Sebring, Florida
HOW TO FIND SEBRING, FLORIDA Sebring is in deep south Central Florida, many miles from an Interstate highway. It is located on the central Florida ridge with some of the highest elevations in Florida. It is on US-27 about 170 miles northwest of Miami and 86 miles northeast of Fort Myers. Sebring is near Highlands Hammock State Park , a popular attraction. HISTORY OF SEBRING, FLORIDA Sebring is on the eastern shore of Lake Jackson in the Ridge Area of southern Central Florida. The land for the town was purchased in 1911 by George E. Sebring, a pottery manufacturer from Sebring, Ohio. Mr. Sebring planned a city on the principle of the mythological Grecian city of Heliopolis, the "city of the sun". The town was designed and built with streets radiating outward from a central park representing the sun. Surveys were made and construction began on the town in 1912, a few months before the arrival of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.
The first setback to the town came in 1917 when a freeze killed or damaged many groves in the area. These groves were replanted, and the town continued to grow steadily until the real estate boom of 1924-1925. Sebring survived the land boom collapse, and continued to grow slowly when it became the county seat of Highlands County. The county was formed in 1921 from part of DeSoto County and is named for the high sand ridge that forms this part of Florida. Sebring is the home of the Sebring International Raceway, created on a huge former World War Two Army Air Force base. It was first used for car races in 1950. It hosted the 1959 Formula One United States Grand Prix, but is currently best known as the host of the 12 Hours of Sebring, an annually held American Le Mans Series race. Nearby Highlands Hammock State Park is a popular attraction. The house at 2701 Northeast Lakeview Drive where novelist Rex Beach committed suicide is located on one of Sebring's main lakes, Lake Jackson. SEBRING, FLORIDA HOTELS
Kenilworth Lodge, 836 SE Lakeview Dr, Sebring, Florida 33870. Tel: 863-385-0111. This is a historic inn overlooking Sebring's Lake Jackson. Constructed in 1916 by City of Sebring
SEBRING, FLORIDA RESTAURANTS
SEBRING, FLORIDA ATTRACTIONS
An interesting photographic history of Sebring is available at Amazon.com by clicking on the image below. CREATE YOUR OWN WEB PAGE ABOUT SEBRING, FLORIDA Return To Florida Towns
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The city grew quickly as the citrus industry thrived in this part of Florida.
founder George Sebring, the Kenilworth is one of the finest examples of Mediterranean-Revival architecture in Florida. It has been restored with resort amenities, including golf. Villas and efficiencies, lodge rooms, apartments and suites. All accommodations include mini-fridges, voice mail, individual A/C units and television with 5 free premium movie channels and 6 dedicated sports channels.
It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel was designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival Style and had 134 rooms. Several developers have attempted to renovate the hotel over the years, but is is currently not operating.
