-2860 Emergency Management ...................................863-946-6020 Moore Haven Motor Vehicle Services ...................................863-946-6035 Social Services .......... 863-946-0411 Social Services .......... 863-946-0411
COUNTY OFFICES Appraiser’s Office ......863-946-6025 Building Department...863-946-0533 Circuit Court...............863-946-6031 Clerk...........................863-946-6010 Emergency Service....863-946-0566 Health Department Clinic................. ...................................863-946-0707 Planning and Zoning..863-946-0309 State Attorney.............863-946-0077 Supervisor Elections...863-946-6005 Tax Collector Offic......863-946-6035 City Hall Moore Haven.863-946-0711 Library........................863-946-0744 Post Office..................863-946-0747 CIVIC CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS American Legion........863-946-0066 Florida Cattlemen’s Association....... 407-846-6221
Fraternal Order of Eagles ...................................863-946-1523 Glades County Economic Development Council..............863-946-0440 PUBLIC SCHOOLS Moore Haven Elementary ...................................863-946-0737 Moore Haven Junior/Senior High ................................... 863-946-0811 Rcma-Glades Early Childhood School ................................... 863-946-0116 PRIVATE SCHOOLS Agape Christian Academy ....................................407-298-1111 UTILITIES Glades Electric Cooperative ...................................863-946-6200
PLACES OF WORSHIP BAPTIST
First Indian Baptist Church of Brighton 20060 Reservation Road, Okeechobee 863-357-0013 First Missionary Baptist Church 1112 Green Street, Moore Haven 863-946-2000 Maple Grove Baptist Church 12777 E. State Road 78, Moore Haven 863-946-2850 Moore Haven First Baptist Church 300 Avenue J S.W., Moore Haven 863-946-1522 New Hope Baptist Church 1051 E. Yaun Road, Moore Haven 863-946-1852
CATHOLIC
Saint Joseph the Worker 24065 U.S. Highway 27, Moore Haven 863-946-0696 St. Teresa Church 1027 Chobee Loop, Okeechobee 863-824-8701
CHURCH OF CHRIST
Lakeport Church of Christ 10947 E. State Road 78, Moore Haven 863-946-1747
CHURCH OF GOD
Moore Haven Church of God 129 Palm Avenue, Moore Haven 863-946-1574
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METHODIST
First United Methodist Church 300 Avenue L, Moore Haven 863-946-1457
PENTECOSTAL
Centro Misionero Agape 24068 U.S. Highway 27, Moore Haven 863-946-1894
BUSINESS LISTINGS A/C & HEATING CONTRACTORS Echols Plumbing & Air Conditioning
2233 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-6461 www.EcholsPlumbingAndAC.com
ADVERTISING/MEDIA
Okeechobee The Magazine
314 N.W. 5th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-0054 www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com
ATRACTION/TOURS Florida Airboat Charters
863.697.1084 floridaairboatcharters@gmail.com www.floridaairboatcharters. com/charters.com
Sugarland Tours
109 Central Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-7979 | Mary Ann Muniz www.Clewiston.org
AUTO & TRUCK PARTS Original Equipment
824 E. Sugarland Highway Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-1991 www.oeprts.com
AUTO SERVICE & ACCESSORIES Lehman Auto Body
265 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-1691 www.LehmanAutoBody.com
AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS Commuter Cars
1002 S. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 772-985-5781 | Jake Montgomery www.CommuterCars.net
Gilbert Chevrolet / Ford
3550 U.S. Highway 441 South Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-824-3780 www.GilbertHasIt.com
CONSTRUCTION/ CONTRACTORS Penrod Construction Company 210 N.E. 3rd Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-634-0546 | Corey Penrod
www.PenrodConstructionCompany.com
DENTAL Family Dentistry of Okeechobee
202 N.E. 3rd Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2765 www.FDofOkeechobee.com
Wemmer Family Orthodontics 2025 Highway 441 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-2332 | Dr. David Wemmer www.WemmerOrthodontics.com
EDUCATION Glades Day School
400 Gator Boulevard Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-6769 www.gladesdayschool.com
EVENTS/ ENTERTAINMENT Black Gold Jubilee/ BG Chamber
P.O. Box 1774 Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-2745 www.blackgoldjubilee.org
Eli’s Trailer Sales
Royal’s Furniture
FEED SUPPLY
HOTELS/MOTELS
Rabon’s Country Feed
108 Royal Palm Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 800-749-4466 | 863-983-8151 www.ClewistonInn.com
908 N.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-4620 www.ElisTrailers.com
1852 N.W. 9th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3447 www.countryfeedokee.com
FINANCIAL INVESTMENT SERVICES Edward Jones Investments 107 S.W. 17th Street, Suite J Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-357-4724 | Sharon Covey www.EdwardJones.com/ Sharon-Covey
FISHING & FISHING GUIDE SERVICES Fast Break Bait & Tackle
1505 State Road 78 West Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-0973 | 863-824-3474 www.OkeechobeeBassFishingGuide.com
Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center
Okeechobee Fishing Headquarters
Okeechobee Community Theatre
Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina Resort
Palm Beach State College 1977 College Drive Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-993-1160 | Leigh Woodham www.dollyhand.org 863-763-1307 | Ron and Jacque Hayes www.OkeechobeeCommunity Theatre.com
Sunrise Theatre
117 S. Second Street Ft. Pierce, FL 34950 772-461-4775 www.sunrisetheatre.com
EYE CARE SERVICES Big Lake Eye Care
606 N. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3937 www.BigLakeEyeCare.com
FARM EQUIPMENT/ TRAILER SALES Ag 98 Trailer Sales
265 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-1691
5286 S.W. 16th Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-2248 www.okeechobeefishingheadquarters .com 920 E. Del Monte Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-3151 | 800-473-6766 www.RolandMartinMarina.com
FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES Buxton Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home & Crematory
400 N. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-1994 www.OkeechobeeFuneralHome.com
FUNERAL SALES/ HOME DECOR Paradise Home & Patio
4051 S. U.S. Highway 1 Ft. Pierce, FL 34982 772-409-4618 www.paradisehomeandpatio.com
804 East North Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-6293 www.RoyalsFurnitureInc.com
The Historic Clewiston Inn
HUNTING/SHOOTING SPORTS & CLUBS Quail Creek Plantation
12399 N.E. 224th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2529 www.QuailCreekPlantation.com
INSURANCE Pritchards and Associates 1802 S. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 877-763-6625 www.PritchardsInc.com
MANUFACTURING & PRODUCTION U.S. Sugar
111 Ponce De Leon Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-8121 www.USSugar.com/Careers
MARINAS Moore Haven Marina
166 Marina Drive N.W. Moore Haven, FL 33471 863-885-1518
PROPANE GAS Glades Gas of Belle Glade 5 West Avenue A Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-3046 Dennis & Karen McCarthy www.GladesGasAC.com
REAL ESTATE SERVICES A-1 Realty
330 W. Sugarland Highway, # 9 Clewiston, FL 33440 863-805-0529 www.A1Realty.net
Anderson Realty Co.
30034 East SR 78 Buckhead Ridge Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-634-4106 | Vicki & Eric Anderson www.AndersonRealtyCo.com
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RETAIL & SPECIALTY SHOPS Eli’s Western Wear
907 N.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 1-800-226-3570 www.ElisWesternWear.com
SupplyLine
1113 S.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-357-1203 TiffSupplyLine@gmail.com
RV PARKS/RESORTS City of Belle Glade Torry Island Campground 5000 W. Canal Street North Belle Glade, FL 33440 561-996-6322 www.TorryIslandCampground.com
Okeechobee KOA
4276 U.S. Highway 441 South Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-0231 www.KOA.com/Campgrounds /Okeechobee
LUMBER | HARDWARE | WINDOWS | DOORS | TOOLS Serving the Glades – Generation after Generation
TOURISM
SUPPLY COMPANY, INC. 407 South Main Street Belle Glade, FL 33430
Glades County Tourist Development Council
P: 561-996-2041
P.O. Box 1003 Moore Haven, FL 33471 863-946-0300 www.VisitGlades.org
• F: 561-996-3110
www.SeminoleSupply.com
Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council
2195 Southern Boulevard, Suite 500 West Palm Beach, FL 33406 561-233-3130 www.ThePalmBeaches.com
UTILITIES Glades Electric Cooperative 26733 U.S. Highway 27 Moore Haven, FL 33471 863-946-0061 www.GladesEc.com
WELL DRILLING American Drilling Services, Inc. 405 S.W. 2nd Street Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-3221 www.AmericanDrillinc.com
Refrigeration ~ AC ~ Ice Machines Serving the Glades Since 1929 Jim and Monica McCarthy Clark
Okeechobee 863-763-2114 804 N. Parrott Ave. Okeechobee, FL 34972
Clewiston 863-983-8111 311 E. Sugarland Hwy. Clewiston, FL 33440
Carrier 80 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | GLADES COUNTY
Happy Anniversary Serving Your Community for 90 Years
St. Lic. #CMCO54668
TERVIS TUMBLER DEALER
Vicki Anderson (863) 634-4106
(863) 634-4107 Eric Anderson
Your Top Realty Company in Okeechobee That Your Family Can Trust to be There For You! Serving ALL Your Real Estate Needs
30046 E SR78 - Buckhead Ridge Okeechobee, FL 34974 Vic_Anderson@earthlink.net
Anderson Realty Co. is seasoned at aiding new and experienced buyers and sellers in all areas of real estate. Contact us if your needs include a real estate pro experienced at the business side of real estate.
Shelly Doyle Personal Assistant 863.801.8463
shellydoyle@ymail.com
For All of Our Listings, Please Visit Our Website @ www.AndersonRealtyCo.com
Community United Methodist Church Rev. Steve Nolan, Pastor
Where Tradition is Honored, the Bible is Preached and People are Loved. Sunday School | 9:30am Worship | 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study at 4:45pm and Fellowship Dinner at 6:00pm Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, UMW, UMM, Open AA and Trustbridge Grief Counseling
Our Community is Our Mission Field 401 SW FIRST STREET | BELLE GLADE, FL 33430 | 561.996.5568
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Photo: J. Terto de Amorim
Welcome to
Hendry County I
f you’re looking for a place that has it all, look no further than one of the beautiful communities in Hendry County. Its rural charm and rich history make Hendry County the perfect place to establish roots.
With a population of over 39,000, Hendry County is comprised of three very unique and welcoming communities: Clewiston, LaBelle and the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. Clewiston, “America’s Sweetest Town”, is known for its temperate climate and multinational enterprises. As the Gateway to Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston is a prime destination spot for fishermen from all over the world. Clewiston occupies 4.57 square miles and is located midway between West Palm Beach to the east and Ft. Myers to the
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west. Much of the land is used to grow and process sugar cane, hence its nickname. Clewiston is also home to the renowned Roland Martin Marina, owned and operated by professional sport fisherman Roland Martin.
Billie Swamp Safari
The City of LaBelle, known as the “City Under the Oaks” for its draping canopies of oak trees, is proud of its humble beginnings and maintains its rich history with a picturesque town and strong sense of community. With the motto “The Belle of the Caloosahatchee”, LaBelle is situated on the south side of the Caloosahatchee River and is 14.50 square miles. Being located on the banks of the Caloosahatchee provides LaBelle residents and visitors with an abundance of recreation possibilities. LaBelle also hosts several rodeos throughout the year at its state-of-the-art rodeo complex. The Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation is old Florida at its best. The Big Cypress Reservation invites visitors deep into the swamp to learn about the rich culture known as the Seminole Indians. And along with teaching outsiders about the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Tribal members on the Big Cypress Reservation help to bring tourists up close and personal with Florida wildlife at Billie Swamp Safari. Together, the three communities make up miles of trails, including the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, Clewiston Walking Tours and the Big Water Heritage Trail. They also have countless parks and untouched Florida land, giving residents and tourists a chance to surround themselves with nature. These three communities offer a little something for any interest. From fishing on Florida’s largest fresh water lake to strolling down the quaint and welcoming streets to visit one of the many artisan markets, galleries and crafts workshops, Clewiston, LaBelle and the Big Cypress Reservation will not disappoint. Those who love history can take in a little culture and history at one of the historical museums including the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum on the Big Cypress Reservation where they can learn about the rich and longstanding history of the Seminoles.
