Wauchula is a Florida town with historic charm and Main Street appeal
Wauchula is a small agricultural community with cattle ranches and a vibrant downtown next to one of the longest rivers in the Florida Heartland. Located around 70 miles southeast of Tampa, Wauchula was formerly known as the Cucumber Capital of the World before citrus and watermelons became its biggest crops. Many of its historic downtown buildings, some dating to the 1920s, house local shops and restaurants. Local parks and nearby highways make travel to larger cities and area attractions convenient. “It’s a small, quaint community with a lot of citizen involvement,” says Amy Tubbs, a lifelong resident and communications coordinator for The Development Group of Hardee County. “People come from everywhere just to explore our Main Street.”
Local restaurants and family-owned boutiques in downtown Wauchula
Most shops and restaurants are situated downtown along the main highway. "We get a lot of visitors on that side of town," Tubbs says. "The community is very good about supporting local businesses that have been here for a while." Giovanni’s Main Street Kitchen bakes wood-fired pizzas and calzones inside a brick oven, while the Wauchula Family Restaurant offers daily specials such as pork tenderloin sandwiches, baked manicotti and fried pork chops. Bertha’s Kitchen is an authentic Mexican restaurant with birria tacos and homemade guacamole, and Catrina Catina Bar hosts live DJs and karaoke nights. Cats On Main is a family-owned boutique that’s been in business for over 50 years, and Heritage Park Antiques sells souvenirs and hidden treasures inside its small storefront. There are also several grocery stores and supermarkets, including Walmart, Winn-Dixie and Burgin Farms.
Iconic home styles, some on acreage
There are houses of many sizes and price points throughout the city. Small homes with frame construction and slab foundations cost between $100,000 and $200,000, while traditional and ranch-style homes can have up to 2-acre lots and cost $200,000 to $300,000. Many homes have brick or stucco exteriors as well as lush green lawns, bushes and oak trees, while country homes on the outskirts are built on acreage with barns and small ponds. Three-to-four-bedroom homes that are 2,000 square feet with around half-acre lots range between $300,000 and $500,000, while two-story homes with decks, sun rooms and in-ground pools range from $500,000 to $900,000.
Local parks, Peace River and a great ape sanctuary
The 100-mile Peace River runs along the east side of town and is a popular spot for canoeing, fishing and kayaking. There are playgrounds at Seminole Park and Crews Park, and Oak Street Park has walking trails and tennis courts. The Hardee County Youth Baseball Fields has six diamonds for Little League games, and locals like to go bowling and play arcade games at Bowl of Fun Lanes. The Center for Great Apes is a 100-acre sanctuary east of town that has around 70 orangutans and chimpanzees. While the sanctuary isn’t open to the public, members can register for private guided tours after reaching certain donation levels.
Elementary school options and dual enrollment for high schoolers
Hardee County Schools serves over 4,000 students and earns a B-minus on Niche. Wauchula, North Wauchula and Hilltop Elementary are all in town and have B ratings. Hardee Junior High School has a 17-to-1 student-teacher ratio and offers culinary and robotics programs. Hardee Senior High School offers dual enrollment programs in partnership with South Florida State College and earns a B-minus.
Holiday festivals and the Hardee County Fair
Wauchula has hosted the Hardee County Fair for over 80 years. The week-long festival takes place in February and features livestock shows, rodeo and a farmers' market. The Main Street Wauchula Fall Festival has games, a costume contest and a candy apple station, and the Christmas tree lights up every December to the sounds of carols during Wauchula Winterfest.
Local highways to Florida’s west coast
U.S. Route 17 is the main highway through Wauchula and leads 14 miles north to Fort Meade and around 50 miles south to Punta Gorda. Florida State Road 64 is south of the community and connects to Avon Park, about 20 miles east, and Anna Maria Island, 60 miles west. MTM Transit provides transportation services in Hardee, Desoto, Highlands and Okeechobee counties. AdventHealth Wauchula offers 24/7 emergency care, and the Tampa International Airport is around 77 miles northwest.
