Camp Mack facts for kids
Camp Mack is a fun place in Lake Wales, Florida, right on the Kissimmee River. It's a great spot for fishing, camping in RVs, and enjoying outdoor events. In 2018, it became "Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina and RV Resort." This means it teamed up with Dr. Guy Harvey, who is a famous marine scientist, artist, and someone who cares a lot about protecting the ocean.
Camp Mack is perfect for people who love bass fishing because it's close to big lakes like Lake Kissimmee, Hatchineha, Cypress, and Tohopekaliga. Many fishing tournaments happen here! It also hosts cool events like "Rockin’ on the River," a country music festival that helps kids with autism. The Kissimmee River area is huge, covering 3,000 square miles, and it's home to many birds and other wildlife. It's also known for its really big largemouth bass!
Camp Mack has been a "fish camp" for over 100 years! Back in 1836, this area was called Tyson's Camp on old maps. In the 1980s, they added spots for RVs, and by 2006, Camp Mack had grown to include 225 RV sites, cabins, and a 40-room lodge. The riverfront area has 85 boat slips, a big boat ramp, and a general store that's been there for over 80 years. You can also find a clubhouse, a swimming pool, and places to eat. Right next to Camp Mack is Lake Kissimmee State Park, which has over 13 miles of trails for hiking and biking, and 6 miles for horseback riding. It's also a stop on the Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail, where you can see amazing birds.
Camp Mack has even been on TV! It was featured on ESPN during a big fishing tournament in 2005 and on Sweetwater Fishing TV. The famous country music duo, the Bellamy Brothers, filmed their "Catahoula" music video here in 1997. A movie called "The Lighthouse," starring Danny Glover, was also filmed at Camp Mack in 2012. Other cool events include the live broadcast of Trophy Takers Outdoor radio show and the "Bobby Lane Cup," a youth fishing tournament led by professional fisherman Bobby Lane.
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History of Camp Mack
Camp Mack is built on a high bank along a bend in the Kissimmee River. This area was first called Tyson's Camp on a map from 1836. In the early 1900s, two wealthy leaders from the Coca-Cola Company, Leon Grady (L.G.) Bruce and "Mr. Mack," bought the land. They made it a private getaway for their employees. L.G.'s wife, Josie Bruce, worked in the general store for many years.
In the 1940s, Leon Denton and his family from Lake Wales took over Camp Mack. They ran it as a fishing camp until 1983. Many famous people visited Camp Mack when the Dentons owned it, including Billy Graham, Jack Dempsey, and General James A. Van Fleet. Today, Andy Denton, Leon's grandson, runs Alligator Cove Airboat Nature Tours from Camp Mack.
Pate Snively bought the resort in 1983. He added an RV park and a campground before selling it in 1999. Then, Billy Farris bought Camp Mack and made it much bigger in 2006. He added 65 more RV sites, a 40-room motel, and a storage building. In 2015, a family company led by Michael Daugherty bought the resort.
Many visitors from the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada come to Camp Mack. They often visit Florida's theme parks first, then come to Camp Mack to experience the natural beauty of Florida.
Exciting Events and Fishing at Camp Mack
Camp Mack is a busy place, with fishing tournaments or airboating events happening almost every weekend! Some big tournaments have been held here, like the Bassmaster Citgo Southern Open in 2005. In 2009 and 2010, Camp Mack hosted three Walmart Bass Fishing League events. Many professional fishermen, like Bobby and Chris Lane, come to fish here.
The Lakeland Junior Bassmasters also hold many tournaments at Camp Mack. The Kissimmee River Valley Sportsman's Association (KRVSA) has its yearly Lake Clean Up event at Camp Mack. Airboaters help remove trash from the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. The KRVSA has won awards for its conservation efforts.
Discovering Lake Kissimmee
Lake Kissimmee is a huge lake, covering almost 35,000 acres, located in central Florida. In 1996, the Florida Wildlife Commission worked to improve 24 miles of the shoreline. This helped increase the number of largemouth bass in the lake. Experts say Lake Kissimmee has twice the average number of bass catches compared to other lakes in Florida!
Florida has a "Trophy Catch" program for anglers (fishermen). If you catch and release a bass bigger than 8 pounds on Lake Kissimmee, you can get $100! One angler, Van Soles, caught a bass weighing over 13 pounds in a tournament launched from Camp Mack. This fish was officially weighed and released right there!
Lake Kissimmee is often ranked as one of the best bass fishing lakes in the United States. In 2018, Florida Sportsman magazine called it the #1 bass lake in Florida. It's also considered one of the top lakes for catching crappie fish.
The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes area is also popular for hunting. People enjoy duck hunting, deer hunting, and wild hog hunting, with many trips starting from Camp Mack. As one journalist said, "the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes region has long been a sportsman's dream."
Camp Mack has been written about in many publications. It was ranked the 5th best Fish Camp in Florida by Onlyinyourstate.com. Travel Channel also listed Camp Mack as "one of the fun things to do in Winter Haven."
Charity Events at Camp Mack
Camp Mack hosts many charity fishing and airboating events. For example, the "Rockin' on the River" charity event was held at Camp Mack in 2016, with about 3,000 people attending. This event helps support the Children's Academy of Lake Wales and SideStreet Art Beat, Inc., which are non-profit organizations.
Professional fisherman Bobby Lane holds his "Bobby Lane Cup" youth fishing tournament at Camp Mack every year. He started it in 2011 and says it's one of the things he's most proud of. There's no entry fee, and top young fishermen and women can win scholarships! It's his way of giving back to the sport and encouraging young people.
Nearby Adventures and History
Lake Kissimmee State Park, which covers nearly 6,000 acres, is very close to Camp Mack. The park has beautiful trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It's also a great place for birdwatching, as it's part of the Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail.
Camp Mack is also on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Personal Water Craft (PWC) Trail, which is 126 miles long!
During the Civil War, the area around Lake Kissimmee State Park was used for raising cattle. These cattle were sent to help the Confederate Army or traded with Cuba for supplies. After the war, cattle farming became the main industry and still is today. The state of Florida bought the land for the park in 1969, and Lake Kissimmee State Park opened to the public in 1977.
Right near Camp Mack and Lake Kissimmee State Park was an old fort called Fort Gardiner. It was built in 1837 by Colonel Zachary Taylor during a march to a battle. It was named after Captain George Washington Gardiner, who died fighting the Seminole tribe. Steamboats used to stop near Camp Mack and old Fort Gardiner in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Images for kids
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Steamboat "Lillie" on the Kissimmee River
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Steamboat "Naoman" on the Kissimmee River