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Skydive Spaceland And of course, there is never a shortage of festivals and events, including the Swamp Cabbage Festival and the Sugar Festival, to keep residents and tourists busy and entertained. Entertainment is easy to come by, especially during season when the Firehouse Community Theatre located in downtown LaBelle puts on their stage production on “Bridge Street.” For those who truly love a thrill, they can take a true leap of faith and get a bird’s eye view of the region by stopping off at Hendry County’s nationally recognized skydive facility, Skydive Spaceland.
Sugar Festival Concert
Hendry County is a community with strong values, and those strong values are evident in the growth and advancement at Hendry Regional Medical Center (HRMC). For over 65 years, HRMC has been in operation and prides itself on providing top healthcare to the residents of Hendry County. Education is also of strong importance for the residence of Hendry County. With nearly 7,000 students in grades K-12, the Hendry County School System firmly believes in its mission to provide students with the best possible education in a safe and orderly learning environment. The county is striving to improve academic performance by offering various programs including STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. This program of studies was initiated to better prepare students for college and the workforce. Along with its friendly, family-oriented small-town culture and outdoor activities and wide-open spaces, Hendry County is a place of much opportunity with its welldeveloped infrastructure and central location to major global ports. Hendry County is home to U.S. Sugar, a historic local company that employs over 2,500 American farmers, engineers, scientists, sugar technologists, skilled tradesmen, office workers, and others who provide 10 percent of all sugar produced in the United States, up to 90 million gallons a year of premium Florida orange juice and half of Florida’s sweet corn crop. Since its inception, U.S. Sugar has expanded to be able to produce over 800,000 tons of sugar each year. U.S. Sugar has been farming sustainably for more than 85
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years, helping to feed the country, improve the local economy and provide employment in rural Florida. The company also helps to protect and preserve its natural resources and the Everglades by taking care of its land, utilizing advanced soil and water management practices. With improved and advanced farming technology, U.S. Sugar works every day to ensure that every drop of water that leaves its farms has been cleaned and meets protective water quality standards set by the 1994 Everglades Forever Act. Integrity. Respect. Service. These are the core values Hendry County lives by in an effort to be an outstanding rural community in which to live, work, raise a family and enjoy life. With an ever-growing economic environment, it is a place where individuals can prosper. And the numerous sites in Hendry County listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, such as the Clewiston Inn and the Captain Francis A. Hendry House, only reaffirm the true prosperity this mighty little county possesses and is capable of. It’s no wonder people come near and far to call this flourishing county home. l
Hendry Regional Medical Center
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Residential and Commercial Security System
Commercial Fire Alarm System and Technology
• 24 Hour professional monitoring
• Annual Fire inspection
• Automation access via smartphone
• UL Certification
• ETL Certification • Runner service
• Cameras
• Monitoring class A fire alarm
• Access control systems
• Monitoring class B fire alarm • Addressable fire alarm • Conventional fire alarm
Safer/Smarter/More Efficient 390 US Highway 27 North South Bay, FL 33493 561.996.9090
SMART HOME AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LICENSE # EC13006503
COMMERCIAL __________ INDUSTRIAL __________ ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Grid One Electrical Construction, Inc. is a multi-faceted electrical contractor, specializing in commercial and industrial construction. Grid One has been in business for 13 years, servicing the area around Lake Okeechobee. Our dedicated and knowledgeable team of electricians, high and low voltage technicians and office staff are led by senior leadership whose core philosophy is consistently delivering exceptional service. 390 US HIGHWAY 27 NORTH / SOUTH BAY, FL 33493 / 561-996-4488
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LICENSE # EC13004239
Welcome to
W
Hendry County.
elcome to Hendry County. The Clewiston Chamber invites you to discover the “liquid heart of Florida” and all that Hendry County has to offer!
Situated on the southern shores of Lake Okeechobee, “America’s Sweetest Town” has a variety of businesses and amenities to offer. Clewiston is best known for two things, our agricultural contributions and bass fishing! Here at the Chamber of Commerce, we know that our town is so much more, while we take tremendous pride in our agricultural heritage and our wonderful gem (Lake Okeechobee), it is our people and our community as a whole that has given us the title of “America’s Sweetest Town!” Our economic climate here in Clewiston is absolutely poised for growth. Our largest employer, U.S. Sugar boasts employment for roughly 2,500 people; other key employers include Hendry County Public School, Hendry Regional Medical Center, Walmart and a wide variety of small businesses and banking institutions. We have several exciting large projects on the horizon, including the expansion of Airglades International Airport (AIA). AIA’s location in our rural community and its proximity to Hwy 27 make it an ideal spot for an international perishable cargo hub. With spaces also available in the City of Clewiston’s Industrial Park, we are eager for the expansion that has historically shown to be moving inland in South Florida. Here in Clewiston we consider ourselves “out in the middle of EVERYWHERE”, we have many of the amenities of the larger cities but maintain the rural, small-town feel we have come to love. Clewiston is located in South Florida, approximately 160 miles south of Orlando, 63 miles west of West Palm Beach, 78 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale, 90 miles northwest of Miami and 62 miles east of Fort Myers. The heart of our community is Lake Okeechobee. Lake “O” as the locals call it, has fostered the careers of several bass fishing legends. Scott Martin, a Clewiston native was awarded the 2015 FLW Angler of the Year award and was chosen to lead the USA Bass team that competed in South Africa in 2017. Once you get out on Lake O, you’ll be hooked! The services and amenities that you will find here in Clewiston are sure to meet all of your needs. Start your day with a morning walk on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST). The trail sits atop the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding the lake and built for flood protection. For this reason, the trail offers a grand vantage point to view everything from the scenic lake to agricultural landscapes. From there, swing on in to the Chamber of Commerce, we can direct you to a number of activities including airboat tours, fishing expeditions, swamp buggy rides or farm tours. If you are looking for an educational treat visit the Clewiston Museum or the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. Looking to pamper yourself, we have a variety of local day and medical spa options. Dining here in Clewiston, well that’s a tough choice. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, we’ve got you covered with a large variety of choices. We even have a local hang out or two for those night owls! Whether you are relocating, starting a new business or vacationing, Clewiston is sure to be just the right fit for you! We here at the Clewiston Chamber of Commerce would love to see you stop in.
Hillary Hyslope
Executive Director Clewiston Chamber of Commerce
Hillary Hyslope
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Experience the true nature of
Nestled between the south shores of Lake Okeechobee and the pristine wetlands of the northern Everglades, and sitting on the edge of the Caloosahatchee River. 88 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | HENDRY COUNTY
Southern Florida Visit us at discoverhendrycounty.com #discoverHendry
Hendry County is the perfect combination of untouched, natural beauty and welcoming communities. HENDRY COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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U.S. Sugar
Cutting cane for U.S. Sugar Clewiston c.1943
Hendry County
5
HISTORY
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ajestic cypress and interlacing rubber trees formed a green canopy along the meandering ridge that sloped softly into the pristine waters of Lake Okeechobee. There glistening, white sands lay like great mounds of sugar in the breaking surf, foretelling a future destiny. This picturesque setting was first inhabited by Native Americans, first the Mayaimis and then the Seminole Indians in the 1800s. Hendry County was established on May 11, 1923, as Florida’s 63rd county. It was created from the eastern part of Lee County after the creation of Collier County. The county was named after Captain Francis Asbury Hendry who first came to the area in the mid 1800s as a scout for the U.S. Army. Military outposts were formed in efforts of capturing and relocating Seminole Indians west of the Mississippi. Between 1838 and 1841, Fort Denaud and Fort Thompson were established on the Caloosahatchee River, which flows across the northwest corner of the county. Fort Denaud served as a supply depot for troops in the Lake Okeechobee area. Fort Thompson was a military post that was used to raise cattle for the troops. Settlers began to slowly make their way to the area with the hope and belief that the lush land would be prosperous for
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tropical fruits and vegetables. The Caloosahatchee River was the main source of irrigation for crops; however, because of its inability to drain quickly and efficiently during the rainy season and following seasonal hurricanes, the land, including the forts, was abandoned. In 1881, Hamilton Disston, a Philadelphia entrepreneur, signed a deal with the trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund to drain the lands surrounding Lake Okeechobee. Disston successfully connected the lake and the Caloosahatchee River, which allowed Lake Okeechobee to flow right into the Gulf of Mexico. This also allowed for the start of a steamboat service to transport passengers. Disston’s drainage improvement helped transform much of the Everglades, including what became known as Hendry County. With floodwaters under control, land began to become populated. Captain Francis Asbury Hendry acquired the land known as Fort Thompson and made it his permanent home. He platted the settlement, known as Belle and later LaBelle after two of his daughters, Laura Jane Hendry Thompson and Carrie Belle Hendry Evans. Captain Hendry and his son, George, started a successful cattle raising and export business in which they exported cattle to Key West and Cuba.
Clewiston watermelon fields c.1920
Sugar Transport
By the early 1900s, commercial fishermen had established fish camps, and in 1905, Edgar Everett Goodno purchased Fort Thompson and built an ice plant and an electric plant to serve a growing population. In 1915, Japanese families arrived and started the first farming settlement. The drainage made the land suitable for vegetable farms, citrus groves and tropical fruit plantations along the Caloosahatchee. There were also a large number of furbearers in the area, such as otters, fox, bobcats and Florida panthers, making hunting and trapping a popular means of living. By this time, the remaining Seminole Indians were forced into what became established as the Big Cypress Reservation located in the southeastern corner of Hendry County. They were left alone and only came to “town” to trade or sell their skins and pelts for groceries. The Seminoles began to herd cattle on the reservation, something they had done over 100 years ago in North Florida and something that would eventually grow into one of the biggest operations in the U.S. Sugar cane had yet to become produced on a large scale even though the possibility of raising it was recognized as early as the 1870s. However, it quickly became a reality shortly after another small community, Sandpoint (now Clewiston), was developed.
Clewiston c.1941
The most sparkling personage to settle Sandpoint was Marian O’Brien, who in 1917, became the first mayor of Moore Haven and historically, the first female mayor east of the Mississippi River. On boating trips, Marian and her husband John O’Brien cruised past Sandpoint and the beckoning scenic ridge inspired them to start a new community on its lovely shores. The O’Briens shared their idea with business associate, Alfonso C. Clewis, a Tampa banker. Mr. Clewis partnered and the O’Briens responded graciously, naming the new community “Clewiston” in honor of Mr. Clewis. In 1921, the O’Briens and Mr. Clewis completed the construction of a
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railroad line they named M.H. and C. (Moore Haven and Clewiston). Its completion ensured transportation for the area’s abundant winter vegetable crops.
Herbert Hoover Dike, which was constructed through his efforts around Lake Okeechobee after the terrible hurricanes of 1926 and 1928.
Mrs. O’Brien envisioned the Glades area becoming the winter breadbasket for the nation and Clewiston a little Chicago. She commissioned the famous city planner, John Nolan, to create a plan for her visionary city. The waterfront city plan was unveiled in 1925. However, the O’Brien’s grand dream was soon forfeited by personal financial losses.
Severe freezes in Central Florida in the 1980s resulted in a shift of the Florida citrus industry into South Florida. Hendry County now leads the entire state in citrus production and is home to Southern Gardens Citrus Corporation, the largest orange juice processing facility in the nation.
