Floridiana Magazine

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Solomon’s Castle

If you could imagine a castle anywhere in Florida, where would it be?  Palm Beach County?  Miami Beach?  How about Ona?

Yes, ONA!  A small community between Arcadia and Wauchula.  Still not sure where that is?  This is one place you may have to find using an atlas or the map app on your smart phone.

Solomon’s Castle is a shining three-story structure in the middle of a swamp.  Even though I grew up in Hardee County, I did not actually tour the castle for the first time until a couple of years ago.  At that time, Howard Solomon – the creative genius behind this castle – could be seen around the property – offering up commentary and stories to his guests.

I knew when I planned my most recent visit there had been a big change.  The king of the castle had recently passed away.

Solomon bought the property for the castle in 1972 and began building.  One of the first things to notice is the exterior – covered with aluminum printing plates from the local newspaper.  There are also 90 stained glass windows, including some dedicated to the arts, fairy tales, and even planets.

Inside the castle there’s a gallery of his artwork, made from recycled materials.  From gears and chains, to lawn mower parts and wire hangers, Solomon had a knack for taking mundane objects and turning them into masterpieces.  And he did it all without drawing any of it out on paper.

Carousel made with old turntables

Solomon’s art is also a testament to his sense of humor.  The tour guides readily say the castle is the “Pun Palace.”  Nearly all of the sculptures come with their own play on words.

The Lion’s Club – a lion sculpture with a baseball bat. (By the way, the lion weighs 190 pounds and took 45 days to make.)

The Florida Cadillac – an orange hauler which represents all the Cadillacs bought with oranges.

And Busting Out – the equal rights lady.

Like the Lion, many of his pieces were made out of oil drums.  The story is when Solomon said he was going to create an oil drum sculpture, people just showed up with the drums.

Today’s visit also included a tour of Solomon’s personal car collection, which he started in 2007.  Two large showrooms house the cars, along with other pieces of his art.  Snoopy gets to fly in the Red Baron’s plane, a hot-air balloon hovers overhead, and the wooden frame of a zeppelin hangs from the ceiling.  Also on display, Solomon’s last completed project – which you will have to go see for yourself, although here is a hint as to what it is.

Part of Solomon’s personal car collection

Snoopy

Hot air balloon

Zeppelin

A sneak peek at Howard Solomon’s last completed project

No visit to Solomon’s Castle would be complete without stopping at the Boat in the Moat for a bite to eat or a cool beverage.

 

Solomon’s Castle is definitely on the list of places to see in Florida.  It is what you would expect it to be:  fun, quirky and yes, a little corny.  But as even the youngest of visitors said during the tour, “Oh, I get it!”

And so will you!

NOTE:  A special thanks Howard Solomon’s daughter, Alane, for the hospitality.

 

 

Florida Backroad Travels

Most days are spent in the car heading to a specific location: the office, the grocery store, a restaurant or one of the many Florida parks and attractions on my list of places to visit.  But there are days when it’s good to just get out on the backroads with no real destination in mind.

County Road 665

Recently, my travels took me down some backroads in Hardee County – a rural county tucked in the middle of the state about 75 miles southeast of Tampa.  Hardee is where I grew up, graduated from high school, and where my family still lives.  If there’s one thing that can be said about this place, it’s that there are some beautiful backroads and a lot of opportunities to see “old Florida.”  You just have to look for them.

County Road 665

Whether you head to Hardee or any of the other smaller counties in Florida, there are a few things to keep in mind before setting out:

  • Carry a map – Some country roads are in areas with limited cell service. You probably wouldn’t get lost, but why take a chance?
  • Take your time – The speed limit is usually lower on these backroads anyway, and there’s nothing wrong with going that speed, or even slower. If you go too fast, you’re going to miss the sights, which defeats the purpose of backroad travel.
  • Look everywhere – Not everything there is to see will be by the side of the road. Deer, turkeys and other wildlife can often be spotted, but you have to look for them.  Look in the wooded areas, in pastures, in the middle of orange groves.  And don’t forget to look in the trees or on power poles.  Eagles and other birds can be spotted nesting here as well.
  • Take your camera and binoculars – The binoculars will give you a close up look at some of the wildlife and the camera will preserve your travels.
  • Watch out for the other guy – Believe it or not, you probably won’t be alone on some of these backroads. They are also popular for motorcyclists who spend their weekends out riding.

