I have moved a couple times within a year, having to update my new bank (which is Bank of America)…read morewithin 10 days and my SS ckg was almost immediately! Praise the Lord. There IS a Lord!

It's never fun to plan a trip to Social Security, but if you cooperate with the new appointment…read moresystem, you get through in good time. I've observed the officer on duty to be professional and helpful, even when dealing with emotional clients. The staff has always been efficient & friendly in solving my concerns.

Jim & family were absolutely amazing. This camp more than suited the needs of our group and we had…read morean amazing time!!

Our youth team at my local Church recently stayed at Camp Sparta and what a lovely place, ambience…read moreand staff. Everyone enjoyed the cabins, outdoor activities and food was amazing. Thank you for being such a blessing to the community.

The tower used to be awesome. According to records, it opened in 1961 as a 240 foot tall…read moreobservation tower. It was possible to get to the top and have unparalleled 40 mile panoramic views of Highlands County and Central Florida. The dream of Earnest Oakley Hunt and Robert Gray, it is constructed of 100,000 concrete blocks which made it the tallest concrete block structure in the world at the time. In the late 1960s, the tower's name was changed to "The Happiness Tower" in order to lure people in, claiming visitors a state of bliss when looking out from the top of the tower. And at the same time, it was renamed the "Tower of Peace." The last owner to operate the tower as a tourist attraction owned it from 1992 until its closure in 2003. It is absolutely not open to the public. It's mostly abandoned though it functions as a cell phone tower. I'd have paid $10 or so for the view from the top. Bummer. [Review 455 of 2025 - 2098 in Florida - 24017 overall]

The Lake Placid Tower is a closed and abandoned gem of a bygone era. It completed in 1960 and…read moreopened in 1961. It closed in 2003 and continued life as a cell tower until 2019. It was abandoned in 2019. There are hopes that it might reopen but it's not likely it will. It retains a semblance of its original beauty but the structures at the base are in sad condition and are deteriorating. Since the tower is abandoned, I won't go into further detail but urge you to read Ariel W's review from 3 years ago for further information.

I spotted this bright black marker as I passed through the city of Arcadia. It is located in a…read moresmall park and there is some street parking. The historic district looks lovely and perhaps I will get to spend some time here. It reads, "The Arcadia Historic District comprises fifty-eight blocks within 340 acres that embody the city's development from the founding of its post office in 1883 through the late 1920s. The Town of Arcadia was incorporated in 1886 following the arrival of the first train that year and the area's subsequent growth. In November 1888, voters selected Arcadia as the county seat of DeSoto County, which was established in 1887. The City of Arcadia was incorporated in 1901. The heart of the district is a commercial zone extending 18 blocks and consisting of buildings constructed between 1900 and the late 1920s. Three buildings that survived the devastating 1905 downtown fire, and those that were rebuilt, are generally masonry vernacular in style. The district's most imposing structure is the 1912 Classical Revival courthouse. Residential neighborhoods of mostly frame vernacular homes from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries surround the commercial area. Listed on the National Register in 1984, the district retains remarkable historical and architectural integrity as reflected in its churches, residences, and schools, as well as commercial, governmental,and industrial buildings." [Review 12752 overall, 64 of 2020.]

Was insulted by the gentleman at the front desk. Florida's library system is very confusing to…read moreme...he asked me if I just landed.

Great location in the city, beautiful and clean environment (including bathrooms), excellent WiFi,…read moreand outlets near the back tables with personal desks available. The staff is friendly and helpful. It is the type of library that I would actually expect from a much larger city. I will be coming back here for sure!

The older lady who helped us was very, very nice! They have an entire room dedicated to the…read moredifferent murals around Lake Placid. At the same time, they have no other information on the other arts of Lake Placid -- nothing about the paintings of birds on plaques by Jayne Ford, nor the ceramic tiles with caladium leaves, nor any info on who is creating the painted trash cans. Neither could they get us on their WiFi network for us to research these things on our own. There is room for improvement, but they are definitely doing a great job here.

On a small hill overlooking the Historical Society Depot Museum, I spotted this memorial plaque and…read moreI had to know more about it. Lastinger Memorial Park is dedicated to Joshua and Louisa Lastinger the first white settlers of Lake Placid who have left a lasting impact on the city to this day. This memorial was dedicated on August 29, 1987. Joshua was a Confederate veteran of the Civil War. He married Louisa Bowden Lastinger in 1870 in Lowndes County, Georgia. The couple had their first child two years later, and by 1880 they were living in Hernando County. While on a hunting trip, Joshua discovered the lake-covered south end of the Lake Wales Ridge. He became determined to make a home there. The family packed their belongings and traveled by ox cart over three days to their new home. The settled on the northeastern shore of Lake Sterns in 1890. Over the next several weeks Joshua, Louisa, and their five daughters began clearing and cultivating the land. This area was later renamed Lake June-in-Winter in the 1920's. The federal government officially grant the Lastinger's land patent, consisting of 131 acres, in 1897. Joshua Lastinger became the first carpenter and they were the first settlers to cultivate citrus. Daughter Laura was the first school teacher. When the train came to town in 1916, it passed right through the Lastinger property. Joshua donated the right of way to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. By the 1920 Census, it was reported that 307 people lived in the town, just 10 years later the number grew to 819 people. Joshua and Louisa Lastinger passed away in 1931. They left behind nine children and there are many grandchildren still in the area today. In addition to the memorial there is a bench and landscaping in the small park.