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Fort Meade is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. As of 2020, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,100. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.
- Fort Meade Historical Society
- Peace River Paddle Trail
- Patterson Park
- Streamsong Resort
- Fort Meade Historic District
- Fort Meade Outdoor Recreation Area
- Mosaic Peace River Park
- Peace River Hammock
- John’s Drive-In
- Nasgrass at Florida Flywheelers Park
Located on North Tecumseh Avenue downtown, the Fort Meade Historical Society is housed in what may be the city’s finest building. This is the Old Fort Meade Schoolhouse, built in 1885 in the Frame Vernacular style. It’s the perfect first stop for new visitors, brimming with items donated by families with roots in the area going back to the mid-19th...
Fed by springs and rainwater, the 106-mile Peace River rises a few miles from Fort Meade, northeast of Bartow, and flows into the Gulf at Charlotte Harbor. For millennia, Native American peoples used the Peace River for trade, and there are archeological sites all along the banks. If you want to navigate this historic and beautiful watercourse, For...
On the north side of downtown, Patterson Park is a delightful public space developed in the late 1980s. I was amazed to learn that this place, on three connected lakes, was previously an open pit mine. The paved trail on the shores beckons you under moss-draped boughs to a series of observation areas on the water. The park also has a boat ramp that...
Plan in advance and you can play a round at one of the country’s most treasured golf destinations. Streamsong Resort, with four extraordinary courses, is open to non-resort guests, provided you’re flexible and can adhere to a designated booking window. The resort opened in 2012 on top of what used to be an enormous phosphate mine. When I went to pr...
Since you’re in the oldest town in Polk County, I think it’s work taking a little time for a tour. The historic district is centered on the intersection of Broadway St and Charleston Avenue (Hwy 17), anchoring downtown. Still, much of the history can be found on Fort Meade’s sleepy but pretty residential streets, lined with magnificent live oaks. T...
On the city’s eastern outskirts, there’s a restful space by the Peace River. If you have your own vessel the Fort Meade Outdoor Recreation Area is a convenient place to launch. From here you can start a magical trip along the 67-mile Peace River Paddling Trail. For a short but rewarding paddle you could float downstream between the cypresses as far...
A short drive north of Fort Meade is almost 500 acres of cypress floodplain forest on the banks of the Peace River. This place shines as a place to do some birdwatching, with an astonishing assortment of species. To name just a few, you might see hooded mergansers, limpkins, blue-headed vireos, pelicans, and raptors like red-tailed hawks, and swall...
There’s a chain of conservation lands along the Peace River just east of Fort Meade. This property covers a little more than 40 acres and is a great spot for a walk in nature, minutes from downtown Fort Meade. The 1.5-mile Peace River Trail leads down to the riverfront through an overstory of grand oaks, cabbage palms and hickories. The park is ano...
Hard to miss for its A-frame design, this old-school drive-in restaurant is right on Charleston Avenue downtown. In case you can’t tell, the building is a former Whataburger, transformed in the 1980s. John’s Drive-In is all about American comfort food classics, with a Southern twist. By that I mean burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, chicken livers, ...
Now, for something totally different there’s big-time lawnmower racing a short way east of Fort Meade. In fact, Nasgrass is America’s longest-running lawnmower racing club, promising high-speed dirt-racing action during the season. Races take place on the second Saturday of the month, September to mid-May. When I was in town the track had just relo...
May 16, 2024 · Fort Meade is the oldest city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,626 at the 2010 census. As of 2018, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,203. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Apr 16, 2024 · Things to Do in Fort Meade, Florida: See Tripadvisor's 1,001 traveler reviews and photos of Fort Meade tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in October. We have reviews of the best places to see in Fort Meade. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
Fort Meade is the oldest city in Polk County, dating back to 1849 and the residents are proud historians. Today there are over 150 buildings designated as landmarks and the historical society manages a two-story museum. This charming community sits along the Peace River, which is part of the Florida Paddling Trail system.
Fort Meade Tourism: Tripadvisor has 1,001 reviews of Fort Meade Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Fort Meade resource.
Fort Meade is the oldest city in Polk County, dating its origins to 1849 when it was an old military road from Tampa (Fort Brooke) to Fort Pierce during the Indian wars. The 1880s business district was located on old Wire Street (now Broadway), which was a casualty of 4 devastating fires.
