Lake Byrd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Byrd |
|
|---|---|
Lake Byrd
|
|
 Lake Byrd
Location in Florida
|
|
| Location | Highlands County, Florida |
| Coordinates | 27°37′19″N 81°31′04″W / 27.62207°N 81.51777°W |
| Type | lake |
| Max. length | 2,500 feet (760 m) |
| Max. width | 1,200 feet (370 m) |
| Max. depth | 32 feet (9.8 m) |
Lake Byrd is a natural lake located in the northwest part of Highlands County, Florida. It's a small lake, about 1,200 feet (366 meters) wide and 2,500 feet (762 meters) long. The deepest part of the lake is around 32 feet (10 meters). You can see Lake Byrd from the roads that go around it. There's a private boat ramp and a park with picnic tables on the northeast side. People who live around the lake consider it their private property, so visitors usually can't use it.
Contents
The Area Around Lake Byrd
Lake Byrd Boulevard is a road that goes all the way around the lake. Many houses are built along the east, south, and west sides of this road, right across from the lake. Some of the houses on the west side are quite old, possibly built in the 1920s. Most of these homes have their own private boat docks or ramps right on the lake's edge.
Just to the east of Lake Byrd is U.S. Highway 27, a major road. About a quarter-mile to the south, you'll find the town of Avon Park, Florida and Stryker Boulevard. To the north of the lake, there's an empty area that was planned for a new neighborhood called Lake Byrd Shores. On the west and south sides of the lake, you can see citrus orchards and open fields used for grazing animals.
History of Lake Byrd Lodge
A Place for Guests
Back in 1919, a large building called the Lake Byrd Lodge was built. It was a big, three-story wooden building located on the north shore of Lake Byrd. The lodge was made to welcome guests who were visiting the area and looking to buy land.
During World War II
Years later, during World War II, the lodge was used for a different purpose. Pilots who were training for the war stayed there. It provided housing for them while they learned to fly.
A Church Camp and Retreat
After the war ended, the Florida Congregational Christian Conference bought the lodge. They turned it into a church camp and a place for people to go for retreats. It was used for many years as a camp, offering a peaceful place for groups to gather.
The Lodge's End
The lodge continued to be used as a camp until the year 2000. At that time, the Conference decided they could no longer afford the many repairs needed for the old building. So, the lodge sat empty for several years.
The Lake Byrd Shores Project
Eventually, the entire northern area of the lake shore, including where the old lodge stood, was bought. The new owners planned to build a fancy new neighborhood there called Lake Byrd Shores. The old lodge was torn down to make way for this new development. The road on the north shore, Lake Byrd Boulevard, was rebuilt, and new streets were added to the north. All the land was cleared and prepared for houses. However, only one house was built before a big economic downturn started around 2007. This meant the plans for the new neighborhood largely stopped.