 

The state’s many backroads offer the adventurer mile after mile of “old Florida.”  Fill up your gas tank and head on out.  The scenery is well worth the drive.

Sweetwater Road

What are some of your favorite backroads to travel?  Leave us a comment!

 

 

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey

Tucked away along the shores of Lake Sybelia in Maitland is a hidden Florida treasure – the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey.  It’s not necessarily a step back in time, but it is a representation of a part of Florida some visitors rarely see. The center has been treating, rehabilitating, and releasing raptors since 1979.  But beyond that, it provides an important role in educating the public about protecting these birds and their habitats.

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey

Having lived in the area for more than 20 years, I have to admit I have never visited the center. It’s amazing what you can find in your own backyard when you actually stop and look for it. On the day of our visit, we were greeted by a red-shouldered hawk, sitting peacefully on a handler’s arm.

Red-shouldered Hawk

The hawk is just one of the birds now in residence at the center.  Housed in large enclosures there are peregrine falcons, caracaras, owls and vultures. A casual stroll along a meandering sidewalk provides visitors a chance to not only learn about the types of birds, but also the individual stories of the birds that are now permanent residents. Hali and Tallulah are two of the eagles here, both arriving at the center in the same year but for different reasons.

 

Guidebook provides history of the birds

Although the goal is to release these raptors back into the wild, not all of them can be because of their injuries: paralysis, blindness, puncture wounds and neurological damage – all caused by different incidents. Birth abnormalities also prevent some of them from ever living in the wild.

Gazebo

 

A boardwalk and gazebo extend out over a man-made wetland. From there the Flight Barn is in full view, the place where birds are currently being rehabilitated. A sign indicates what is inside on any given day.  It is not open to the public because the center does not want the birds to get accustomed to humans.

Educational signs are located throughout the property; however, the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey provides educational programs for schools.  And there are also volunteer opportunities for those who want to get involved in the center’s efforts.

The center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  It is closed on Mondays and holidays.

Don’t miss out on a chance to get up close to some of Florida’s most beautiful birds.

Meet Trouble

De Leon Springs State Park

With more than 160 state parks in Florida, it would take a little over three years to visit them all, if you only visited one each weekend.  Those parks are some of the best places to experience the “old” Florida and chances are, no matter where you live in the state, you are within a short driving distance of one of them.

If you live in or near Volusia County, you have a gem in your own backyard – De Leon Springs State Park. The park covers 625 acres and includes a spring that pumps 19 million gallons of water a day and offers something for everyone: water activities, hiking, learning history, picnicking and even pancakes!

Water Activities 

With a spring boasting year round temperatures of 72 degrees, it is a popular location for swimming and snorkeling.  Besides swimming, you can rent canoes, kayaks or paddleboats and explore the paddling trail that provides access to the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge.  There’s also a free boat ramp if you choose to launch your own boat.  And of course, what would water activities be if fishing weren’t included?  Fish in the St. John’s River or the spring run.  Just be sure you have a freshwater fishing license if you plan on casting a line.

Great place for a swim! De Leon Springs State Park | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Rent a canoe to explore the waterways.

Hiking and Birding

De Leon Springs offers up three trails, perfect for both the casual walker and the more serious hiker. One of the trails – The Nature Trail – is a half-mile paved trail and boardwalk that winds through a cypress swamp and leads you to Old Methuselah – a cypress tree that’s more than 500 years old. There are also two other trails – Monkey Island Trail and the Wild Persimmon Hiking Trail.  Wild Persimmon is four miles long and is not for the casual walker.  The park is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, so take along your binoculars and keep an eye to the sky (or the trees).

