Deer Park in Osceola County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Deer Park

Photographed by Diane Murphy, April 30, 2023

1. Deer Park Marker

Inscription. In 1895 George Washington Hopkins from Michigan began buying land in eastern Osceola and Brevard County. He founded the Union Cypress Company, operating a saw and planing mill in Hopkins, a small town south of Melbourne. Deer Park was founded to provide homes for workers of the logging and mill operation, it consisted of a post office, two general stores, a hotel, boarding houses, churches and two schools. A railroad built in 1911-12 ran across the St. Johns River to transport logs, workers, mail, goods and groceries. Hopkins' son-in-law, W.H. Kempfer arrived in 1914 to run the timber operations and in 1915 Hopkins and Kempfer Land and Cattle Co. was formed and continued until the death of Hopkins. In 1925 N. Ray Carroll of Bedford, Ohio (later to become State Senator from Osceola County) acquired 55,000 acres of land on the north side of US 192 from the Hopkins estate which later became the Carrollton Ranch. In 1950 he sold the ranch to a group of Mormon businessmen which became the first acquisition of land for the Mormons in Florida who now own some 330,000 acres in 3 Counties. On the south side of US 192 is the Kempfer

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Ranch which has been operated by the descendants of Mr. Hopkins for over 100 years. Great Grandsons of George Washington Hopkins, Billy and Reed Kempfer and their families continue to run the ranch and sawmill.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.

Location. 28° 6.021′ N, 80° 53.866′ W. Marker is in Deer Park, Florida, in Osceola County. It is at the intersection of Kempfer Road and E. Bronson Highway (U.S. 192), on the left when traveling south on Kempfer Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Cloud FL 34773, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Orlando

and in Central Florida.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one

Photographed by Diane Murphy, February 2020

2. Deer Park Marker

of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fort Taylor (here, next to this marker); Illahaw (approx. 10 miles away); Nittaw Station (approx. 10 miles away); Florida Native Jororo Spanish Mission (approx. 11.3 miles away); Holopaw (approx. 11.3 miles away); The Hernandez-Capron Trail (approx. 13.7 miles away); The Duda Pavilion at the Brevard Zoo (approx. 14.2 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2023, by Diane Murphy of Saint Cloud, Florida. This page has been viewed 911 times since then and 124 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2023, by Diane Murphy of Saint Cloud, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.