In 1925, Bror G. Dahlberg, president of the Celotex Corporation in Louisiana, purchased the O’Briens entire holdings. Mr. Dahlberg manufactured Celotex, a boarding material produced from crushed sugar cane fiber. His plan was to grow sugar cane and manufacture sugar and Celotex. It was unfortunate that the Great Depression of 1929 coincided with the year his new business, Southern Sugar Company, completed its sugar factory.
Hendry County has continued to retain its rural atmosphere and is the gateway to the nation’s bass capital, “Lake Okeechobee,” the second largest lake in the continental United States. Each year, thousands of bass-fishing enthusiasts visit Hendry County to fish the lake waters, while enjoying the county’s southern charm. l
In 1931, Michigan industrialist, Mr. Charles Stewart Mott, purchased the Southern Sugar Company and renamed it United States Sugar Corporation. His philosophy was simple and honest, “what is good for the community is good for the company.” It was a motto that bore fruit for Clewiston and United States Sugar Corporation as they grew and prospered together in the upcoming years. During World War II, Clewiston was home to the Number 5 British Flying Training School, established west of the city at Riddle Field. Over 1,800 cadets trained at Riddle Field as RAF pilots during the war. The post-war years brought further expansion of winter vegetable farming and ranching operations. With the termination of sugar imports from Cuba in the early 1960s, the area underwent a massive expansion of its sugar cane industry. In 1961, former President Herbert Hoover visited Clewiston and was honored with the naming of the dike, Clewiston locks c.1941
Clewiston airfield where British pilots trained during World War II
92 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | HENDRY COUNTY
Hometown Healthcare Providing Personalized Care in Your Own Backyard
New modern emergency department, along with imaging services, surgery suites, laboratory services, and outpatient services
Hendry Regional Medical Center (HRMC)
is a 25-bed critical access hospital delivering a personal touch through doctors and nurses whom you know and trust, in a warm and friendly environment. Hendry Regional provides healthcare to the residents of Hendry County, Southern Glades County and Western Palm Beach County. HRMC strives to meet the needs of the residents by incorporating modern technology with compassionate and competent medical staff to care for its patients. Convenient locations are available in Clewiston and LaBelle. Hendry Regional Medical Center recently opened at the hospital a new modern emergency department, along with imaging services, surgery suites, laboratory services, and outpatient services. HRMC also has 6 additional facilities located throughout Hendry County. In
Hendry Regional Convenient Care Center is located in the heart of LaBelle
Clewiston the Dr. James D. Forbes Family Care Center hosts a dynamic team providing Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine. Corporate Health Services offers preventative health programs for employers and their employees including worker’s compensation management, testing, screenings, site assessment’s, and wellness education. Hendry Regional Rehabilitative Services offers a variety of rehabilitation and therapeutic services designed to evaluate and treat problems affecting mobility and function. The Hendry Regional Convenient Care Center is located in the heart of LaBelle. The facility includes Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and specialty care including gynecology, surgery, and physical and occupational therapy services. Hendry Regional Medical Center offers a wide array of specialty services for residents
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including cardiology, surgery, gynecology, audiology, and pain management. Understanding the need of the community HRMC continues to add services and providers to its already expansive list. The most recent additions have been 3D Mammography, Infusion Services and additional Family Practice Providers. With the continued growth of services and providers HRMC built a new Medical & Rehabilitative Services building. The new building provides additional space for rehabilitative services and dedicated medical space for future growth. At HRMC healthcare is a team effort. The staff is courteous, respectful, and enthusiastic in serving healthcare needs at any of the multiple locations. Hendry Regional has proudly been providing healthcare for over six decades, with roots that run deep within the community!
With the continued growth of services and providers HRMC built a new Medical & Rehabilitative Services building
524 West Sagamore Avenue | Clewiston, FL 33440 | 863-902-3000 | www.hrmc.us HENDRY COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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o Jolly Roger Marina Located on the south side of Lake Okeechobee, the Jolly Roger Marina is a full-service marina that is fully accessible from the lake. It offers a bait and tackle store, guided services, boat rentals and dockage. The marina also has a sales and service department that has a full line of Triton boats, Allison boats, Alumacraft boats and Mercury outboards. A factorycertified outboard technician can be found on hand at the marina. For more information call 863-983-7402 or visit www.jollyrogermarina.com.
o Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum has more than 30,000 artifacts that are unique to the culture of the Seminole Tribe. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, the museum helps to preserve and interpret the history of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It is located in the heart of the Everglades on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation. Guests can take a walk on the mile-long boardwalk through a natural cypress dome, which leads to a living village featuring Seminole artisans. Call 863-902-1113 or visit www.ahtahthiki.com for more information.
Hendry County
Things To See & Do
o Brown Sugar Festival
o Clewiston Sugar Festival
Founded and hosted by the Harlem Alumni Association over 40 years ago, the Brown Sugar Festival educates the general public about Black arts through exhibits including dance, visual arts, music and theater. The Brown Sugar Festival takes place the first Saturday of May. The multi-day art festival is held in the Harlem Community of Clewiston and funds raised from the event are used to provide scholarships to local students.
Held each year in mid-April, the Clewiston Sugar Festival offers a little something for everyone. The multi-day event includes live entertainment, cane grinding, a car show, a kids’ park and a variety of food booths sponsored by local civic, school and church organizations that offer the best of local cuisine. Over the years, a rodeo and fishing tournament have been added to the list of events. The Clewiston Sugar Festival is in celebration of a successful sugar cane harvest. For more information visit www.clewistonsugarfestival.net.
94 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | HENDRY COUNTY
Skydive Spaceland
o Clewiston Museum The Clewiston Museum tells the rich history of Clewiston through a mixture of artifacts, photographs and stories. The museum houses an impressive fossil collection that displays artifacts that were found around Hendry County. Visitors can relax in the museum’s 60-seat theater and watch a video on the history of Clewiston, which includes the growing and processing of sugar cane and oranges. For more information call 863-983-2870.
o Skydive Spaceland For anyone in search of a thrill, Skydive Spaceland provides an experience of a lifetime. As one of the longest-running skydiving centers in the state, Skydive Spaceland offers skydivers a chance to see Lake Okeechobee from 14,000 feet in the air. At Skydive Spaceland, individuals can freefall skydive or get hands-on training to earn their skydiving license. Call 1-800-533-6151 or visit www.skydivespaceland.com for more information.
o Sugarland Tours Organized by the Clewiston Chamber of Commerce, Sugarland Tours gives visitors an up-close look at a sugar cane farm. Passengers are able to chop down an actual sugar cane to chew. They also get to view the latest in farming techniques as well as visit the Clewiston sugar mill, the sugar refinery and citrus juice plant. Tours run October-March, Monday-Friday from 9:30 am-1:00 pm. Price of tour includes admission to the Clewiston Museum. For more information or to make a reservation, contact the Clewiston Chamber of Commerce at 863-983-7979.
o Hendry County Fair &
Livestock Show
Held in February, the weeklong fair has provided fun for the entire family since 1953. Guests can enjoy rides, entertainment, games, exhibits and more. A parade is held on the first Saturday, along with beauty pageants and the livestock show and sale later in the week. The annual livestock show and sale celebrates local agriculture, giving youth the opportunity to showcase their hard work and effort. For more information visit www.hendrycountyfair.com.
Roland Martin Marina and Resort
o Roland Martin Marina and Resort Family owned and operated since 1981, Roland Martin Marina and Resort is a full-service marina and vacation destination situated right on Lake Okeechobee that offers boat rentals, professional fishing guides, transient dockage, boat storage, airboat tours and several overnight accommodations, including motel rooms, condo rentals and a RV park with a swimming pool. The resort offers dining options that include a restaurant and a tiki bar with live entertainment. There is a tackle shop as well as a gift shop on site. Call 1-800-473-6766 or visit www.rolandmartinmarina.com for more information. l
o Billie Swamp Safari Billie Swamp Safari is located on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation and is a place where visitors can enjoy and experience the untouched wonders of nature. The safari consists of 2,200 acres of untamed land in the Florida Everglades that is preserved by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Open every day except for Christmas, Billie Swamp Safari offers swamp buggy tours, airboat rides, animal exhibits and uncaged animal demonstrations. Visit www. billieswamp.com for more information.
Billie Swamp Safari HENDRY COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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IMPORTANT NUMBERS ALL EMERGENCIES CALL...911 FIRE Clewiston Fire Department ............................... 863-983-1499 LaBelle Fire Department ............................... 863-675-1537 LAW ENFORCMENT Hendry County Sheriffs Office ............................... 863-983-1440 Clewiston Police Department ............................... 863-983-1474 Sherriff Department Clewiston ............................... 863-805-5000 Sherriff Department LaBelle ............................... 863-674-5600 HOSPITAL Hendry Regional Medical Center ............................... 863-902-3000 CITIZEN SERVICES Health Department.863-674-4041 Hendry Regional Convenient Care Center..................... 863-675-2356 Hope Hospice ........ 800-835-1673 Social Security Services ............................... 863-675-5297 Veterans Services . 863-675-5250 COUNTY OFFICES Animal Control ....... 863-983-1474 Clerk of Court Clewiston ............................... 863-983-1586 Clerk of Court LaBelle ............................... 863-675-5217 Election Supervisor Clewiston ............................... 863-983-1592 Election Supervisor LaBelle ............................... 863-675-5230
Emergency Management ............................... 863-674-5400 Hendry County Emergency Services.................. 863-983-1450 Planning and Zoning..................... ............................... 863-675-5240 Property Appraiser Clewiston ............................... 863-983-1591 Property Appraiser LaBelle ............................... 863-675-5270 Public Defender ..... 863-675-5263 State Attorney ........ 863-674-4034 Tax Collector Clewiston ............................... 863-983-1593 Tax Collector LaBelle ............................... 863-675-5280
Country Oaks Elementary (K-5) ............................... 863-674-4140 Eastside Elementary (K-5) ............................... 863-983-1560 LaBelle Elementary (K-5) ............................... 863-674-4150 LaBelle High (9-12) ............................... 863-674-4120 LaBelle Middle (6-8) ............................... 863-674-4646 Montura Early Learning Center (Pre-K).................... 863-983-1417 Up The Grove Elementary (K-5) ............................... 863-612-0750 Westside Elementary (K-5) ............................... 863-983-1570
UTILTIES Clewiston Utilities... 863-983-1454 Water Department Clewiston ............................... 863-983-1454
COLLEGE Florida South Western State ............................... 863-674-0408
PRIVATE SCHOOLS Clewiston Christian School ............................... 863-983-5388 Community Christian School of LaBelle............... 863-675-3277 Harvest Academy Christian Academy................ 863-805-0485 International Christian Academy of LaBelle............... 863-675-4227 Rcma-Mira Verde Coc ............................... 863-674-4104 PUBLIC SCHOOLS Central Elementary (K-5) ............................... 863-983-1550 Clewiston High (9-12) ............................... 863-983-1520 Clewiston Middle School (6-8) ............................... 863-983-1530
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CIVIC CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS Alcoholics Anonymous ............................... 941-675-1366 4-H Club of Hendry ............................... 863-675-5261 American Business Women’s Association............. 863-675-4523 American Legion Post ............................... 863-675-9956 American Red Cross ............................... 800-992-9933 Barron Library......... 863-675-0833 Bass Busters.......... 841-232-9539 Big Lake Cruiser..... 561-261-2291 Clewiston Bass Anglers ............................... 863-228-7662 Clewiston BPOE Lodge #1853 (Elks Club).............. 863-983-7471
