Lake Eloise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Eloise |
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 Lake Eloise
Location in Florida
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| Location | Polk County, Florida |
| Coordinates | 27°59′01″N 81°42′14″W / 27.9836°N 81.7040°W |
| Type | natural freshwater lake |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 1.92 miles (3.09 km) |
| Max. width | 1.31 miles (2.11 km) |
| Surface area | 1,174 acres (475 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 131 feet (40 m) |
| Settlements | Winter Haven, Florida |
Lake Eloise is a big, natural freshwater lake located on the south side of Winter Haven, Florida. It's a key part of the southern Chain of Lakes system. With a surface area of about 1,174-acre (4,750,000 m2), it's one of the larger lakes you'll find in Polk County, Florida.
Lake Eloise has a slightly oval shape and features a large curved area, known as a cove, on its south side. It connects directly to Lake Summit on its northeast side and is very close to Lake Lulu on its northwest. Most of the land around Lake Eloise is covered by homes. However, the northern part of its eastern shore is home to Legoland Florida, which used to be the famous Cypress Gardens theme park. You can also spot some citrus groves along the lake's west side. Eloise Loop Road runs past the southern end of the lake's cove.
Contents
Discovering Lake Eloise: Its Name and Early Days
Lake Eloise was first explored and mapped in 1849. This survey was done by Dr. John Westcott. He decided to name the lake after Eloise Moody. She was the daughter of Benjamin F. Moody, an important pioneer in Polk County. The lake later appeared on the first official map of the area by the U.S. Government, which was published in 1950.
From Cypress Gardens to Legoland: Park History
For many years, Lake Eloise was closely linked to the famous Cypress Gardens theme park. This park first opened its doors in 1936. It quickly became known for its exciting attractions, many of which used Lake Eloise.
Water Shows and Boat Rides
In the 1930s, Cypress Gardens started hosting amazing water shows. These shows often featured thrilling water ski performances. Special viewing stands were built so visitors could comfortably watch the shows. The park's beautiful botanical garden, located on the north side, also had clear channels. Small boats would take visitors through these channels to see the plants up close.
A large, decorative pool shaped like the state of Florida was built right on the shore. It was located at the western edge of the botanical garden. The park also brought in a large paddle boat, which they named the Cypress Belle. This boat allowed park visitors to enjoy relaxing cruises on Lake Eloise. Sometimes, the Cypress Belle was even used for special dinner cruises.
Filming Location and Park Changes
Over the years, many television shows and movies were filmed at Cypress Gardens. Often, these productions used Lake Eloise as a beautiful backdrop. After the year 2000, Cypress Gardens went through several big changes. The park tried new things to keep visitors coming, but it eventually closed in the fall of 2009.
Legoland Florida Opens
In 2010, the old Cypress Gardens park was bought by a new company. Their plan was to turn it into a Legoland park. In February 2011, it officially opened as Legoland Florida. While the old paddle boat rides and botanical garden boat tours were not brought back, the area where the water shows used to be was renamed Pirate's Cove. A brand new ski and stunt show was started there, continuing the tradition of water entertainment on Lake Eloise.
Accessing Lake Eloise: Boating and Fishing
Even though Lake Eloise is a large body of water, it's not very easy for the public to get to. There are no public spots on the shore to access the lake. This is because all the land along the shoreline is privately owned.
Public Boat Access
However, the public can still reach Lake Eloise by boat. This is possible through the Chain of Lakes canal system. Lake Eloise is connected by canals directly to Lake Lulu, Lake Summit, and Lake Winterset. The closest public boat ramp is located on Lake Summit. From there, you can use the canal system to explore Lake Eloise and many other lakes in the area.
Fishing and Swimming
Fishing is allowed on Lake Eloise, but only from boats. Since there's no public access from the shore, there are no public swimming areas. Websites like Hook and Bullet and Lake Lubbers.com mention that this lake is home to fish like bluegill, crappie, and largemouth bass.
