Fort Meade Travel Guide

christ church episcopal was established in 1888. this beautiful frame vernicular with gothic elements church was designed by architect j. h. weddell. christ church is listed on the national register of historic places.

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famous confederate general thomas "stonewall" jackson was stationed at fort meade in 1851 during the second seminole war. thomas jackson is the town of fort meade's most famous resident.

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paynes creek historic state park is located eight miles south of fort meade near the town of bowling green. during the 1840's tensions between settlers and seminole indians prompted authorities to establish a trading post in florida's interior. in early 1849 the trading post was attacked by renegade seminoles. in late 1849 fort chokonikla was built near the trading post. the seminoles never attacked the fort but the u. s. army abandoned the fort due to mosquitoes and disease. paynes creek state park is on the site of fort chokonikla and offers a museum, hiking trails, and fishing and canoeing on paynes creek. the site of fort chokonikla is listed on the national register of historic places. for those interested in florida history and nature paynes creek state park is worth a visit in the fort meade area.

patterson lakeside park is located on US 17 just north of downtown. this beautiful park offers fishing and a boat ramp. a nice place to have lunch, fish, or relax in fort meade.

this frame vernacular-colonial revival house was built between 1899 and 1914. the HBO movie "the judgement" was filmed in part at the reid house. the william james reid house is one of scores of archtectually significant homes and buildings in downtown fort meade.

fort meade was constructed in 1849 during the second seminole war. fort mead was located on the military road between fort brooke (tampa) on the gulf and fort pierce on the atlantic. fort meade survived the battle of fort meade during the civil war but was demolished in the late 1800's.

the downtown historic district is listed on the national register of historic places and has 151 homes and buildings designated as historic and architectually significant structures. the downtown historic district also has a number of restaurants and shops. for those interested in old florida archtecture downtown fort meade is a very worth while stop when traveling on US 17 in polk county.

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Four public shows at the Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club park just outside Ft. Meade, FL the second weekend of Nov, third weekend of Jan and last weekend of Feb every year, plus two weekends before Christmas for a special Christmas in the Village charity event. During public shows: tractor parade, antique auto parade, put-together Model T, tractor pulls, kiddy pedal tractor pull, country music entertainment, 40 acre flea market and swap meet, and many engine and antique displays. Visit the official club website for more details and to check on camping availability at the events: www.FloridaFlywheelers.org Membership in the club is inexpensive and everything is done by volunteers, so come join in as my husband and I have done. We have learned about tractors and engines that we never heard of before and made many good friends and have a wonderful time just hanging out together. A great thing to do for retirees, families with children, and just about everybody else.