Lake Lillian (Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Lillian |
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 Lake Lillian
Location in Florida
Lake Lillian
Location in the United States
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| Location | Highlands County, Florida |
| Coordinates | 27°37′52″N 81°31′12″W / 27.6311°N 81.5200°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 36 acres (15 ha) |
Lake Lillian is a freshwater lake in Highlands County, Florida. It covers about 36 acres (14.6 hectares). The lake is located just north of the city of Avon Park.
What makes Lake Lillian special is how quickly it gets deep. The lake floor drops sharply from the edge to about 45 feet (13.7 meters) deep. You can't visit Lake Lillian easily because private properties surround it. This means there is no public access to the lake. On one side, you'll find the former Walker Memorial Hospital building. On another side is a local Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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Exploring Lake Lillian's Past
Lake Lillian has an interesting history, especially around its shores. Over the years, many different buildings and projects have come and gone near the lake.
Early Days: The Highlands Lake Hotel
Back in the 1920s, a large place called the Highlands Lake Hotel was built on the northeast shore. This hotel was quite fancy for its time. It even had a casino and a big 18-hole golf course. People would come to stay and enjoy the area.
However, the hotel faced tough times during the Great Depression in the 1930s. This was a period when many businesses struggled. The hotel eventually had to close down. Later, in 1936, someone bought the property. They planned to turn it into a health resort, but these plans never happened.
World War II and the Aviation Academy
During World War II, the United States government bought the old hotel property. They turned it into a training center called the Lodwick Aviation Military Academy. This academy was a place where young people learned to become pilots for the Army Air Corps. New buildings, like barracks for the cadets, were built north of the old hotel.
From Academy to Hospital
After World War II ended, the Aviation Academy closed. In 1946, there were plans to change the old hotel into a hospital. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church decided to own and run this new hospital. A man named Charles Walker was very important in making this happen. Sadly, he passed away before the hospital could open its doors.
The hospital officially opened in 1948. It was named Walker Memorial Sanitarium and Hospital to honor Charles Walker. Later, its name was shortened to Walker Memorial Hospital.
Growth and Changes for the Hospital
Over the years, Walker Memorial Hospital grew and became very successful. It even added smaller facilities in other towns, like Lake Placid in 1982 and Wauchula in 1992. The main hospital building was updated many times.
However, the community's needs grew too big for the old building. Because of this, the Adventists built a brand new hospital called Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center. This new hospital opened in Sebring in 1997.
The Old Hospital Building Today
After the new hospital opened, the old Walker Hospital building near Lake Lillian became empty. There were ideas to fix it up for new uses, but nothing worked out. In 2004, the building was badly damaged by three strong hurricanes: Charley, Frances, and Jeanne. Another hurricane hit the area in 2005.
Finally, in 2007, the old Walker Memorial Hospital building was taken down. The plan was to use the lakeside land for new businesses. However, due to tough economic times, this new project was also stopped.