Clewiston Chamber of Commerce ............................... 863-983-7979 Clewiston Garden Club ............................... 863-677-0105 Clewiston Ministerial Association ............................... 863-983-3181 Clewiston Museum ............................... 863-983-2870 Clewiston Rotary.... 863-983-8191 Clewiston Women’s Golf Association............. 863-983-1854 Disabled American Veterans Chapter................... 863-675-9956 Family Service Network ............................... 863-675-8383 Green Thumb Garden Club ............................... 863-946-3376 Gulf Coast Girl Scout Council ............................... 800-586-3186 Hendry County Cattlemen’s Association............. 863-673-5939
Hendry County Cattlewomen ............................... 863-675-5261 Hendry County Rodeo Association ............................... 863-599-1169 Hendry Glades Audubon Society ............................... 863-674-0695 LaBelle Bass Busters ............................... 863-946-2744 LaBelle Boy Scouts Troop 9 ............................... 863-675-3222 LaBelle Cub Scouts Pack 9 ............................... 863-675-8892 LaBelle Chamber of Commerce ............................... 863-675-0125 LaBelle Community Woman’s Club ............................... 863-675-4041 LaBelle Heritage Museum ............................... 863-674-0034 LaBelle Literacy Council ............................... 863-675-0656
LaBelle Masonic Lodge No379 ............................... 863-675-7159 LaBelle Moose Lodge ............................... 863-675-6285 LaBelle Quarterback Club ............................... 863-675-2789 LaBelle Rotary Club ............................... 239-250-4795 LaBelle Shrine Club ............................... 863-675-9943 LaBelle Kiwanis...... 863-675-4043 Overeaters Anonymous ............................... 863-675-4383 LIBRARIES Clewiston Public Library ............................... 863-983-1493 Harlem Library........ 863-902-3320
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Okeechobee the Magazine 314 NW 5th Street, Okeechobee, FL 34972 W W W.OKEECHOBEETHEMAGAZINE .COM HENDRY COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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PLACES OF WORSHIP AFRICAN METHODIST New Bethel AME Church 959 Della Tobias Avenue, Clewiston 863-983-5086
BAPTIST Big Cypress First Baptist Church 34850 First Baptist Church Drive, Clewiston 863-983-9859 Big Cypress New Testament Baptist 34800 Josie Billie Highway, Clewiston 863-983-9333 Caloosa Baptist Church 550 W. Hickpochee Avenue, LaBelle 863-675-4673 Calvary Baptist Church 1019 S. Gratton Road, Clewiston 863-983-8066 Eastside Baptist Church 601 E. Hickpochee Avenue, LaBelle 863-673-2346 First Baptist Church-Clewiston 102 E. Ventura Avenue, Clewiston 863-983-5555 First Baptist of Labelle 330 N. Main Street, LaBelle 863-675-2171 Grace Baptist Church 4200 N.E. Eucalyptus Boulevard, LaBelle 863-675-3349 Greater Friendship Baptist 901 Della Tobias Avenue, Clewiston 863-983-8477 LaBelle Baptist Temple 5520 W. State Road 80, Alva 863-675-4807 New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 851 Suwanee Avenue, Labelle 863-612-0424 Palmdale Baptist Church 8010 Seminole Avenue S.W., LaBelle 863-675-1331
Pioneer First Baptist Church 995 Riviera Avenue, Clewiston 863-983-0900
Kingdom Hall 217 E. El Paso Avenue, Clewiston 863-983-5558
Victory Baptist Church 705 S. Olympia Street, Clewiston 863-983-5594
LUTHERAN
CATHOLIC Our Lady Queen of Heaven
Christ the King Lutheran Church 350 Old County Road 78, LaBelle 863-675-2733
Catholic Church 355 Bridge Street, LaBelle 863-675-0030
Faith Lutheran Church 810 Cedar Street, Clewiston 863-983-7302
Saint Margaret’s Catholic Church 208 Deane Duff Street, Clewiston 863-983-8585
METHODIST
CHARISMATIC New Harvest Church 370 Holiday Isles, Clewiston 863-983-3181
Alva United Methodist Church 21440 Pearl Street, Alva 239-728-2277 Carlson Memorial United Methodist Church 310 Campbell Street, LaBelle 863-675-0656
Church of God Church of God Labelle 590 E. Hickpochee Avenue, LaBelle 863-675-1664
First United Methodist Church 331 W. Osceola Avenue, Clewiston 863-983-5269
Clewiston Church of God 525 San Luiz Avenue, Clewiston 863-983-7006
NON-DENOMINATIONAL
First Church of God 80 Florida Street, LaBelle 863-675-1388
Church of Christ Central 60 Hendry Street, LaBelle 863-675-4796
Turning Point Church of God 207 Pine Lane, Clewiston 863-983-7555
First Christian Church 201 N. Francisco Street, Clewiston 863-983-6704
EPISCOPAL
First Christian Church 138 Ford Avenue, LaBelle 863-675-1366
Church of the Good Shepherd 1098 Collingswood Parkway, LaBelle 863-675-0385 St. Martin’s Episcopal Church 207 S.W. C Owen Avenue, Clewiston 863-983-7960
JEHOVAH’S WITNESS PLACES OF WORSHIP Jehovah’s Witness 538 Glades Avenue, LaBelle 863-675-0878
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Healing Waters Family Life Center 4501 N. Birchwood Parkway, LaBelle 863-234-1477 Life Ministries 725 W. Hickpochee Avenue, LaBelle 863-675-8855 Real Life Church 953 W. Sugarland Highway, Clewiston 863-301-3108
PENTECOSTAL Assembly of God 139 Fraser Street, LaBelle 863-675-0900 Community Harvest Worship Center 55 Orange Avenue, LaBelle 863-675-0938 El Faro Assembly of God 431 Bryan Avenue, LaBelle 863-675-5947 Evangel Assembly of God 350 S. Berner Road, Clewiston 863-983-5131 Full Gospel Tabernacle 1058 Phigpen Road, LaBelle 863-675-1222 Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal Mi 312 S.W. C Owen Avenue, Clewiston 863-983-3333 LaBelle Revival Center 3025 County Road 78, Fort Denaud 863-674-1711
Lighthouse Apostolic Church 911 Evercane Road, Clewiston 863-983-2338 True Vine Church 2100 10th Street, Clewiston 863-805-0700
PRESBYTERIAN Clewiston Church-Christ 719 Seminole Avenue, Clewiston 863-902-8822 Community Presbyterian Church 407 Royal Palm Avenue, Clewiston 863-983-9406
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Clewiston Seventh Day Advntst 545 E. Obispo Avenue, Clewiston 863-983-4100
Vicki Anderson (863) 634-4106
(863) 634-4107 Eric Anderson
Your Top Realty Company in Okeechobee That Your Family Can Trust to be There For You! Serving ALL Your Real Estate Needs
30046 E SR78 - Buckhead Ridge Okeechobee, FL 34974 Vic_Anderson@earthlink.net
Anderson Realty Co. is seasoned at aiding new and experienced buyers and sellers in all areas of real estate. Contact us if your needs include a real estate pro experienced at the business side of real estate.
Shelly Doyle Personal Assistant 863.801.8463
shellydoyle@ymail.com
For All of Our Listings, Please Visit Our Website @ www.AndersonRealtyCo.com HENDRY COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Braces for Children and Adults
www.dredwardsorthodontics.com
Clewiston Office 327 Central Ave. Clewiston, FL 33440 863.983.5121 LaBelle Office 150 Main St., Suite 2B LaBelle, FL 33935 863.675.2011 Belle Glade Office 349 N.W. 16th St. Belle Glade, FL 33430 561.996.2100
• • • •
Free Examinations No Dentist Referral Necessary Insurance Accepted No Down Payment with Prior Credit Approval • Up to 60 Months to Pay • Gold — Silver — Clear Braces and Invisalign Available
Se habla Español MEMBER AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHODONTICS
Make it Your Home! Family Owned Since 1929
Celebrating 86 Years Serving the Glades
5 CONVENIENT SHOWROOMS Okeechobee • Belle Glade Clewiston • Immokalee • Sebring 804 E. North Park Street | Okeechobee, FL 34972
863.763.6293 In Store Financing Available
100 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | HENDRY COUNTY
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(863) 467-0054 HENDRY COUNTY | Destination | Lakekuimbariver.com Okeechobee | 2020 101
BUSINESS LISTINGS A/C & HEATING CONTRACTORS Echols Plumbing & Air Conditioning
2233 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-6461 www.EcholsPlumbingAndAC.com
Glades Air Conditioning 804 N. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2114 | Monica McCarthy Clark
ADVERTISING/MEDIA Okeechobee The Magazine
314 N.W. 5th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-0054 www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com
AGRICULTURE U.S. Sugar
111 Ponce De Leon Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-8121 www.USSugar.com
ATTRACTIONS/TOURS Billie Swamp Safari
30000 Gator Tail Trail Clewiston, FL 33440 800-GO-SAFARI | 863-983-6101 www.billieswamp.com
Florida Airboat Charters
863.697.1084 floridaairboatcharters@gmail.com www.floridaairboatcharters. com/charters.com
Sugarland Tours
109 Central Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-7979 | Mary Ann Muniz www.Clewiston.org
AUTO & TRUCK PARTS Original Equipment
824 E. Sugarland Highway Clewiston, FL 33430 863-983-1991 www.oeprts.com
Performance NAPA
729 E. Sugarland Highway Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-2141 www.napaonline.com
AUTO SERVICES & ACCESSORIES
Lehman Auto Body
265 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-1691 www.LehmanAutoBody.com
AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIPS Commuter Cars
1002 S. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 772-985-5781 | Jake Montgomery www.CommuterCars.net
Gilbert Chevrolet / Ford
3550 U.S. Highway 441 South Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-824-3780 www.GilbertHasIt.com
CONSTRUCTION/ CONTRACTORS Penrod Construction Company 210 N.E. 3rd Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-634-0546 | Corey Penrod www.PenrodConstruction Company.com
DENTAL Edwards Orthodontics
327 Central Ave. Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-5121 www.dredwardsorthodontics.com
Family Dentistry of Okeechobee
202 N.E. 3rd Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2765 www.FDofOkeechobee.com
Wemmer Family Orthodontics 2025 Highway 441 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-2332 | Dr. David Wemmer www.WemmerOrthodontics.com
EDUCATION Glades Day School
400 Gator Boulevard Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-6769 www.gladesdayschool.com
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Grid-1 Electrical
390 U.S. Highway 27 North South Bay, FL 33493 561-996-4488
EVENTS/ ENTERTAINMENT Black Gold Jubilee/BG Chamber P.O. Box 1774 Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-2745 www.blackgoldjubilee.org
Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center Palm Beach State College 1977 College Drive Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-993-1160 | Leigh Woodham www.dollyhand.org
Okeechobee Community Theatre
863-763-1307 | Ron and Jacque Hayes www.OkeechobeeCommunity Theatre.com
Sunrise Theatre
117 S. Second Street Ft. Pierce, FL 34950 772-461-4775 www.sunrisetheatre.com
EYE CARE SERVICES
FISHING & FISHING GUIDE SERVICES Fast Break Bait & Tackle
1505 State Road 78 West Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-0973 | 863-824-3474 www.OkeechobeeBassFishingGuide .com
Okeechobee Fishing Headquarters
5286 S.W. 16th Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-2248 www.okeechobeefishingheadquarters .com
Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina Resort 920 E. Del Monte Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-3151 | 800-473-6766 www.RolandMartinMarina.com
FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES
Big Lake Eye Care
Buxton Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home & Crematory
FARM EQUIPMENT/ TRAILER SERVICES
FURNITURE SALES/ HOME DECOR
Ag 98 Trailer Sales
Paradise Home & Patio
Eli’s Trailer Sales
Royal’s Furniture
606 N. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3937 www.BigLakeEyeCare.com
265 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-1691 908 N.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-4620 www.elistrailersales.net
FEED SUPPLY Rabon’s Country Feed
1852 N.W. 9th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3447 www.countryfeedokee.com
FINANCIAL INVESTMENT SERVICES Edward Jones Investments 107 S.W. 17th Street, Suite J Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-357-4724 | Sharon Covey www.EdwardJones.com/ Sharon-Covey
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400 N. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-1994 www.OkeechobeeFuneralHome.com
4051 S. U.S. Highway 1 Ft. Pierce, FL 34982 772-409-4618 www.paradisehomeandpatio.com 117 South Dean Duff Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-4121 www.RoyalsFurnitureInc.com
HEALTHCARE Hendry Regional Medical Center 544 West Sagamore Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-902-3000 www.HendryRegional.org
Injury Center of the Glades 241 S.E. 1st Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-9936 www.gladesinjurycenter.com
HOTELS/MOTELS The Historic Clewiston Inn 108 Royal Palm Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440
BUSINESS LISTINGS 800-749-4466 | 863-983-8151 www.ClewistonInn.com
HUNTING/SHOTTING SPORTS & CLUBS Quail Creek Plantation
12399 N.E. 224th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2529 www.QuailCreekPlantation.com
INSURANCE Hughes Insurance, Inc. — Allstate 220 S. Berner Road Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-8179
Pritchards and Associates 1802 S. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 877-763-6625 www.PritchardsInc.com
MANUFACTURING & PRODUCTION U.S. Sugar
111 Ponce De Leon Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-8121 www.USSugar.com/Careers
PROPANE GAS Glades Gas of Belle Glade 5 West Avenue A Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-3046 Dennis and Karen McCarthy www.GladesGasAC.com
REAL ESTATE SERVICES A-1 Realty
330 W Sugarland Highway # 9 Clewiston, FL 33440 863-805-0529 www.A1Realty.net
Anderson Realty Co.
