Once upon a time, a grand hotel stood on the shores of Lakes Mirror and Spring on the present site of Spring Lake Shopping Center. The Florence Villa Hotel was founded by Dr. Frederick Inman and his wife, Florence (for whom Florence Villa was named). It evolved from their original home as guests suggested they convert it to a hotel in the late 1800s. By 1905 it boasted 45 rooms. Dr. and Mrs. Inman eventually built a home called Spring Lake Terrace that was situated just north

Carol Burnett recently celebrated her 92nd birthday. She is currently among the stars of “Palm Royale” on Apple TV. She spent seven decades sharing her acting and comedic talents. Winter Haven played a role with Burnett in the early days of her career. It was January 1961 and Robert “Bobby” Hiers just returned to Winter Haven from working on an oil pipeline in the western U. S.. The twenty-nine-year-old Hiers moved here from Georgia with his family in 1938 and graduated from

Maybe they only knock on some of our doors. Those chosen are as diverse as the reports themselves. Some never share the story. Some never even realize they had company. And some of us— maybe—have our names written in an appointment book in the distant stars. And should my name be nowhere in those books, should no visitor arrive, they will still have given me a gift to be opened slowly, with many smaller surprises inside, and even more questions about each one. This isn’t a st

As 1936 began, Dick and Julie Pope would host the grand opening of their park on January 2. Many local leaders had serious doubts about the park’s viability, and Pope often faced ridicule from those who felt the operation would surely fail. But the doubters failed to recognize Dick Pope’s skill set. His work with brother Malcolm in daredevil boating, as well as his golfing talent, had earned him valuable media contacts. He leveraged those contacts and promoted the gardens wit

Dick and Julie Pope are remembered (respectively) by many Havenites as the flamboyant and gracious founders of Cypress Gardens. Their story and its impact on our community are both rich and colorful. This month we take a look at Dick Pope long before he created Cypress Gardens ... up to the time that he met his lifelong personal and professional partner, Julie Downing. Richard Pope was born April 19, 1900, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of J. Walker Pope and his wife, Lily May.

My idea of a perfect morning would start with a cup of coffee as I watch the fog burn off the top of the lake. Eventually, the mist would clear, and water so perfectly flat that you can’t tell where the shore ends, and the water starts would greet me. That right there is true Ski Diva water. If I could trademark that phrase, I’d make millions just from my family members, who make fun of my aunt because she refuses to ski on anything less than perfect water. To be fair, she’s

If you asked me which Florida theme park I would visit again and again (as a grown adult with a fully functioning prefrontal cortex) I would say… LEGOLAND! And that was even before I wrote this article. It is your favorite theme park’s favorite theme park and it will serve you exactly what you’re looking for, FUN! Between the temperature controlled water park with arguably one of the most terrifying (read: adrenaline pumping) slides I’ve been on in a while, the talented perfo