The Nature Trail to Old Methuselah

 

History

If you are a history buff, there is plenty of history to learn about at De Leon Springs. Nearly 30 years ago a dugout canoe – said to be 6,000 years old – was found in the spring.  Other historical notes include the arrival of the first Spanish friars in the 1590s, the only water-powered sugar mill in Florida, a tourist resort, hotel and casino, a roadside attraction with a jungle cruise, and its current use as the De Leon Springs State Park.  There are plenty of artifacts left over from the time as a sugar mill and most of them are located near the Sugar Mill Restaurant.

One of many historic structures in the park.

Pancakes

Yes! Pancakes!  The Sugar Mill Restaurant at the park is a favorite among guests. Located inside the replica of the old sugar mill, what makes this restaurant unique is that each table has its own griddle.  Visitors are provided  homemade batter and actually pour and flip their own pancakes.  Additional items, like chocolate chips, bananas and blueberries can be ordered to customize your pancakes.  Plan on a wait time, as this is one of the hot spots at the park.

Picnicking

No matter what your reason for visiting the park, make sure you pack a picnic lunch and enjoy eating at one of the picnic tables.  Two pavilions are available for free on a first come, first serve basis, or you can rent one of four other pavilions.  Kids will love the playground!

If you’re looking for a little day trip, pack up the car.  The park is located off Highway 17 in De Leon Springs, about an hour north of Orlando.

The Citrus Tower

Back before U.S. Highway 27 was flooded with traffic lights and vehicles, it provided a leisurely, picturesque drive through the heart of Florida’s citrus industry.  The stretch of road from Interstate 4 to Clermont was lined with orange groves as far as the eye could see.  One of the state’s most well-known structures stood tall, in the middle of it all, offering magnificent views of the surrounding area.

Back of post card says: Orange groves are seen for miles in every direction from the highest point in the state – the top of the Florida Citrus Tower.

 

Post card dated March 3, 1963. Handwritten note: “Greetings from Clermont, Florida.”

The Citrus Tower, which opened in Clermont in 1956, was built to provide visitors a 360 degree view of the acres and acres of orange trees, the rolling hills and the lakes that dotted the landscape.  Made of five million pounds of concrete and another 149,000 pounds of steel, the Tower was built to withstand winds of more than 190 miles per hour.

As a college student, I would drive Highway 27 from my home in Hardee County to school in Tallahassee, and pass by the groves and the Tower each time.  Not once did I stop to take a trip to the top of the Tower and see the area from a different perspective.  But now, the Citrus Tower beckoned – and I obliged.

On this bright Florida day, the Tower stands in stark contrast against the bright blue sky.  The ground floor houses the history of the Citrus Tower.  Photos and newspapers tell the story of this “Castle in the Air,” along with some of the original mechanics.  Lilly’s Citrus Tower Gift Shop is housed inside the main doors as well, and is filled with all things Florida.  After stopping at the counter and paying the $6.00 admission fee, we step into the elevator and take the ride to the enclosed observation deck.

Strategically placed signs indicate which direction you are looking and the distance from the Tower to surrounding locations.  Framed photos provide a glimpse into Florida’s citrus heyday – while allowing you to look out at the new landscape, dotted with housing developments, shopping centers and other businesses.

Lake Apopka is one of the many lakes that can be seen from this vantage point.  Its size is stunning enough.  Orlando’s skyline is also visible and with the help of binoculars, you can see the Orlando Eye attraction.  To the west there are views of more lakes and more development.  You can see portions of Lake, Orange, Polk and Sumter counties, and on a clear day, even parts of Pasco, Osceola, Seminole and Hernando counties are in view. Even though the landscape has changed and the groves have given way to development, the views from the Tower are still magnificent.  The few stray orange trees that can be seen serve as reminders to what was once a thriving industry.

Lake Apopka in the background.

 

The Citrus Tower is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and is closed on Sundays, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Interesting fact:  According to a display at the Citrus Tower, on February 19, 1953 a traffic count by the State of Florida Highway Department showed 3,500 cars passed by this part of Highway 27.  That was an average of one car every 24 seconds!