Alturas, populated almost as much by lakes, fruit farms and cattle ranches as human beings, is a sprawling rural community in unincorporated Polk County between Bartow and Lake Wales. Covering 60 square miles, Alturas was founded in 1911 in hopes that it would become the capital of Central Florida’s burgeoning agriculture industry. Although that never occurred, Alturas possesses the last sustainable tract for citrus in Polk County, and it offers a setting and lifestyle that are hard to find in Florida’s fastest-growing region.
Unlike many nearby cities Alturas has kept with its historical roots of farming.
Agriculture remains a strong industry in Alturas with many farms throughout the neighborhood.
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Lake Buffum highlights ourdoor recreational opportunities
Alturas is home to numerous lakes, and the two biggest are open to the public year-round. Lake Buffum, which covers more than 1,200 acres, is a local favorite for fishing and camping. Lake Garfield sits on 630 acres in the northwest corner of the community. Both lakes have boat ramps and can accompany larger vessels for fishing or simply enjoying the water and surroundings. Surveyors Lake is less than half the size of Garfield Lake. It’s open to the public for fishing, but it has no boat ramp.
Lake Buffum covers 1,268 acres in Alturas, FL.
Lake Buffum is a great spot for fishing in Alturas, FL.
Take in the views from Lake Buffum docks in Alturas.
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Fruit farms, animal services among community businesses
S&S Micro Farm is a small commercial blueberry farm in the middle of Alturas that opens to the public in April and May for blueberry picking. It hosts an annual Mother’s Day event featuring live music and a mimosa bar. The farm also grows moringa, a drought-resistant tree whose leaves and roots can be processed into a powder for teas and smoothies. S&S sells the products for medicinal purposes. Lake Buffum Farms is another commercial operation that opens to the public for fruit picking in the spring. During that time, it also sells homemade jams, bread and ice cream. Alturas is home to a number of working ranches, and the community includes businesses catering to those whose livelihood depends on their livestock. J&J Tack Shack sells supplies and feed. Heartland Large Animal Services provides veterinary services. And Double H Animal Massage Therapy and Rehabilitation offers equine therapy techniques to address mobility issues and discomfort. Event venues are another popular business that utilizes Alturas’ natural landscape. Located on 54 acres near Lake Garfield, Scars Farm features an event space with a scenic pond and palm trees. It also offers educational tours. You can hear the stories of the farm’s donkeys, cows and horses on the animal tour, or get up close and personal with bees as part of the beekeeping experience. The tour features an immersive experience in how honey is made — told by the bees that make it possible. Fully suited and equipped, participants tour the bee yard, pull frames of honey and bottle their own to take home. Starling Ranch Barn offers similar accommodations on the northern shore of Lake Buffum.
Buffum Farms grows seasonal produce in Alturas, FL.
Pick your own blueberries at on of the many local blueberry farms in Alturas.
Scars Farm near Lake Garfield features a rustic barn great for parties & weddings.
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Housing variety includes ranch-style homes, waterfront properties
Alturas experienced a construction boom in the 1980s and ‘90s, and new houses continued to be built until 2008. The area is unlikely to see more residential development as long as citrus production remains viable. The single-family housing stock consists primarily of small established homes with screened-in porches and carports and traditional ranch-style homes, but more contemporary builds can be found concentrated around Lake Buffum. Manufactured homes offer the most affordable alternative. While prices can range anywhere from less than $40,000 to more than $1 million for the community’s largest lakefront homes, the average home value is just under $300,000.
Find a modern farmhouse in the Alturas area.
Ranch-style homes are common in Alturas, FL.
Housing in Alturas consists primarily of single-family homes on spacious lots.
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Alturas Elementary has been part of the community for more than 100 years
Built in the early 1900s and billed as “Polk County’s Last Country School,” Alturas Elementary School, rated B-minus by Niche, is the only school located in the community. A pair of schools for sixth- through eighth-graders is available in Bartow: Union Academy, a B-plus-rated public magnet school, and Bartow Middle, a C-rated school. Bartow Senior High is a B-plus-rated school that offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate program.
Alturas Elementary School is rated a B-school according to niche.com.
Union Academy Magnet School was established as a Magnet School in 1991.
Bartow Senior High School home of the Blue Jackets is an above average public school in Bartow.
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Medical center in Barotw; retail and dining in Lake Wales
Lee’s Country Store is the closest thing Alturas has to a traditional grocery store. Located in one of Alturas’ more populated areas near the elementary school, Lee’s also serves homemade food. Burgers and catfish are among residents’ favorites. State Road 60 on the community’s north side connects it to Bartow and Lake Wales for work commutes and other needs. Bartow is home to a regional medical center, and Lake Wales offers shopping and dining options in and around the Publix-anchored Southgate Shopping Center.
Lee’s Country Store is the closest thing Alturas has to a traditional grocery store
Bartow Medical Center is the closest hospital to Alturas.
State Road 60 corridor on the community's north side connects it to Bartow and Lake Wales.
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The Alturas Woman’s Club Community Center hosts community events.
Community comes together at Alturas Woman's Club
The Alturas Woman’s Club Community Center hosts community events, such as yard sales and holiday parties, and provides a space for personal and professional gatherings. It also is home to the local voting precinct.
Written By
Matt Pallister
Photography Contributed By
Jeff Palmer
Video By
Barry Ridgeway
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