Properties for sale in Zip Code 33538

LAKE PANASOFFKEE

Lake Panasoffkee, Florida. Panasoffkee, meaning "Valley of Water" in the Indian Language, was settled around 1880.

Popular not only for Citrus but also sugar cane mills.  Barrels of sugar and syrup were shipped north along with the oranges. Mr. Henry Marsh was well known for his cane syrup.  The King family from Cleveland, Ohio, developed 18,400 acres of grove and pasture lands.  Mr. King developed the King Orange, a large  sweet orange, by grating sweet stock from the King of Siam to the native sour orange fruit  trees.

Pana Vista, a large plantation home on the river, was built in the late 1880s by a man named Harris . Mr. Harris sold the home to the King family.  In 1923 Pana Vista was sold to the Knight family who enlarged it and operated it as a hotel.

Florida's great freeze of 1894-95 destroyed most of the citrus  which caused many people to move away.  However, the Monarch and Ventura groves, which were planted among the oak trees, were about five degrees warmer and survived.

Panasoffkee became an important turpentine center during the latter part of the 19th Century.  When the turpentine had been sapped from the trees, the lands were sold to Cummer Lumber Co. and a large saw mill was built.   Several general stores, three hotels, a drug store, meat market, two active churches, a saloon, and a school came into existence.  After the destruction of the  pine and cypress trees, there came another decrease in population.

The winter tourists come for the excellent hunting and fishing, and in the early 1920s the road was paved from Panasoffkee to the outlet bridge.

The Lake Panasoffkee park and preserve protects 9,911 acres  and offers birdwatching, biking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, hiking and hunting. It is accessed from the south side of ​SR 44 ​ two miles west of I​-75​ ​. ​

Similar recreational opportunities (except no biking) are also offered at the 1,118-acre Panasoffkee Outlet park and preserve. Both areas are protected by the​ SW Florida Water management District​

Waterfront properties, fishing, hiking, camping, airboat rides ,are just a few of the many things that make Lake Panasoffkee a great  place to Live ,retire, visit, or find the perfect vacation home.