DeFuniak Springs, Florida
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It is located at the intersection of US-331 and US-90 just north of I-10, about 60 miles east of Pensacola.
This little village at Lake DeFuniak started life as a small way station on the Pensacola & Atlantic Railroad.
It was named after Col. Frederick DeFuniak, an executive of the Louisville-Nashville Railroad.
DeFuniak was a hard-working Italian immigrant who had been an officer in the army of Giuseppe Garibaldi, the George Washington of modern Italy. The Colonel allegedly won the right to name the town in a card game.
Descendants of Colonel DeFuniak still live in north Florida and Alabama.
Members of a Methodist educational movement called the Chautauqua Assembly, headquartered in New York, further developed the small hamlet. It soon became their favorite winter retreat, growing in importance and beauty.
Seemingly frozen in 19th century amber, DeFuniak Springs is one of the prettiest of Florida towns.
Numerous Victorian era homes encircle little Lake DeFuniak, and it's at times difficult to tell the old homes from the new ones built in the same Colonial Revival and Queen Anne styles.
The town has around 200 historic buildings surrounding the lake, 40 or so which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
With a population of about 8,000 people, DeFuniak Springs might just have the most historic sites per capita of any town in Florida.
Because of the old homes and Walton County's oaks and hilly terrain, DeFuniak Springs sometimes feels more like rural New England than rural Florida.
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS RESTAURANTS
- McLain's Family Restaurant, 622 Hugh Adams Road, DeFuniak Springs Florida. 850-892-2402. Southern style buffet. Lots of choices, plenty of deep fried deliciousness.
- H&M Hot Dog, 43 South 9th Street, DeFuniak Springs Florida. 850-892-9100. The oldest continuously operating hot dog stand in Florida, still turning out the eats since 1947. Great Chicago-style hot dogs, kielbasas and homemade sauerkraut.
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FLORIDA ATTRACTIONS
- Walton-DeFuniak Library. The oldest library in Florida still in use today, in operation since 1887. Some interesting exhibits inside, including an impressive collection of medieval armor from the Crusades and muskets from the American colonial era.
- Lake DeFuniak. According to legend it was created by a meteor, but it's most likely a sinkhole lake. Spring-fed and almost perfectly round, though perhaps not as perfectly round as Lake Kingsley 250 miles to the east in Clay County.
- L&N Train Depot. Built in 1882 and once serving thousands a day, it now houses the Walton County Heritage Museum.
- Chautauqua Winery is a treat to visit and is open for tours and tastings.
OTHER FLORIDA THINGS TO DO NEAR DEFUNIAK SPRINGS
- Northwest Florida Art Festivals
Northwest Florida Heritage Sites
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- Hotel DeFuniak, 400 US Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433. Tel: 850-892-4383. Nicely restored 1920 hotel in the heart of historic downtown DeFuniak Springs. Loaded with antiques, reasonable rates.
Learn more about this B&B or make reservations now! Click Here
A good photographic history of DeFuniak Springs is available at Amazon.com by clicking on the image below.
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