The Murals of Lake Placid, Florida

Although there are bears in Florida, they are very rare and well hidden in the wilderness so it can be surprising in the middle of a town to see a notice saying ‘Caution, Bears Crossing’.  And then to hear a roar. The sign is in Lake Placid and the bears are painted on the side of a building.  The mural comes with the sound effects of Mama Bear calling to her lost cub who has found a hive of bees.

The idea for the murals came about in 1992 as a means of beautification.  ‘Tea at Southwinds’ was the first one finished in 1993 and is very pertinent to Lake Placid.  ‘Southwinds’ was originally called ‘Litl Loj’ and was the resort owned by Dr. Melville Dewey who invented the Dewey Decimal System for reference libraries.  When he moved to Florida he had the town’s name changed to Lake Placid after his home town in New York State.  During his lifetime fashionable ladies frequently took tea at ‘Litl Loj’, hence a mural of ladies taking tea.

Other murals include ‘Airboat’, ‘Lake Placid Country Fair’, ‘Tropical Bank Robbery’ (on a building at the site of the Tropical State Bank where the robbery actually took place), ‘Train Depot’ showing an old steam engine, at the station. This one is, of course, on the side of the old station building.

There are also murals about Florida’s past.  In ‘Layers of Time’ there is a Mastodon, with a hunter about to throw a spear and another with a bow and arrow.  Then there are murals depicting the Turpentine industry, the citrus heritage, the Seminole Indians, dedication murals to people who have contributed greatly to the town, to Florida and to the USA.

One of the most striking murals is the ‘Cracker Trail Cattle Drive’. Cattle being herded along the Cracker Trail (which was just north of Lake Placid) by cowmen.  The Florida cowmen are known as Cracker Cowmen because they use whips which give a loud crack.  The sound effects include the lowing of the cattle, the thunder of their hooves, the crack of whips and the yips of the cowmen as they urge the herd on towards market.

There is also a fascinating array of litter bins about town.  For example, near the Cattle Drive is a barn.  The car bin is great fun as it comes with sound effects.  Drop litter in through the side windows, a light comes on, the car starts up, the engine runs and then it crashes!

[Lake Placid isn’t far from the Orlando/Kissimmee area.]