Sanford in Seminole County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Woodland Park
By 1909 Victor Schmalz's shell mound, located west of the entrance to the Central Florida Zoological Park, had been excavated, the road material hauled by wagon to a railroad siding at Monroe, and loaded on railroad cars.
From the big empty shell pit he developed Woodland Park. He constructed an 80 x 30 foot cement swimming pool. Open Sundays and Thursdays - “no rowdyism allowed.” It had springboards, toboggan slide, diving stage, shower baths, and 46 dressing rooms. Swimsuits, made by Schmalz's daughter were for rent. The six foot deep pool was drained and sanitized each day and refilled overnight from an 80-foot deep artesian well. In 1915 the pool was made larger and a boiler installed to warm the water.
The park was operated by Victor Schmelz’s and Son from 1910 to 1920’s. Admission to the park was a
The main entrance was three miles northwest of Sanford. The easiest access to the park was by water. A favorite family picnic was to rent a launch on the lakefront, paddle to the park for “swim in the pool and real recreation.” Captain Paganhait’s launch made the fastest travel to the park for twelve cents. Mr. Schmelz’s ran a jitney bus to and from Sanford and some took the long trip by horse and buggy. Schmelz died in 1930 at the age of 69.
Today the swimming pool has been filled-in: the spring capped, and woodlands have reclaimed the area.
Erected by Seminole County.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.
Location. 28° 49.611′ N, 81° 18.959′ W. Marker is in Sanford, Florida, in Seminole County. Marker can be reached from West Seminole Boulevard (U.S. 17) 0.2 miles west of Interstate 4, on the right when traveling east. Located at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3755 W Seminole Blvd, Sanford FL 32771, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lake Monroe Bridge (approx. 0.8 miles away); Bookertown (approx. 1.1 miles away); Martin Luther King Jr. (approx. 1½ miles away); Upsala Swedish Community (approx. 2.2 miles away); Presbyterian Church of Upsala (approx. 2.8 miles away); a different marker also named Martin Luther King Jr. (approx. 2.8 miles away); Goldsboro (approx. 2.8 miles away); POW / MIA’s Memorial (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sanford.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 341 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 14, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 4. submitted on November 12, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.