30034 East SR 78 Buckhead Ridge Okeechobee , FL 34974 863-634-4106 | Vicki & Eric Anderson www.AndersonRealtyCo.com
RE/MAX Prestige Teresa Sullivan
1402 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 561-644-3186 TersulREMx@gmail.com
RESTAURANTS/ CATERING
Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council
Common Grounds Coffee Shop 104 Bond Street Clewiston, FL 33440 863-902-9889
Popeyes Louisana Kitchen
2195 Southern Boulevard, Suite 500 West Palm Beach, FL 33406 561-233-3130 www.ThePalmBeaches.com
TRUCKING/ PERMITTING & TAXES JC Tax Solutions
208 E. Sugarland Highway Clewiston, FL 33440 863-473-4001 | Jorge Caro
504 E. Sugarland Highway Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-2640
RETAIL/SPECIALTY SHOPS Eli’s Western Wear
907 N.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 800-226-3570 www.ElisWesternWear.com
SupplyLine
1113 S.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-357-1203 TiffSupplyLine@gmail.com
RV PARKS/RESORTS Big Cypress RV Resort
30290 Josie Billie Hwy, PMB 1002 Clewiston, Florida 33440 800-437-4102 www.BigCypressRVResort.com
City of Belle Glade Torry Island Campground 5000 W. Canal Street North Belle Glade, FL 33440 561-996-6322 www.TorryIslandCampground.com
Okeechobee KOA
4276 U.S. Highway 441 South Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-0231 www.KOA.com/Campgrounds /Okeechobee
SECURITY/ALARMS Reliant Fire & Security 390 U.S. Highway 27 N South Bay, FL 33493 561-996-9090 www.reliantfire.net
TOURISM Hendry County TDC
640 S. Main Steet Labelle, FL 33935 863-675-5304 www.discoverhendrycounty.com
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Yesterday S Today S Tomorrow Serving The Glades Communities Since 1963 108
S.E. Avenue D
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Belle Glade, FL 33430
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5 6 1 - 9 9 6 - 6 7 11
Torry Island Golf Course
Welcome to Western Palm Beach
T
County
he perfect combination of modern growth tempered with a relaxed country lifestyle can be found on the southeastern shores of Lake Okeechobee. Referred to as the Glades, not to be confused with Glades County, the cities of Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay make up the westernmost communities of Palm Beach County. Known as the gateway to the Everglades, these three cities also offer the perfect gateway to superb fishing, booming economic growth, top agricultural production and so much more. Conveniently located 38 miles from the Palm Beaches, 90 miles from Ft. Myers and 90 miles north of Miami, the Glades is the crossroads for over 12 million residents in South Florida. The three cities are all connected within 10 miles of each other and 10,000 acres of land. With a combined population of over 41,000, this lake region is home to a variety of industries that help to support its local economy and drive tourism.
As part of Palm Beach County, these three cities are situated in one of Florida’s leading areas for growth and development. However, even with their prosperous location, these three cities maintain their “small-town roots”. Belle Glade, the largest city within the 2,862,000-acre subtropical Everglades in the heartland of Florida, prides itself on its diverse ethnic background and its agricultural role in the area’s development. With its motto, “Her Soil is Her Fortune”, the city has taken advantage of the nutrient-rich soil, earning the nickname muck and black gold. Belle Glade is home to the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida and is one of the largest producers of sugarcane, vegetables, ornamental landscaping, and sod farming. Pahokee is a Seminole Indian word meaning “grassy waters.” Located directly on the shore of Lake Okeechobee, Pahokee is often referred to as Palm Beach County’s other coast. Pahokee
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Torry Island Marina & Campground is the only city that has direct access to Lake Okeechobee, meaning boaters do not have to enter through one of the many waterway locks. Boating isn’t the only way to get a view of the lake while in Pahokee, aviation enthusiasts can get an aerial shot of the massive body of water flying in and out of the Palm Beach County Glades Airport located three miles southwest of Pahokee. Glades airport is an uncontrolled airport and is popular for flight training for both fixed wing and helicopters. The Pahokee community is working hard to preserve and renovate their quaint town. Big plans are in progress, which include beautiful road improvements and street-scapes, as well as the restoration of historic buildings. South Bay, the smallest of the cities, is situated where State Road 80 and US 27 intersect, making it the crossroads of South Florida. Even with just roughly 5,000 residents, South Bay was ranked as the third fastest growing major metropolitan area in the U.S. during the last few decades. With available labor, low taxes, cooperative government, and strong infrastructure, South Bay is ideal for almost any industry, including distribution, manufacturing, tourism and recreation. Another very small community found within Western Palm Beach County is Canal Point. With a sparse population, Canal Point is primarily populated with independent farmers or employees.
The Glades area has an average annual temperature of 74 degrees and an average rainfall of about 40 inches, most of which arrives in the form of summer showers. The sun shines nearly every day and cold days are few and short lived, bringing many seasonal residents to the area and creating ideal conditions for harvesting agriculture. Combined, the Glades region harvests 500,000 acres of crops annually, primarily sugar cane and 30 different types of vegetables. Originally, green beans and potatoes were the main producing crops, but today, aside from sugar cane, celery, lettuce and sweet corn are the main harvested vegetables. Palm Beach County, being part of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), leads the nation in the production of sugar cane and fresh sweet corn, and leads the State in the production of rice, lettuce, radishes, Chinese vegetables, specialty leaf, and celery. The EAA is the largest single producing region east of the Mississippi and the fifth largest in the nation. The local economic impact on Palm Beach County alone is about $3 billion. EAA farmers are the best stewards of their land and advocate for the future generations of growers and farmers. The 2016-17 water year resulted in the EAA providing clean, quality water once again with a 70 percent reduction in phosphorous, nearly three times the goal. EAA farmers are working collectively with the science/research community and regulators to ensure long-term solutions to the east coast
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estuary’s water quantity and pollution problems that will not hurt local food supply or hard-working farmers providing for their families.
Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center
Education is something the Glades region takes an enormous amount of pride in as its region has a higher than average graduation rate for the state of Florida. Students across the Glades attend public, private and charter schools and consistently score higher on standardized tests. Vocational training and higher education is available at West Tech, a branch location of the School District of Palm Beach County located in Belle Glade which offers vocational training for trades including HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, electrical and welding. Classes are available onsite and online, delivered by Florida Training Services, an FDOE approved provider. Students choosing higher education can also attend Palm Beach State College in Belle Glade. The Belle Glade Campus opened in 1972, with a permanent facility built in 1977. The college provides general education, occupational training, student services and community outreach to meet the diverse educational needs of the area.
Photo: Palm Beach State College
Obtaining a higher education and starting a career in the area is so appealing thanks to the region’s accessible location. It is within an easy commute for over three million workers. CareerSource of Palm Beach County is an organization chartered by the State of Florida that works with local businesses to provide job placements, recruitment assistance and funds for skills training. The Glades region has ample
Palm Beach State College Belle Glade campus WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Photo: Palm Beach Post
opportunity for business startup and growth with the help of various incentives, grants and low-cost loan programs provided by the county and state. But of course, it isn’t all work and no play in the Glades. On the Belle Glade Campus resides the 470-seat Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center, which was completed in 1982. The theater offers a variety of cultural and entertainment performances providing much fun for residents and tourists alike. Also helping to attract tourists to the area as well as bring the regulars out to have some fun are the many entertainment opportunities in the form of museums, art history and the many festivals orchestrated. History fans can enjoy the Lawrence E. Will Museum located in Belle Glade that educates and brings to life the rich history of the communities along the southeastern rim of Lake Okeechobee. The museum also serves as a research center that is the initial processing lab for prehistoric artifacts collected. Art and history combine in the form of murals on display at the Bank of Belle Glade and the Belle Glade Library. These beautifully painted morals depict the history and early pioneers of Belle Glade and surrounding areas. Also, at the many festivals, including the Black Gold Jubilee and the Afro Arts Festival, local artists have several pieces on display for viewing enjoyment as well as purchase.
Muck Bowl
Being situated on the southern part of Lake Okeechobee, Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay each offer a fishing paradise for freshwater anglers and boaters. Many come from near and far to test the waters of the Big O all vying for that prized catch. Outdoor and fishing enthusiasts have plenty of options in the Glades region. Near Belle Glade is the Torry Island Campground and Marina that allows access into the lake; in Pahokee there’s also a marina and campground; and in South Bay a municipal boat ramp can be utilized by all. There are countless trails including the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail that nature lovers can explore and watch wildlife congregate. Or they can take in a picturesque
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view of the lake from some of the best vantage points, such as at the Port Mayaca Lock. There is a little something for everyone, no matter what your interest may be.
Fourth of July
Athletics and high school football are also a popular pastime for locals and sport fanatics. Many look forward to the much anticipated annual Muck Bowl, played between Glades Central and Pahokee. The schools have won several state titles among them as well as produced countless current and former NFL players. The quality of life is high within the Glades region and Lakeside Medical Center, a 70-bed acute care facility located on a 50-acre medical campus, helps to maintain that positive well-being. The medical center was built in 2009 and is Joint Commission accredited. It offers modern technology and excellence in Women’s Health, Emergency Care, Critical Care and Surgery. The possibilities are endless in the Glades — you have all the amenities of a big city in a small quaint community. You can stay in the region or use it as a home base and venture out across Central and South Florida to enjoy nearby attractions. Western Palm Beach County may be a slower-paced extension of the Palm Beaches but it is a region that is worth checking out and exploring. Savor the Glades! Whether you are looking for a quick getaway from West Palm Beach or even Ft. Myers, the Glades region will have something to keep you busy and entertained. This conveniently located region is the perfect spot if you want to use it as a home base and make your way across central and south Florida. With lots to do and the never-ending possibility for business and economic growth, Western Palm Beach County truly is a place to explore and make home. l
Lakeside Medical Center WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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110 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY
The
Belle Glade Chamber
sub form/dlo sales form.
welcomes you to our community.
