Winter Garden Post

25/12/2023

22/12/2023

The city of Winter Garden does such an amazing job transforming our historic downtown for the holiday season.
I have thought about a shot like this for a while and was finally able to capture it thanks to a brand new 12mm lens that arrived today.
To see more of my work please check out my site: https://jonburketphotography.shootproof.com/
Or find me on instagram:

20/12/2023

The Williams Holiday House, a fixture in Winter Garden and a must-visit this time of year.
They put an incredible amount of time and effort into their displays and allow so many people and families to stop by and enjoy them.

18/12/2023

"Southbound Avalon is currently shut down at Seidel Road, through the Waterleigh entrance at Waterway Passage Dr & Hartzog Rd.

The duration of the road closure is unknown and could have significant impact on morning commutes. Refer to traffic navigation systems to plan your route accordingly.

To detour the closure, take 429 south to Western Way."

Full article via Horizon West Info: https://buff.ly/48hYIab

03/12/2023

Just FYI for all plant and gardening lovers, Old Time Pottery in Ocoee is having a sale of 50% off all pottery planters! They have been bought out by Gabe's and I was told they are moving out the pottery items.

03/12/2023

02/12/2023

Christmas downtown Winter Garden

02/12/2023

Christmas Downtown Winter Garden on Plant Street

25/11/2023

It’s Small Business Saturday in Historic Downtown Winter Garden tomorrow, November 25th! While on your weekend shopping spree down Plant Street, be sure to stop by our History Research, Education, and Visitor’s Center and Gift Shop and shop our large selection of citrus crate labels, coasters, and books on local history! Or donate a dollar or two to support us and our mission here at WGHF.

🍊🛍️🍊

Donate to WGHF today: https://www.wghf.org/donate-to-winter-garden-heritage-foundation/

Become a member: https://www.wghf.org/participate/

Volunteer with us:
https://www.wghf.org/participate/

23/11/2023

Teal grew up in small-town Winter Garden, and his love of the city’s history led him to capture the local stories in writing.

21/11/2023

Helloooooooo Winter Garden, Florida! Opening night, November 22nd is SOLD OUT! In fact, so many seats are already gone, we added MORE shows to our schedule. 💃🕺🏽🦃🍗🥧🥰

That's right, Winter Garden, FL has been extended to Dec 17th with a week of Spanish/English bilingual shows Dec 14th to Dec 17th. (Look for them under a separate header on our tour page)

Kick off the holiday season with turkey, pumpkin pie and a visit to the Venardos Circus!

21/11/2023

Friday Photos: Checkers sign in progress by Outdoor Images sign company! West Colonial & Dillard in Winter Garden.

15/11/2023

Reddick's Store (now the Tildenville Marketplace) was established on the northeast corner of Tildenville School Road and Oakland Avenue (State Road 438). Standing in front is James Stricklin. The Stricklin family lived in the original Luther F. Tilden home located on Avalon Road, just north of the larger blue house- Tilden's second home..

10/11/2023

31 South Main Street

Built by J. L. Dillard circa 1923, this building originally contained the Mann and Mills Dry Goods store; a shoe store owned by Dillard’s son in-law, Lee Grimes; a physician’s office; and the Lafayette Apartments upstairs as J. L. Dillard’s middle name was Lafayette. Both stores closed their doors during the Great Depression.

In the early 1940s, Collie Biggers bought the building and opened a second downtown theater here because of overflowing crowds at his other operation, the Garden Theatre. During renovation of the building for the Gem Theatre, Biggers added the Art Deco canopy and interior decoration and sound-proofing. Servicemen stationed at the searchlight battalion and baseball players training at spring camps in Winter Garden filled the theaters during World War II. The Gem closed in 1948 when attendance diminished at the war’s end. In 1953, the building was converted to the Gem Super Market operated by Burl Monk. Groceries were sold in the theater’s auditorium for a while, until another store opened at 110 South Main Street. The building was vacant for a time and currently is used by several businesses.

🍊📷🍊

Donate to WGHF today: https://www.wghf.org/donate-to-winter-garden-heritage-foundation/

Become a member: https://www.wghf.org/participate/

Volunteer with us:
https://www.wghf.org/participate/

03/11/2023

Tickets are now available! We can't wait to see all of the amazing carts.

http://bidpal.net/wggolfcartparade2023

28/10/2023

Photographed here is Cappleman Cash & Carry on Plant Street, circa 1945. The grocery store stands between Garden City Real Estate and the Leader Department Store, which was owned by Abe Haimowitz. Like many stores in the area, Cappleman Brothers Cash & Carry remained open late on Saturday nights.
Currently, MoonCricket Grille occupies this site.

