Charming city with a rich history and small town feel
Avon Park is often referred to as the City of Charm for its Old Florida feel and hometown appeal. This quaint Central Florida destination of just over 10,000 is still influenced by the citrus industry, and its well-known attractions include the mile-long mall along historic Main Street. Located just north of Sebring in Highlands County, Avon Park is surrounded by lakes and natural spaces. Add in plenty of cultural attractions and the city offers an attractive quality of life in a picturesque setting. “It has a small town feel with a lot of great people,” says Mandy Thompson, a city native who now works as a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Highlands Properties. “It’s a centralized location that is a lot more rural, but you’re an hour or two from most of the state’s big attractions, like beaches and theme parks.”
Maxwell Groves, Hotel Jacaranda are top attractions
The country store at Maxwell Groves, the last remaining citrus packing house in the county, has been part of the community since 1935. “I knew Mr. Maxwell, and we used to go there as kids,” Thompson says. “He started it as a little store to sell fruit, and it turned into a local attraction. Everyone goes there for the ice cream, but they sell all kinds of things.” Other popular orange-based items produced on-site range from jams and jellies to candy and wine. Another longstanding attraction is the Hotel Jacaranda, which was built in the 1920s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Famous guests include Babe Ruth. The Bambino stayed there when the Yankees came to town to face the St. Louis Cardinals, who played their spring training games in the city from 1927 to 1929. Today the hotel is a regional tourist attraction that features modern accommodations and a pair of elegant dining rooms. Historical exhibits at the Avon Park Depot Museum tell the story of a community that was one of the last in the state to have a switchboard. The historical society recently raised $200,000 and received a matching state grant to fund the addition of a baseball wing. The Museum of Florida Art and Culture on the campus of South Florida State College and the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for Performing Arts are the city’s premier contemporary attractions.
Manufactured homes are prevalent among the affordable options
The median housing price is just under $250,000, well below the state number. “We have a lot of single-family homes and manufactured homes,” Thompson says. “We have a lot of mixed communities with established housing. We have some new homes, but we’re not like the coastal areas where people are coming in and building all over.” A mix of midcentury homes and contemporary custom designs make up the bulk of the traditional housing options. New construction is concentrated in the 55-plus community of Oaks Village. The most expensive offerings are waterfront homes. Residents enjoy comfortable temperatures that typically hover between the 60s and the 80s for most of the year. The city is far enough inland that hurricanes are not a risk, although wind damage from seasonal storms can be a factor.
Avon Park Mall is a walkable commercial district
Avon Park Mall is a walkable attraction enhanced by landscaping and monuments. “Our downtown is growing,” Thompson says. “There are some really nice places, and we’re getting more boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants.” Eighteen East Restaurant and Bar is housed in the city’s original post office building. More retail and dining options are found at shopping centers along the U.S. Highway 27/98 commercial corridor. “We have a large Hispanic population, so there are a lot of authentic Mexican restaurants. They’re better than the places I go to when I’m out of town.”
Donaldson Park is located on Lake Verona; Baseball is a popular pastime
Highlands County is a haven for boaters and anglers, who can take advantage of more than 100 regional lakes. Avon Park features three lakes within its city limits. Lake Tulane is the largest, and Lake Verona, conveniently located on the east end of downtown, is the most popular. Lake Verona provides a waterfront setting for Donaldson Park. Nearly a century after Babe Ruth hit town, baseball remains a big part of the community. Several ballfields can be found throughout the city. Legend has it that Ruth hit a ball so far during one of his games at what is now Head Field, that it landed on a nearby street. That stretch of road was subsequently named Ruth Street. Nearby Highlands Hammock State Park is a 9,000-acre ecosystem that offers hiking and biking trails. The Citrus Golf Trail features a variety of county golf courses.
South Florida State College was established in 1965
The city’s four public institutions are under the direction of Highland County Schools, which receives a B-minus from Niche. The city is also home to South Florida State College. Established in 1965, it is the largest institution of higher learning in Highlands County.
U.S. Highway 27/98 connects to larger cities such as Winter Haven
U.S. Highway 27 and U.S. Highway 98 are a combined roadway in Highlands County that provides access to larger cities such as Winter Haven about 40 miles away. Further north is Interstate 4, which offers a direct route to the Orlando area. Heartland Rides provides on-demand transportation for medical services, employment and shopping. Advent Health Sebring is less than 5 miles south of downtown. The Sebring Regional Airport offers limited commercial flights. The closest major airports are in Orlando and Sarasota, both about 75 miles away.
Crime
Crime statistics for Avon Park are not readily available.