T
he Belle Glade Chamber welcomes you to our community. Located on the southern shores of beautiful Lake Okeechobee, Belle Glade is a great place to find a more relaxing lifestyle where fishing, farming and friendly people are in abundance. One of three cities forming a tri-city area that includes Pahokee, and South Bay, Belle Glade is just a 30-minute drive from West Palm Beach, but far from the hustle and bustle of city life. “Her Soil is Her Fortune” is the motto for Belle Glade, and for good reason. Agriculture is our number one industry and our region is truly a land of abundant produce! Thanks to great weather and our rich organic “muck” soil, the Glades are known as the “Winter Vegetable Capitol of the World.” Here we grow food to feed our state, our nation and beyond. Crops such as sugar cane, sweet corn, rice and leafy vegetables as well as cabbage, green beans, celery and radishes thrive in our rich black soil. Our farmers are proud to produce quality crops while meeting and exceeding stringent environment regulations! Belle Glade is the largest city within the 2,862,000-acre subtropical Everglades in the heartland of Florida. Originally known as Hillsboro, Belle Glade was incorporated in 1928 with a population of less than 500. Today, our city has an estimated population of 18,000, and growing. Noted for its largemouth bass, beautiful Lake Okeechobee provides unlimited fishing and boating or just plain relaxing on a lazy afternoon. Torry Island Marina and Campground has something for everyone, and a nearby 18-hole golf course promises laid-back enjoyment for the pro and duffer alike. Belle Glade welcomes you to avoid the hassles of metropolitan city life and come grow with us…discover Florida the way it should be! Stop by the Chamber, located on SR 80 in front of City Hall to see what’s currently happening and what’s coming up in the near future in the City of Belle Glade.
Brenda Bunting and Melanie Grimes Co-Executive Directors Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce
Brenda Bunting
Melanie Grimes
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Celebrating 10 years Lakeside Medical Center is an acute care, teaching hospital in rural Palm Beach County with a top A-rating in the nation for patient safety.*
Introducing:
Janet D. Moreland, our new Hospital Administrator, a local leader paving the future of healthcare in the Glades.
Coming Soon:
Our Medical and Dental Clinics will be under one roof at Lakeside Medical Center, providing one stop service for all your healthcare needs.
561-996-6571 LakesideMedical.org
561-642-1000 BrumbackClinics.org
39200 Hooker Highway, Belle Glade, FL 33430 *The Leapfrog Group, Fall 2018.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number H80CS25684 for Health Center Cluster in the award amount of $6,972,813. Of the total project, 75.7% is nanced with nongovernmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the oďŹƒcial position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. The C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics were granted Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) deeming status eective January 1, 2019.
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Dixie Building, Main Street c.1938
Belle Glade c.1948
Western Palm Beach County
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HISTORY
T
he history of the Glades is just as rich as its dark soil that earned the rural area its nickname “Muck City.” The first inhabitants of the area were Native Americans belonging to the little known Belle Glade archaeological culture. Pre-historic habitation areas, massive earthworks and associated burial mounds/cemeteries are scattered around the circumference of the lake. The type-site for the Belle Glade culture is located in the City of Belle Glade. The Smithsonian Institution excavated two important Belle Glade culture sites in the early 1930s as part of the federal WPA programs that put Americans back to work after the Great Depression. Today, there is a renewed interest in the archaeology of the Glades region. Teams from FAU, UF, FGCU, Palm Beach State College and Palm Beach County’s Historic Preservation office take part in ongoing research in the area. The areas’ Indian mounds were used for hundreds of years. Notably, the Belle Glade mound was used by survivors of the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane who rode out the storm on the relatively safe, artificially elevated aboriginal mound. Artifacts and interpretive displays regarding the Belle Glade culture are on permanent display at the Lawrence E. Will Museum of the Glades. As a result of the Indian Wars in the 1830s that forced the Seminoles into the swamp, land became of interest. The Florida Legislature began pushing for the drainage of land. This led to the Swamp Act of 1850 being passed, which granted roughly 20 million acres to the state for public use. WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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New River Canal c.1914
The northern lake areas began to thrive as the area became a prime cattle industry location. Land sales boomed and populations rose. However, the southern lake area, including the Glades, remained relatively quiet with just a few inhabitants per square mile. The population mainly consisted of fishermen and hunters who relied on the land for survival. Soon, reports began to surface about the rich black soil that covered the wetlands in the southern end of Lake Okeechobee. This brought much attention to Hamilton Disston, a wealthy Pennsylvania industrialist who made a deal with the state to drain overflowed land along Lake Okeechobee for development. He purchased four million acres for a mere 25 cents per acre. Disston was responsible for the placing of drainage canals all the way around the lake. He also helped establish a sugar plantation along with scientific studies into the growing of fruits and vegetables. With the development of land increasing, land sales began to take off. It was said that many salesmen were selling “land by the gallon� because of all the water that still remained on the land. The salesmen pushed the land as being fertile and ready for instant cultivation. Sales scandals, failing promotions and the untimely death of Disston in early 1896 put an end to land development and any further land drainage expected. As a result, most of the land reverted back to the state.
Shipping green beans c.1940
In 1912, construction began in an effort to control Lake Okeechobee’s floodwaters. In 1913, three major canals were completed: the Hillsboro Canal, the North New River Canal and the Miami Canal. Along with canal construction workers, the first real settlers began to arrive and establish communities where drainage was easier. Boat transportation was the only means available at the time. Small settlements
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Belle Glade produce
Suwannee on the New River Canal c.1914
popped up at the junction between the North New River Canal and the Hillsboro Canal, now referred to as South Bay. The Torry Island general store opened and soon after a post office was added inside where mail was brought from Ft. Lauderdale twice a week by boat. In 1917 only 12 families lived in South Bay. To the north of South Bay, Belle Glade, which was originally called Hillsboro, and Pahokee, first known as East Beach and then Ridgeway Beach, began to become settled. The neighboring communities continued to grow but it wasn’t until the railroad arrived that any real permanent structures were built. After the closing of the Torry Island post office, Belle Glade applied and was permitted an official post office in 1921. Between the mail boat and the railroad, crowds began to come to the small developments. Pahokee gained attention after a crop-damaging frost came through Florida. Because of a high ridge, the crops in Pahokee were not damaged. Once that news began circulating and the West Palm Beach Canal opened, farmers were drawn to the small settlement that was incorporated in 1922.
Dredging New River Canal c.1912
In the early years, children rowed down the North New River Canal each day to attend school in Okeelanta. When South Bay opened a school in 1919, the children of Belle Glade were sent there until Belle Glade established their own, which was located at McDonald Park where the Lawrence E. Will Museum of the Glades is located today. The Hillsboro Community Council, which was formed in 1919, was the governing body until Belle Glade’s incorporation in 1928. The Council was responsible for the location of the Everglades Experiment Station, an agricultural research and experiment station established by the University of Florida. It was this very station that discovered the key ingredient that was missing from the muck soil to make it unbelievably fertile as WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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previously thought and touted as. When copper was added to the 90 percent organic soil crops increased drastically. However, it was not until the devastating hurricane of 1928 that vegetable crops reached true prominence. On September 16, 1928, a hurricane more devastating than any storm before came through and almost wiped Belle Glade off the map. The fierce winds pushed all the water from the northern part of the lake down south drenching the Glades. Water rose four to eight feet in just an hour. In some places, water reached as high as 25 feet above sea level. Houses were ripped off their foundation and torn apart by the surging water and raging winds. It is estimated that 2,500 people died as a result of the hurricane. Hundreds of Pahokee residents survived by taking shelter in the Pahokee High School that is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The high death toll gained national attention, which eventually resulted in the construction of the Hoover Dike to control Lake Okeechobee flooding. The dike proved worthy surviving the severe storm of 1947, assuring people that the lake waters no longer posed a threat to residents nearby. Following the hurricane of 1928, the true pioneers picked up and started over planting new crops. One pioneer in particular had an active role in the development of the Glades prior to and after the storm. Lawrence E. Hill, along with four others, started the settlement of Okeelanta where he cleared sawgrass for farming. He became a licensed boat operator and helped provide transportation between the Glades settlements. He later settled in Belle Glade and opened an automobile dealership with a service and parts store. Hill continued to play an instrumental role as a member of the town council and part-time fire chief for 30
West Palm Beach docks near end of Palm Beach Canal. Beans from Belle Glade are in hampers on the dock c.1922
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years. He eventually became known as the Cracker Historian writing several books on the history of the Glades. Farming lands were slowly extended and roads paved. Packinghouses were created by farmers as a way to easily and efficiently pack truckload after truckload into crates to be placed in railroad cars for shipment to the market. Market demands and production played a major role in changes in crops. In the 1930s beans were the money crop, with excess beans being able to be frozen and canned. In 1945 amidst World War II, German prisoners of war (POWs) were sent to a camp east of Belle Glade and next to the Everglades Experiment Station. The war prisoners worked in a bean-canning factory or in the sugar cane fields. Local farmers had to be persuaded to hire the men for just 80 cents a day.
Belle Glade packing house area c.1940
Over time, farmers began to look at other crops for diversification and as a way to stabilize the economy. Celery and sweet corn became popular crops that turned into moneymakers. At the same time, beef cattle sales increased and in 1960 the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida Inc. was formed to add stability to the Glades’s agricultural industry. Over the years and into today, the Glades maintains being a major hub of the Florida Heartland as one of the country’s top suppliers of vegetables, fruits and sugar cane. With a history as rich as its soil, Western Palm Beach County continues to be diverse and unique. Little tidbits, such as author Nora Zeale Hurston being a resident of the Glades while writing her novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God and the abundance of NFL talent that has come out of “Muck City,” including, Fred Taylor, Santonio Holmes, Ray McDonald and Anquan Boldin, keep this rural lake region unique, diverse and so inviting. l
Thinning celery WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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Discover
THE PALM BEACHES.com 118 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY
THE PALM BEACHES the Perfect Place
#ThePalmBeaches WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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o Port Mayaca Lock With a tranquil setting and gorgeous sunsets like no other, the Port Mayaca Lock is definitely worth the visit. Located adjacent to US 441 and US 98, the lock offers an expansive view of Lake Okeechobee while offering a reprieve from the city. Visitors can fish, watch wildlife or just simply soak in Mother Nature’s beauty atop the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam on any given day.
o Pahokee Marina and Campground A destination location for tourists around the country, this campground offers 125 RV and tent hookup sites along Lake Okeechobee. The marina and campground is pet-friendly and open year-round. Visitors can enjoy hiking on the lake rim, fishing, bird watching, airboat rides or even archeological searches into the golden history of Lake Okeechobee. All registered guests can also enjoy access to a beautiful lakeside swimming pool. Call 561-924-7832 for more information.
Things To See & Do
o Q-Fest The annual Q-Festival is a football lover’s dream. Hosted by pro NFL player Anquan Boldin’s foundation fL yo Q81, the three-day weekend brings es t r ou oC together more than 30 NFL athletes Phot and celebrities, such as Boldin himself, Terry Bridgewater, Larry Fitzgerald, and NFL Hall-of-Famers Marcus Allen and Rickey Jackson, for a weekend of health, fitness, and fun. Held in Pahokee, where Boldin grew up, Q-Fest usually includes a celebrity golf tournament, basketball game and a signature “Fun Day in the Park” where Boldin and his Q81 Team provide food, live entertainment, contests, and giveaways. All activities are free to the community. This festival helps to raise over $100,000 annually for kids in underserved communities. Visit www.q81.org for more information.
