This Is Florida's Quirkiest Little Town
Crowned ‘America’s Most Interesting Town’ by Reader’s Digest, Lake Placid, Florida, is full of surprises. Home of the state’s largest clown school, one of the highest concentrations of murals in America, and the world’s largest producer of caladiums, this is a quirky and unforgettable community nestled in the beautiful Florida highlands. Over the years, Lake Placid has welcomed entrepreneurs, artists, vacationers, and outdoor explorers, all of whom have left their mark on this truly unique gem in Florida’s heartland.
The History of Lake Placid
Located smack in the middle of southern Florida, Lake Placid lies in the highlands area of the state between Sarasota and Fort Pierce. Originally occupied by the Seminole Indians, homesteaders began moving into the region in 1909. The resulting settlement was known by many names before getting its first official moniker, Lake Stearns, with the arrival of the Atlantic Coastline railroad.
The 1920s were a boom time in Florida as land developers swept into the state, and Lake Placid caught the attention of a number of entrepreneurs, including the famous educator Dr. Melvil Dewey, creator of the Dewey Decimal System. Having founded the Lake Placid Club in 1895 in the Adirondack Mountains, Dr Dewey wanted to replicate his success in Florida and built a second Lake Placid resort in 1927, at which time he successfully campaigned to change the name of the town to match.
The Great Depression slowed but didn’t halt the newly renamed town’s growth, which has continued steadily over the decades thanks to Lake Placid’s balmy southern climate, dazzling natural attractions, and many amenities. Today, just over 2,500 residents live in the town year-round.
Lake Placid Landmarks
Known as ‘the town of murals’, Lake Placid is one big outdoor art gallery thanks to the eye-catching murals that adorn the streets. There are almost 50 murals scattered around town, each vividly depicting some aspect of Lake Placid’s history, culture, and community. Some of the murals have hidden details, others feature sounds, and all are considered historic works of art. There are also 17 unique trash containers, decorated as companion pieces to the murals.
To wander around this incredible outdoor exhibition, pick up a self-guided walking tour brochure from the Visitor’s Center. If you’d rather not trek around town, visit the Mural Gallery at the Chamber of Commerce, which contains renderings of each artwork, as well as a short film that explains how the murals are selected, painted, and maintained.
From manmade art to natural beauty, Lake Placid’s most stunning natural landmarks are its 27 freshwater lakes. The area includes Florida’s fifth-largest lake, Lake Istokpoga, which covers 27,692 acres, and the quirkily-named Lake June-in-Winter, which forms part of Lake June-In-Winter Scrub Preserve Park. The park is one of the best places in the world to see the Florida Scrub-Jay. A pretty blue bird that’s only found in Florida and listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Things to Do in Lake Placid
Given that Lake Placid has more clowns per capita than any other town in Florida and is the home of the American Clown Museum, the town offers a very quirky vacation activity — learning the basics of clowning. Toby’s Clown Foundation offers a three-day clown school for those who wish to graduate with a clowning certificate, but if that’s too big a commitment, you can also catch a show or take part in a group day class. The Foundation also offers tours of its specialty museum packed with clown memorabilia and interesting tidbits about clown history through the ages.
Lake Placid may not have a coastline, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the water. With almost 30 lakes to choose from, there are plenty of opportunities to swim, fish, boat, and paddle. Take a trip with Lake Placid Freshwater Fishing to hit the lakes with Captain Dennis and snag some largemouth bass, crappie, bream, bluegill, catfish, or pickerel.
Enjoy a ride on a classic Florida airboat with Bullfrog Airboat Tours. Tours zoom around Lake Istokpoga, giving visitors a chance to see Florida’s unique flora and fauna up close. Look out for alligators, wild hogs, turkeys, herons, egrets, wild ducks, and 100-year-old cypress trees. Tours last an hour and 15 minutes and leave from the Lake Istokpoga Marina.
After a day on the water, get some refreshment at Sugar Sand Distillery, a unique farm-to-bottle agritourism operation that opened in 2018. Sugar Sand Distillery is set in a 10-acre sugar cane farm and produces small-batch rum, whiskey, vodka, limoncello, and moonshine. Visitors can indulge in a tasting session, tour the farm, and pick up a bottle to take home at the distillery store.
Events and Festivals
Lake Placid sometimes goes by a very quirky nickname, ‘the Caladium Capital of the World’, because over 95% of the world's caladiums are grown in the town. These striking plants, also known as elephant ear or angel wings, are celebrated every summer at the annual Caladium Festival, which has been running for over 30 years.
Thousands of locals and tourists attend the three-day event, which includes tours of caladium growers, floral arrangement competitions, a Little Miss Caladium Pageant, art shows, craft booths, food vendors, and a classic car and bike show.
If you’re visiting Lake Placid in winter, make some time to stop by the Lake Placid Country Fair, one of the largest in the state. Held every year in February, the fair brings vendors from across Florida to showcase their arts, crafts, and entertainment offerings. The fair is such a key part of the town’s heritage that it appears in one of Lake Placid’s largest murals along Main Avenue, just a few blocks from where the town’s first country fair took place.
Making Memories in Lake Placid
A center of clowning, a hub of artists and creatives, and a lake-lover’s paradise, Lake Placid has many different personalities, offering a little something for everyone. Whether you’re visiting for the weekend or planning a longer stay, there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained in this eccentric community, a quintessential small Florida town with a big heart. Relax, unwind, explore, and enjoy this unforgettable southern destination.
