Once a hotspot for raising cattle to support the Confederate Army during the Civil War, as well as for trade with Cuba, the area has since evolved into a hub for the cattle industry, a legacy that endures today.

Back in 1969, the state of Florida acquired 5,030 acres from the William Zipperer estate to establish a state park. It wasn’t until August 1977 that Lake Kissimmee State Park welcomed its first visitors.

Expanding its reach, an extra 900 acres was procured in 1997 and seamlessly integrated into the park’s expanding western expanse.