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Often called “The Jewel of the Glades”, the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center is located on the campus of Palm Beach State College. The 470-seat theatre was opened in 1982 and has been a wonderful addition to Palm Beach County’s art and entertainment scene. The Center’s typical season presents play productions, ballets, and music of all genres. Over the years, various nationally known celebrities have come to perform at the Center. Special holiday performances and events include the Festival of Trees and the Living Christmas Tree. For information on the season performances call 561-993-1160 or visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/theatre/DollyHand/
po
Arts Center
Western Palm Beach County
aS
Centrally located, South Bay RV Campground is the perfect place for visitors to stop and relax while traveling through South Florida. The relaxing RV park offers a picturesque view of the lake with access to the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail located on top of the levee. For more info call 561-992-9045.
h ic
o The Dolly Hand Cultural
o South Bay RV Campground
ac
Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center
Q-F
Fest
o I Love Pahokee Day Held at Commissioners Park, I Love Pahokee Day is a celebration of the longstanding history and culture of the city of Pahokee. Residents come out for a day of family fun filled with food, music, games and events for the entire family. Exhibitors and vendors are set up across the park offering a little bit of everything. For more information visit www. cityofpahokee.com.
o Torry Island Marina
& Campground
A home away from home for many visitors, this lovely campground features 360 sites with full hookups. It is a great place to have a fishing vacation as you can have direct access to “America’s Bass Fishing Capital of the World”. It has a brand new six-lane boat ramp with ample parking, bait and tackle store, picnic areas, scenic walking trails, a recreation center, playground, a pavilion, an amphitheater and an 18-hole golf course. Enjoy a variety of animals and birds as you stroll along a nature trail, which winds around the rim canal. For more information about the campground, call the Torry Island Marina Office at 561-996-6322.
o Lawrence E. Will Museum
o Black Gold Jubilee Typically held in April, the Black Gold Jubilee marks the annual end of the harvest season, which brings the entire Glades Region — Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay — together. The annual Black Gold Jubilee begins the weekend before the actual Jubilee with a Tiny and Little Mr. and Miss Black Gold Pageant and a children’s fishing contest. A Harvest Queen Pageant is also held at the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center prior to the Jubilee. The end of harvest celebration is the best-attended festival in the area, drawing thousands of residents and visitors from across South Florida. The Jubilee is an all-day affair for the family consisting of free children’s activities, rides, games, dunk tank, non-stop entertainment, food and arts and crafts booths, art show, car show, volleyball tournament, corn contest, photography display and much more! A spectacular fireworks display concludes the celebration at dusk. For more information visit www.bellegladechamber.com. l
Located on Main Street in Belle Glade, the Lawrence E. Will Museum is a not-for-profit cultural and historical museum that preserves and displays the history of the Glades area.The museum collects and showcases a variety of artifacts, memorabilia, and photographic and written records all pertaining to the history of the upper Everglades. The museum was founded as part of the National Bicentennial Year Celebration in 1976 and was funded by local donations. For information call 561-853-4443.
o Fourth of July Event & Fireworks Held at the Pahokee Marina and Campground as well as Torry Island Marina and Campground in Belle Glade, the Fourth of July celebration welcomes spectators from near and far to watch the fireworks light up the lake. The fireworks display is a longtime tradition that draws anywhere from 800 to 1,000 spectators. The celebration held in Belle Glade includes local vendors and family-friendly activities and entertainment including live music.
o Afro Arts Festival The Glades Festival of Afro Arts is sponsored annually by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the City of Belle Glade. It is held on the third Saturday of March at Lake Shore Park and Recreation Complex in Belle Glade. The festival, going into its 40th year, gives charities and other organizations an opportunity to raise funds by setting up booths. Along with local vendors displaying various types of arts and crafts, the event kicks off with a parade, followed by a day of live music and lots of food. In previous years, entertainment has included the Young Choir of the Glades, Motown Magic, MAC G and Liberty & Favor live band. For more information call 561-914-0280 or 561-983-2425. WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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IMPORTANT NUMBERS ALL EMERGENCIES CALL.......................... 911 Police, Fire and Rescue ................................ 911 Poison Control Center.................. 800-222-1222 FIRE Fire emergency.............................................. 911 Belle Glade Fire Station................ 561-996-2032 Pahokee Fire Station..................... 561-924-0011 South Bay Fire Station.................. 561-996-2032 Forest Fires and Burning Authorization ...................................................... 561-791-4725 POLICE / SHERIFF / LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES Police/Sheriff Emergency.............................. 911 Sheriff Non-Emergency................ 561-996-1670 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) ...................................................... 561-833-7517 If no answer call 1-305-944-9101 (Miami Office) Florida Department of Law Enforcement ...................................................... 561-740-7010 US Coast Guard (Search and Rescue) ...................................................... 561-844-5030 If no answer call 305-415-6800 (Miami) US Marshal................................... 561-655-1827 US Secret Service......................... 561-659-0184 Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives..................................... 800-800-3855 HOSPITAL Lakeside Medical Center.............. 561-996-6571 AIRPORT Palm Beach County Glades Airport (Pahokee) ...................................................... 561-924-5253 CITIZEN SERVICES Abuse, Elder and Child Hotline ........800-962-2873 (voice), 800-453-5145 (TYY) Alzheimer’s Community Care Crisis Line ...................................................... 800-394-1771 Domestic Abuse (YMCA) Hotline.. 800-973-9922 Children’s Services Council561-740-7000 Florida Abuse Hotline.................900-453-5145 (TYY) ...................................................... 866-891-7273 Rape/Crime Victim Hotline..561-355-1772 (TYY) Trustbridge Hospice...................... 888-848-5200 Victim Services (Rape Crisis Center/ Victims of Violent Crimes)............. 561-996-4871 Crisis Unit (Mental Health)............ 561-992-1336 West County Senior Services Center ...................................................... 561-996-4818
City Of Belle Glade....................... 561-996-0100 Canal Point.................................... 561-924-0048 Pahokee........................................ 561-924-5534 South Bay..................................... 561-996-6751 COUNTY OFFICES Animal Care & Control.................. 561-924-5656 Board of County Commissioners (District 6)...................................... 561-996-4815 Clerk & Comptroller...................... 561-996-4843 Court Administration..................... 561-355-2431 Guardian Ad Litem........................ 561-992-1108
Pioneer Park Elementary.............. 561-993-8600 Canal Point KE Cunningham Elementary School ...................................................... 561-924-9800 Pahokee Pahokee Elementary..................... 561-924-9700 Pahokee Middle / Senior High School ...................................................... 561-924-6400 Everglades Preparatory Academy.561-924-3002 South Bay Rosenwald Elementary................. 561-993-8900
LIBRARY Belle Glade.................................... 561-996-3453 Pahokee........................................ 561-924-5206 Parks and Recreation (Main Office) ...................................................... 561-966-6600 Property Appraiser........................ 561-996-4890 Public Defender (15th Judicial Circuit) ..................................................... 561-996 -4880 State Attorney (15th Judicial Circuit) ...................................................... 561-996-4820 Supervisor of Elections................. 561-992-1114 Tax Collector................................. 561-355-2264
SCHOOLS (Private) Glades Day School....................... 561-996-6769 Good Shepherd............................ 561-924-7284
STATE OF FLORIDA Business and Professional Regulation ...................................................... 850-488-1122 Children and Families, Department of ...................................................... 561-837-5078 Florida Fish and Wildlife (Emergencies and Violations)...................................... 888-404-3922 Florida Fish and Wildlife (General Information) ...................................................... 561-625-5122 Health Department (Children’s Medical Services) ...................................................... 877-822-5203 Department of Revenue (Child Support Enforcement)................................. 800-622-5437 SCHOOLS (Public) School District of Palm Beach County ...................................................... 866-930-8402 West Area Administrative Offices ...................................................... 561-996-4900 Belle Glade Belle Glade Elementary................ 561-829-4800 Crossroads Academy................... 561-993-8400 Glades Central Community High School ...................................................... 561-993-4403 Glades View Elementary............... 561-993-8800 Gove Elementary........................... 561-993-8700 Lakeshore Middle School............. 561-829-1100
122 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY
COLLEGES Palm Beach State College............ 561-993-1122 University of Florida (IFAS) Education and Research Center... 561-993-1500 TECHNICAL SCHOOL West Tech...................................... 561-829-4600 UTILITIES Palm Beach County Water Department ...................................................... 877-477-1305 Florida Power and Light................ 800-375-2434 (To Report an Outage).................800-4OU-TAGE CIVIC CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS American Legion Post 20............. 561-996-6444 American Red Cross..................... 561-833-7711 Chamber of Commerce — Belle Glade ...................................................... 561-996-2745 Chamber of Commerce — Pahokee ...................................................... 561-924-5579 Elks Lodge.................................... 561-996-1716 East Coast Migrant Headstart...... 561-996-2232
Getting the education and skills you need for the jobs of today and tomorrow has never been more convenient. At our Belle Glade campus you can enroll in programs to become a nurse, fix diesel engines or transfer to a university. Come in for a visit today!
FROM THE GLADES
Level Up PalmBeachState.edu PBSC at Belle Glade | 1977 College Drive
TO GRADUATION
WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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PLACES OF WORSHIP AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL Harvest AME Church 825 Larrimore Road, Pahokee 561-924-4263 Mt. Zion AME Church 908 S.W. Avenue B Place, Belle Glade 561-983-8230 New Bethel AME Church 200 N.W. 12th Avenue, South Bay 561-996-2009 St. James AME Church 465 S. Lake Avenue, Pahokee 561-924-7582 APOSTOLIC Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ 1316 W. Canal Street, Belle Glade 561-996-7700 Church of the Lord Jesus Christ 577 S.W. 8th Street, Belle Glade 561-996-1904 BAPTIST, INDEPENDENT BAPTIST Lakeside Baptist Church 3055 Bacom Point Road, Pahokee 561-924-7592 BAPTIST, SOUTHERN BAPTIST Canal Point Baptist Church 37061 1st Street, Canal Point 561-924-7346 First Baptist Church 17 N.W. Avenue B, Belle Glade 561-996-5596 First Baptist Haitian Church 200 S.W. Avenue B, Belle Glade 561-996-6625 Grace en Creole-Belle Glade (Grace Fellowship, West Palm Beach) 233 W. Avenue A, Belle Glade 561-333-4222 Iglesia Bautista Ebenezer 224 N.W. Avenue G, Belle Glade 561-444-9951 BAPTIST, MISSIONARY OR OTHER BAPTIST Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church 100 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Pahokee 561-924-7534
Mount Calvary Baptist Church 399 Canal Street, Belle Glade 561-996-8238 Mt. Calvary First Baptist Church 190 S.W. 10th Avenue, South Bay 561-996-3116 Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church 225 N.W. Avenue G, Belle Glade 561-996-8911 St. John First Missionary Baptist Church 600 S.W. 8th Street, Belle Glade 561-708-8921 CATHOLIC St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church 710 S. Main Street, Belle Glade 561-996-3870 St. Mary’s 1200 East Main Street, Pahokee 561-924-7305 CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE CHURCH Alliance Church of Belle Glade 425 E. Canal Street North, Belle Glade 561-996-9914 CHURCH OF GOD Good Shepherd Church of God 1800 Bacom Point Road, Pahokee 561-924-7284 Pahokee Church of God 245 W. 3rd Street, Pahokee 561-924-5549 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 601 N.E. Avenue A, Belle Glade 561-996-6355 CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Iglesia del Nazareno 480 Bacom Point Road, Pahokee 561-924-0076 METHODIST, UMC Canal Point United Methodist Church 37050 2nd Street, Canal Point
124 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY
561-924-7325 Community United Methodist Church 401 S.W. 1st Street, Belle Glade 561-996-5568 First United Methodist Church 491 E. Main Street, Pahokee 561-924-7241
METHODIST, INDEPENDENT Lake Harbor Community Methodist Church 29 W. Corkscrew Boulevard, Clewiston 561-996-8934 NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHURCHES Church of God by Faith 625 S.W. Avenue B, Belle Glade 561-992-8070 Compassion Christian Center 417 N.W. 16th Street, Belle Glade 561-709-8130 First Haitian Community Church 400 S.W. 4th Street, Belle Glade 561-709-8316 Glades Covenant Community Church 240 U.S. Highway 27, South Bay 561-993-9395 God’s Stone Ministries 1540 N.W. Avenue L, Belle Glade 561-983-8750 Pahokee Deliverance Christian 168 E. 4th Street, Pahokee 561-924-0079 PENTACOSTAL Church of Jesus Christ 37805 Canal Street, Canal Point First Holiness Church 125 S.W. 12th Avenue, South Bay 561-996-6929 PENTACOSTAL HOLINESS Gospel Prayer Band Church of Jesus Christ 420 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Belle Glade 561-996-0529 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Seventh Day Church of God International Ministries 630 S. Main Street, Belle Glade 561-996-7479
WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY | Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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BUSINESS LISTINGS A/C & HEATING CONTRACTORS
Echols Plumbing & Air Conditioning
2233 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-6461 www.EcholsPlumbingAndAC.com
Glades Gas of Belle Glade 5 West Avenue A Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-3046 Dennis and Karen McCarthy www.GladesGasAC.com
ACCOUNTANTS BMH Taxes
2911 East Main Street Pahokee, FL 33476 561-924-5651
Nowlen, Holt & Miner 333 S.E. 2nd Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-5612 www.agtax.com
ADVERTISING/MEDIA Okeechobee The Magazine
314 N.W. 5th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-0054 www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com
AGRICULTURE Stein Farms
AUTO SERVICE & ACCESSORIES
561-996-2100 www.dredwardsorthodontics.com
Lehman Auto Body
417 N.W. 16th Street Suite 8 Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-3700
265 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-1691 www.LehmanAutoBody.com
AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS Commuter Cars
1002 S. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 772-985-5781 | Jake Montgomery www.CommuterCars.net
Gilbert Chevrolet / Ford
3550 U.S. Highway 441 South Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-824-3780 www.GilbertHasit.com
BANKS/CREDIT UNIONS Bank of Belle Glade
108 S.E. Avenue D Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-6711 www.BankOfBelleGlade.com
BUILDING SUPPLY Seminole Supply Company Inc. 407 South Main Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-2041 | Matt Weeks Matt@SeminoleSupply.com
416 N.W. 16th Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-992-1820
CHURCHES
ATTRACTIONS/TOURS
37061 1st Street Canal Point, FL 33438 561-924-7376 www.CPBaptistChurch.org
Florida Airboat Charters
863.697.1084 floridaairboatcharters@gmail.com www.floridaairboatcharters. com/charters.com
Sugarland Tours
109 Central Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-7979 | Mary Ann Muniz www.Clewiston.org
AUTO & TRUCK PARTS Original Equipment
1348 South Main Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-5501 www.oeprts.com
Performance NAPA 209 S. Main Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-2500 www.napaonline.com
Canal Point Baptist Church
Community United Methodist Church 401 S.W. 1st Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-5568 www.Flumc.org
Everglades Dental
Family Dentistry of Okeechobee
EDUCATION
265 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-1691
Glades Day School
400 Gator Boulevard Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-6769 www.gladesdayschool.com
Palm Beach State College 1977 College Drive Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-7222 www.PalmBeachState.edu
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Grid-1 Electrical
390 U.S. Highway 27 North South Bay, FL 33493 561-996-4488
JMA Electric
325 S.E. 2nd Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-993-9225
EVENTS/ ENTERTAINMENT Black Gold Jubilee/ BG Chamber
P.O. Box 1774 Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-2745 www.blackgoldjubilee.org
Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center
210 N.E. 3rd Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-634-0546 | Corey Penrod www.PenrodConstructionCompany.com
863-763-1307 Ron and Jacque Hayes www.OkeechobeeCommunityTheatre.com
Edwards Orthodontics 349 N.W. 16th St. Belle Glade, FL 33430
606 N. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3937 www.BigLakeEyeCare.com
FARM EQUIPMENT/ TRAILER SALES
CONSTRUCTION/ CONTRACTORS
DENTAL
Big Lake Eye Care
202 N.E. 3rd Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2765 www.FDofOkeechobee.com
Palm Beach State College 1977 College Drive Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-993-1160 | Leigh Woodham www.dollyhand.org
Penrod Construction Company
EYE CARE SERVICES
Okeechobee Community Theatre
Sunrise Theatre
117 S. Second Street Ft. Pierce, FL 34950 772-461-4775 www.sunrisetheatre.com
126 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee | WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY
Ag 98 Trailer Sales
Eli’s Trailer Sales
908 N.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-4620 www.ElisTrailers.com
FEED/SUPPLY Rabon’s Country Feed
1852 N.W. 9th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3447 `www.countryfeedokee.com
FINANCIAL INVESTMENT SERVICES Edward Jones Investments 107 S.W. 17th Street, Suite J Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-357-4724 | Sharon Covey www.EdwardJones.com/ Sharon-Covey
FISHING & FISHING GUIDE SERVICES Fast Break Bait & Tackle
1505 State Road 78 West Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-0973 | 863-824-3474 www.OkeechobeeBassFishingGuide.com
Okeechobee Fishing Headquarters
5286 S.W. 16th Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-2248 www.okeechobeefishingheadquarters .com
Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina Resort 920 E. Del Monte Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-3151 | 800-473-6766 www.RolandMartinMarina.com
BUSINESS LISTINGS FURNITURE SALES/ HOME DECOR
INDUSTRIAL/HARDWARE
4051 S. U.S. Highway 1 Ft. Pierce, FL 34982 772-409-4618 www.paradisehomeandpatio.com
1225 N.W. Avenue L Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-3333 www.TrippMotors.com
Paradise Home & Patio
Royals Furniture
225 West Canal Street North Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-7646 www.RoyalsFurnitureInc.com
GAS & OIL Kirchman Oil Corporation 1201 W. Canal Street North Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-2033
GOLF COURSES City of Belle Glade Golf Club 2619 W. Canal Street North Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-914-6435 www.bellegladegolfclub.business.site/
HEALTH CARE Injury Center of the Glades 241 S.E. 1st Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-9936 www.gladesinjurycenter.com
Lakeside Medical Center 39200 Hooker Highway Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-6571 www.LakesideMedical.org
HOTELS/MOTELS Horizon Inn & Suites
1075 S. Main Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-992-8600 www.horizoninnandsuite.com
The Historic Clewiston Inn 108 Royal Palm Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 800-749-4466 | 863-983-8151 www.ClewistonInn.com
HUNTING/SHOOTING SPORTS & CLUBS Quail Creek Plantation
12399 N.E. 224th Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2529 www.QuailCreekPlantation.com
Tripp Electric Motors
INSURANCE Pritchards and Associates 1802 S. Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 877-763-6625 www.PritchardsInc.com
JEWELRY STORES Gilbert’s Jewelers & Gifts
200 S.W. 1st Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-3000 | 561-996-8664 fax GotGold24K@aol.com
MANUFACTURING & PRODUCTION U.S. Sugar
RE/MAX — Tamera Mosley
1402 Royal Palm Beach Boulevard Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 561-261-0404
RE/MAX Prestige — Teresa Sullivan
1402 Royal Palm Beach Boulevard Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 561-644-3186 TersulREMx@gmail.com
RESTAURANTS/ CATERING Faimus Wings
317 W. Avenue A Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-708-8159 faimus-wings.business.site/
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen 932 S. Main Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-5089
Eli’s Western Wear
NON-PROFIT
SupplyLine
1324 S. Main Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-4524 www.HEHill.org
LORE Alliance of Palm Beach County P.O. Box 2077 Belle Glade, FL 33430 Chris Radentz Info@LoreAlliance.com
PROPANE Glades Gas of Belle Glade 5 West Avenue A Belle Glade, FL 33430 561-996-3046 Dennis and Karen McCarthy www.GladesGasAC.com
REAL ESTATE SERVICES A-1 Realty
330 W. Sugarland Highway, #9 Clewiston, FL 33440 863-805-0529 www.A1Realty.net
TOURISM Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council 2195 Southern Blvd., Suite 500 West Palm Beach, FL 33406 561-233-3130 www.ThePalmBeaches.com
WELL DRILLING SERVICES American Drilling Services, Inc. 405 S.W. 2nd Street Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-3221 www.AmericanDrillinc.com
RETAIL & SPECIALITY SHOPS
111 Ponce De Leon Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 863-983-8121 www.USSugar.com/Careers
H.E. Hill Foundation
561-996-6411 www.boostmobile.com
907 N.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 800-226-3570 www.ElisWesternWear.com 1113 S.W. Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-357-1203 TiffSupplyLine@gmail.com
RV PARKS/RESORTS City of Belle Glade Torry Island Campground 5000 W. Canal Street North Belle Glade, FL 33440 561-996-6322 www.TorryIslandCampground.com
Okeechobee KOA
4276 U.S. Highway 441 South Okeechobee, FL 34974 863-763-0231 www.KOA.com/Campgrounds/ Okeechobee
SECURITY/ALARMS Reliant Fire & Security
390 U.S. Highway 27 North South Bay, FL 33493 561-996-9090 www.reliantfire.net
TELECOMMUNICATIONS Boost Mobile of Belle Glade 551 S.W. 16th Steet Belle Glade, FL 33430
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CANAL POINT BAPTIST CHURCH 37061 First Street, P.O. Box 235 • Canal Point, Florida 33438
561-924-7346 • www.cpbaptistchurch.org Follow us on Facebook - “Canal Point Baptist Church”
AD INDEX Abney Building & Consulting................................42
Edwards Orthdontics....................................................100
Okeechobee KOA..................................................................... 7
Ag 98 Trailer Sales..................................................................3
Eli's Trailer Sales & Western Wear........................2
Original Equipment..........................................................39
Anderson Realty...................................................49, 81, 99
Family Dentistry.......................................................................6
Palm Beach Co. TDC................................................118-119
Bank of Belle Glade.........................................................104
Fast Break......................................................................................26
Palm Beach State College........................................123
Big Lake Eye Care..................................................................... 1
Florida Airboat Charters............................................. 66
Porcelain Esthetics............................................................ 66
Black Gold Jubilee/BG Chamber........................22
Gilbert Family of Companies...............................BC
Port Mayaca Polo Club..................................................24
Brown Cow Sweetery....................................................... 60
Glades A/C.......................................................................... 54, 80
Pritchards & Associates..........................................8, 59
Buxton Bass Funeral Home.....................................59
Grid-One Electrical.............................................................86
Quail Creek....................................................................................17
Canal Point Baptist Church...................................128
Hendry County #discoverHenry................ 88-89
Rabon's Country Feed.....................................................67
City of Belle Glade Golf Club...............................125
Hendry Regional Medical Ctr.................................93
Raulerson Hospital............................................................62
City of Belle Glade Torry Island....................20-21
HWY 55.............................................................................................25
Reliant Fire & Security....................................................86
Clear Title & Legal Services.......................................57
Kuimba River Publishing, LLC............................. 101
Royals Furniture..................................................................100
Community United Methodist Church....... 81
Lakeside Medical Center/Health Care
Seminole Supply Company......................................80
Commuter Cars......................................................................43
District of PB Co................................................................... 112
Simpson Chiropractic.....................................................37
Crossroads Restaurant..................................................42
LORE.................................................................................................BC
Skull Hill Steel.........................................................................53
CRS (Cooling Refrig. Serv.).........................................56
Miller's Central Air, Inc...................................................53
Skydive Spaceland.............................................................. 60
D-4 Motorsports....................................................................56
Mixon Real Estate................................................................44
State Farm/Gretchen Robertson.................46-47
Destination Lake Okeechobee..............................72
Murray Insurance.................................................................50
Sugarland Tours......................................................................19
Dolly Hand.............................................................................. IFC
Okeechobee Co. Airport Ind. Park....................... 51
Sunrise Theatre.......................................................................32
Don's Appliances..................................................................43
Okeechobee Co. TDC........................................................64
US Sugar............................................................................................5
Edward Jones.............................................................................57
Okeechobee Health Care.............................................33
Wemmer Orthodontics.........................................67, 80
128 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee
OUR MISSION
Destination Lake Okeechobee | 2020
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The Gilbert name is consistent with value and community service. Our family roots are here in Okeechobee and we take pride in offering services the community needs just as we have since 1924. We will continue to be here as a neighbor and friend for generations to come. Visit one of our friendly Gilbert locations today and see why people say, “Gilbert Has It.�
Proudly Serving the Lake Okeechobee Area Since 1924 4 2020 | Destination Lake Okeechobee