Stained glass windows from the 1920 Oakland Presbyterian Church grace the wall above the front door.

🍊📷🍊

Donate to WGHF today: https://www.wghf.org/donate-to-winter-garden-heritage-foundation/

Become a member: https://www.wghf.org/participate/

Volunteer with us:
https://www.wghf.org/participate/

18/10/2023

"The Downtown Winter Garden Pumpkin Patch is officially open! 🎃 Please hit that share button to spread the word! Every purchase supports the 2024 Ablaze Youth Mission Team heading to Eleuthera, Bahamas. Let's make a difference together!"

06/10/2023

https://www.wintergardenpost.com/

Winter Garden Post Community Information and Hometown News is "your place for everything Winter Garden". Business Directory, Restaurants, Recreation, Museums, Events

06/10/2023

Since 2017, Enhance Dental Care has helped patients reach optimal oral health using state-of-the-art methods and technology. We offer a full complement of general dentistry services, including general dentistry, preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatments to assist with every stage of dental health, from routine cleanings to root canal therapy. Our family-friendly practice is dedicated to providing reliable, high-quality dental care to our Winter Garden, Oakland, Ocoee, and Clermont communities.
https://www.enhancedentalofwintergarden.com/

30/09/2023

Spooky plants available tomorrow (Sunday) at the Downtown Clermont Farmers Market 691 W. Montrose St., Clermont from 9am-2pm! Check it out! "Less Than Cheerful Plants LLC" for plants, macrame plant hangers and spooky things! https://www.facebook.com/downtownclermontfarmersmarket/

23/09/2023

What a gorgeous day for Nature Fest!! Come visit 10-2 and see skunks, bats, raptors, reptiles and more! Ask the Experts of Orange Audubon, Native Plant Society, and Bloom and Grow! Take a guided hike, listen to a story, or create some art! All that and so much more!!

23/09/2023

A cool sunrise this morning! Almost like Fall, on Avalon Road.

17/09/2023

Halloween at Lowe's, Winter Garden Village!

14/09/2023

High cost of rent, high cost of energy, everyone is suffering. We will miss these local businesses.

The eatery, located on Plant Street, said it closed due to "rent going to a rate we just can’t afford to pay."

13/09/2023

Pictured here is the Pounds Motor Company, on the SE corner of Plant Street and Lakeview Avenue, circa 1950. Left to right are Judson Moore, Lucy Pounds, Hoyle Pounds and Esrom Ison. The Case eagle shown in the photograph above is currently housed in the Heritage Museum.

🍊 🇺🇸 🍊

Donate to WGHF today: https://www.wghf.org/donate-to-winter-garden-heritage-foundation/

Become a member: https://www.wghf.org/participate/

Volunteer with us:
https://www.wghf.org/participate/

30/08/2023

Early morning effects of Hurricane Idalia. Do you have a photo or video of the hurricane to share?

30/08/2023

Help me spread the word! 🗣️
Please don’t try to ride out the storm somewhere you don’t feel safe!

Orange Observer,
Horizon West News & Info, Horizon West Happenings, VoxPopuli, Winter Garden Community, Town of Oakland, Florida Healthy West Orange, Horizon West & Beyond!

As of 1pm today, Orange County has opened four storm shelters — two of which are equipped and staffed for residents with special needs.
Bring your medicines and toiletries. If you have your pet bring their food and carrier.
Stay Safe West Orange County!! 🍊

For more info, call 407-836-3111 or visit ocfl.net/EmergencySafety/Shelters.aspx

23/08/2023

20/08/2023

Another gorgeous Summer sunset over Lake Apopka viewed from Winter Garden, Florida.
These sunsets are the best part of the afternoon storm clouds that roll through every afternoon/evening this time of year.

10/08/2023

Had to post...

This Weeks Offerings:

