Arcadia’s citrus groves and historic downtown in the Florida Heartland
Arcadia is an agricultural community that’s one of the biggest citrus producers in the state of Florida. Located east of Peace River, Arcadia has many cattle ranches and family farms that grow crops such as oranges, grapefruit and watermelons. It’s also well known for its downtown district, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and has several buildings and landmarks from the city’s early history. With small businesses, nearby parks and a variety of housing options, Arcadia is a rural community that cherishes its small-town spirit. “No one knows a stranger here,” says Taylor Jones, a lifelong resident and the executive director for the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce. “If you ever need anything, someone is always here to help.”
Antique shops and locally owned restaurants along Oak Street
There are several small shops and antique stores along Oak Street offering rare finds such as fine China, jewelry and Sterling silverware. “We used to be known for all of our antiques,” Jones says. “Now, we’re expanding out into a couple of home stores, clothing boutiques and even hair salons.” There are also many locally owned restaurants in the downtown area, including Rose Cafe, a brunch spot with a mimosa bar and blueberry banana pancakes. Martin’s Country Market has hot and cold deli sandwiches and makes homemade pies and cinnamon rolls from scratch. Azul Tequila is an authentic Mexican restaurant where servers make fresh tableside guacamole, and Slim’s Bar-B-Q & Grill serves steaks, burgers and beef ribs. Supermarket chains include Walmart, Aldi and Publix, plus there are locally owned grocery stores such as Cardenas Supermarket and K&J Homegrown Produce.
Historic homes and country estates on acreage
Older homes tend to be found closer to the city center, while newer homes can be found in subdivisions across the area. Contemporary houses can have stucco exteriors and open floor plans. Traditional and ranch-style homes are also common, and some of the city’s historic homes date to the early 1900s. Homes in town are usually less than 1,700 square feet and sit on city blocks. Oak and palm trees often decorate patchy lawns. Larger homes deeper into the country are built on acreage, some with their own barns and horse stables. The median sale price is about $272,000, which is lower than the state median of $405,000.
A wildlife park, a river and a T-33 jet
Peace River is located along Arcadia’s west side and flows over 100 miles from Bartow to Charlotte Harbor. “Peace River is probably our biggest attraction,” Jones says. “There’s a lot of fossil-hunting, canoeing, kayaking and you can camp right on the river.” There are walking trails and exercise stations around Lake Katherine, as well as a T-33 aircraft donated by the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Louis C. Anderson Park in town has basketball courts and a softball field, while Jim Space is a wooden castle-themed playground with swings, slides and rocking horses. Jungle Doria’s Wildlife Park is roughly 6 miles southwest and has zoo animals such as lemurs, emus and alligators.
Rodeo events and air shows
The weeklong DeSoto County Fair is held in January and features music performances, aerobatic acts and livestock shows. Many rodeo events take place at the Mosaic Arena, including the annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo that’s been going on since 1928. The Arcadia Municipal Airport hosts an annual Aviation Day in March with aircraft showcases, helicopter rides and a skydiving show. The DeSoto County Watermelon Festival features seed-spitting and melon-eating contests alongside live music and food trucks. Local antique dealers organize a fair on the fourth Saturday of every month, and a parade goes through town on most major holidays.
Agricultural studies in DeSoto County Schools
Arcadia is zoned for the DeSoto County School District, which earns a C-minus on Niche. West Elementary and Memorial Elementary serve kindergarten through fifth-grade students and earn C-minuses, as does DeSoto Middle School. DeSoto County High School offers scholarships to students seeking a career in agriculture and earns a C-plus.
Coast-to-coast highways and regional transit
Several highways run through Arcadia, including U.S. Route 17 and Florida State Roads 31, 70 and 72. DeSoto Arcadia Regional Transit is Arcadia’s free public transportation system that runs from southeast Arcadia to the 24-hour DeSoto Memorial Hospital. Placid Lakes is over 30 miles east, while Siesta Key, Fort Myers and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport are all about 50 miles away.
