$792,133Average Value$275Average Price per Sq Ft8Homes For Sale
Rural township beginnings
The historic settlement of Gotha is planted among peaceful waters and happy trees. The established Orange County community happens to be the final resting place of famed artist Bob Ross. Gotha was founded by H.A. Hempel in 1885 and named after his hometown in Germany. "The original settlement had a country store and a church, which are still standing," says David Myers, a former resident of Gotha and Realtor who runs the Florida Neighborhood Realty team. "Nowadays, Gotha is kind of seen as an accessory to Windermere." Gotha is no longer an official town, but a protected rural settlement named a historical preservation district in 1995. While there is no representation by any municipal government, Gotha has retained much of its historic appeal, with a couple modern twists.
Beautiful aerial view of Gotha.
Historic Gotha's neighborhood sign.
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Historic outdoor spaces in Gotha
Although the surrounding area contains many green spaces, Gotha Park rests inside the community. Here, locals can enjoy the playgrounds as well as a tennis and beach volleyball match. Among Gotha's several attractions, the grave of Bob Ross is the most well-known. The painter, famous for his personable TV style and made "happy trees" part of the cultural lexicon, is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. Open to the public, his grave draws visitors from all over the country and is typically decorated with flowers and items left by those who come to pay their respects. Also buried in the cemetery is Dr. Henry Nehrling, a horticulturist and botanist who arrived in Gotha in the year of its founding to build a garden for experimenting with tropical and subtropical plants. Nehrling's Palm Cottage Gardens is a hidden jewel of its own. "It's one of the coolest things nobody talks about," says Myers. The Nehrling Gardens continues to conduct experiments and workshops. Visitors can spot sandhill cranes among the plants during tours featuring the original Nehrling family home.
Two cement statues of Sandhill Cranes in Gotha's beautiful Henry Nehrling's Palm Cottage Gardens
Sign of Gotha's beautiful Henry Nehrling's Palm Cottage Gardens.
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Picking up from Publix or Yellow Dog Eats
The community's primary gathering place is Yellow Dog Eats, which occupies the historic Fishers Country Store; Myers describes the colorful café as the heart of Gotha. Additional dining and retail options are available at the Publix-anchored Plantation Groves shopping center.
Yellow Dog Eats Bistro & Wine Store in historic Gotha.
Residents of Gotha can benefit from close proximity to Publix Grocery store.
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From century old homes to million dollar estates
Over the years, Gotha's housing market has expanded. "Right now, you can't find land in Windermere, so Gotha is going through a bit of a building boom," Myers says. Most of Gotha's housing consists of colorful custom single-family homes and New Traditional styles with large yards and private driveways. The community's largest estate-style homes dot the community's lakefronts.
Lots near Gotha's many lakes may experience mild flooding during severe weather. Some of the newest construction includes Fire Creek, a small development featuring a collection of homes on oversized lots. "It's nice if you want to live near Windermere without paying the Windermere taxes," says Myers. "You've got older homes that are original, over 100 years old, but there's also multimillion-dollar homes in the Gotha area." Housing prices often range from $375,000 to upwards of $2 million.
Large mansion-style waterfront home on Lake Olivia in Gotha.
Aerial view of Gotha looking over Lake Olivia.
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Toll road are provided throughout Gotha and make for easy commuting.
Separated by Florida's Turnpike
The 408, also known as the East-West Expressway, connects directly to downtown Orlando about 10 miles away. "You live in this area that feels very rural, but you're literally minutes from a major city. You've got the 408 and the Florida Turnpike that intersect in Gotha, so it's very easy to get anywhere in Central Florida from there."
Learning in and near the community
Gotha's school-age students can attend Thornebrooke Elementary School, which has received the state's highest performance grade for 17 consecutive years and has an A from Niche. Gotha Middle School is centrally located within the community and has a B grade. According to Niche, Nearby Olympia High School receives an A and the No. 6 spot for Best Public High School in the county.
Gotha Middle School is a public school that serves 1,125 students in 6-8 grades.
Olympia High School is a public high school which was opened on August 2001 in Orange County.
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Bringing Gotha's past to present
After advertising Gotha's subtropical climate to northern metropolitan areas and European cities, founder Hempel attracted an influx of German-Americans and German immigrants who found work in the burgeoning citrus industry. Today, preservation efforts are centered around its many historic buildings. The Gotha 1916 Schoolhouse now houses the Gotha Community Center, which hosts a popular two-day rummage sale every February, with proceeds benefitting the efforts of the Gotha Rural Settlement Association.
Colorful row of homes in Gotha's Almond Tree Estates.
A row of older ranch-style homes in Gotha's Lake Rose Pointe.
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Written By
Ashley Kennedy
Video By
Victoria York
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Bill Bliss,
an experienced agent in this area.
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