🔥Back to School Special🔥
- 6 Classic Glazed DG Doughnuts & 6 Classic DG Doughnut Holes for $10!
- (Some restrictions apply. See store for details.)
Hand rolled & hand cut old fashioned cake doughnuts
- Red Velvet with cream cheese icing
The Fancies:
- Better than Boston Cream: The Boston is Back Baby.
- Lemon Basil: Filled with a fresh lemon basil pastry cream. Topped in vanilla bean icing and an almond cardamom shortbread crumb. Finished with a dollop of lemon curd.
- Maple Bacon Peanut butter Pie: Filled with a creamy peanut butter pie filling and dipped in maple icing. Finished with savory bacon bits, peanut butter chips and a rosette of whipped cream!
- Strawberry 🍓 Cheesecake: 2 classics converge in this vanilla iced DG ring covered in cheesecake bites strawberry glaze and fresh strawberry.
- Doughnuts & Coffee: Dipped in warm rich chocolate, topped with coffee whipped cream, chocolate covered espresso beans and a pipette of cold brew coffee made with cold brew blend
- Trixy (Silly Rabbit): Dipped pin vanilla Icing and covered in Trix Cereal. Striped in vanilla glaze.
(Friday thru Sunday only)
Kolache’s:
- Stuffed with smoked all beef sausage, sharp cheddar cheese, crispy pickled jalapeños. Butter brushed and golden brown
Brunch Buns:
- Black Forest Ham & Sharp Cheddar.
- Oven Roasted Turkey, Swiss & Ranch
- Pepperoni, Mozzarella & Provolone Hot Honey.
The Classics:
- Vanilla Glaze
- Lil Biggie Small
- Cinnamon Sugar
- Chocolate Sprinkle
- Rainbow Sprinkle
- Strawberry Sprinkle
- Vanilla Toasted Coconut
House Specialties:
- Apple Friters
- Biggie Smalls: 7 inch doughnut topped with a 3 inch doughnut hole.
- Fried Cinnamon Rolls.
- Unicorn Horns
Baked Goods:
Made in house:
- Colossal Muffins:
- Blueberry
- Brown Sugar Cinnamon Breakfast Cake.
Brownies, Cookies & Bars
- Crack Brownies
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- White Chocolate Coconut Cookies
Coffee:
- Cold Brew Coffee from
16oz or 24oz
- Full Service Coffee Bar and Specialty Coffees Menu Available.

05/08/2023

The historic Shelby Hotel was erected in 1915 as Winter Garden‘s first brick hotel, becoming home to our town‘s own early settlers and laborers who worked on local farms and in packinghouses. The hotel was built by James L. Dillard and managed by Charles M. Humphreys. By 1926, the Shelby hotel met a fiery fate and was later restored to house a variety of businesses and services, such as Griffin Chevrolet, which repaired automobiles on the second floor. (The silhouette of the original entry ramp is still visible on its Main Street side.) The ground floor was used as a USO servicemen’s club during World War II. After the war, the Clarence Thompson Furniture Company occupied the building, succeeded by several package stores and, most recently, Tony‘s Liquors. Truly a tale of many twists and turns in this building‘s lengthy lifetime.

🍊 🧡 🍊

Donate to WGHF today: https://www.wghf.org/donate-to-winter-garden-heritage-foundation/

Become a member: https://www.wghf.org/participate/

Volunteer with us:
https://www.wghf.org/participate/

04/08/2023

1000 West Plant Street

This Prairie-style residence was built c. 1925 by J.D. “Jeter” McMillan, who possessed various business interests in Winter Garden. Mr. McMillan was the owner of the Winter Garden Pharmacy, the president of the First National Bank of Winter Garden, a partner of Hoyle Pounds in Winter Garden’s first authorized Ford agency, and a contributor in the construction of the historic Edgewater Hotel. In addition to a plethora of minor business pursuits locally, J.D. McMillan built several of our community’s beautiful homes in the 1920s and was owner of the Daytona Beach Pier, casino, and restaurant with partner Henry William Bekemeyer. This Winter Garden home was given to Bekemeyer by McMillan after he relocated to Daytona in order to operate the newly constructed pier. Henry William Bekemeyer lived in this house until his death in 1926 and then left the house to his son, Martin E. "Pete" Bekemeyer. Image credits to Google Earth.

🍊 🧡 🍊

Donate to WGHF today: https://www.wghf.org/donate-to-winter-garden-heritage-foundation/ 

Become a member: https://www.wghf.org/participate/ 

Volunteer with us:
https://www.wghf.org/participate/

03/08/2023

The West Orange Trail is nearly 30 years old, famously having paved the way for Historic Winter Garden’s two-decades-so-far revitalization. Thanks to our loyal, hardworking community members, Winter Garden’s charm attracted new business and fresh opportunities to give our town new life. In honor of the Trail, here are some pictures of Plant Street’s 2002 rebricking. Behind the rubble, you can see the Heritage Museum and our yellow caboose, standing in the midst of temporary construction-based disarray.

🍊🧱🍊

Donate to WGHF today: https://www.wghf.org/donate-to-winter-garden-heritage-foundation/

Become a member: https://www.wghf.org/participate/

Volunteer with us:
https://www.wghf.org/participate/