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Lake Kissimmee State Park - Orlando Hotels .com

Located off State Road 60 15 miles east of Lake Wales, Lake Kissimmee State Park is well worth the 60-mile drive from the Orlando area. The park borders on Lakes Kissimmee, Rosalie and Tiger making it a haven for the hiker, fisherman, boater and naturalist.

Native Americans occupied the area that now comprises Lake Kissimmee State Park for thousands of years. The Timucuan tribe favored the area due to the abundance of fish and game. White settlement of the area did not begin until the 1800's, when Fort Gardiner was built nearby as a result of the third Seminole War. The town of Rosalie, located a few miles from the park, was founded after the war to support the growing timber and turpentine industry. It was later abandoned after the turpentine industry moved out of the area. During the Civil War, the area was used for raising cattle to provide provisions for the Confederate Army and the cattle industry remains to this day. A large part of the Confederate army ate Florida beef. Lake Kissimmee State Park was founded in 1969 on 5,030 acres purchased from the William Kipprer estate and opened to the public in 1977. An additional 900 acres were added to the park's western boundary in 1997.

Visitors won't want to miss the reconstructed 1876 Cow Camp located within the park. Interpreters reenact the life and times of the "cow hunters" as these nineteenth century "cowboys" preferred to be called. The "cow hunters" welcome questions and may even invite you to sample their camp coffee. Guests will get a kick out of watching them "rustle" a herd of Florida scrub cattle, which were imported by the Spanish in the early 1500's. The Cow Camp is only open on weekends and holidays from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., so plan your trip accordingly.

The fisherman will be in heaven as Lake Kissimmee State Park offers some of the best freshwater fishing in the state. Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, chain pickerel and bluegill are all in abundance. Boaters can access Lake Kissimmee from the public boat ramp and those without boats can fish from the canal banks, marina or dam. The hiker will have ample opportunities to view a wide variety of wildlife on 13 miles of scenic trails. Over two hundred species of birds call the park home, as well as bobcat, grey fox, white-tailed deer, fox squirrel and otter. The endangered Florida panther has also been spotted within the park's boundaries, though a sighting would be a rare event. Campers have their choice of either a 60-space full facility campground; or, for the more adventurous, two primitive campgrounds located along the hiking trails. The park also features a scenic picnic area with an adjacent 40-foot tall observation tower, which provides a panoramic view of Lake Kissimmee

If you enjoy lakes, you should also pay a visit to Okeechobee, Fla. You can learn more about Okeechobee, and The Big Lake at http://www.okeechobeetourism.com. 

Directions: From International Drive heading south, turn right unto Sand Lake Road. Travel 3/10 mile and turn left onto FL-482 E. Travel 3/10 mile to I-4 West. Take I-4 West 18 8/10 miles to Exit 23, US-27. Turn right onto US-27 and travel south for 24 miles. Take the SR-60 exit and turn left unto FL-60. Travel 9 6/10 miles to Boy Scout Camp Rd. Turn left unto Boy Scout Camp Rd. and travel 3 6/10 miles to Camp Mack Rd. Turn right unto Camp Mack Rd. and travel 4 6/10 miles to the park entrance.

Address:

Lake Kissimmee State Park
14248 Camp Mack Road
Lake Wales, FL 33853
(941) 696-1112