Lake Placid
May 2024Lake Placid: The Caladium Capital of the World
By Vanessa Caceres
The Caladium Capital of the World. The Town of Murals. Home of Toby’s Clown School. These cute monikers all describe just one town — Highland County’s Lake Placid, just off Route 27 and south of Sebring.
In 2013, Readers Digest named Lake Placid America’s Most Interesting Town because of the small town’s “unique variety of nature, culture and fun,” according to the magazine. If you’re looking for a destination that’s beyond the beach and avoids the crowds, Lake Placid is an ideal destination.
Start your day at the town’s chamber of commerce office to learn more about the murals of Lake Placid. A series of 46 paintings adorn the side of many Lake Placid businesses.
“The murals are what make the town,” says Grace Butcher, a chamber of commerce volunteer.
The idea began in the early 1990s, when residents Bob and Harriet Porter were motorcycling through Chemainus, British Columbia, and saw how that Canadian town was transformed through colorful murals. They brought the idea back home and, using only donations and no public money, were able to secure funding for the murals. The town continues to add to its mural collection.
Art is such a big part of the Lake Placid experience. Even many of the downtown’s benches and trash containers are decorated with painted clowns, old cars, and nature scenes.
Once you’ve gotten your share of murals, stop by Toby’s Clown School and Museum, where you can be a clown. Since 1993, the school has graduated more than 1,500 clowns who’ve gone through a 25-hour clown class. Visitors can see an astounding amount of clown memorabilia, including figurines, pictures, and costumes. Museum workers will entertain your gang with magic tricks and may just make you join in for the performance.
For those who want to continue the journey through history, the Lake Placid Historical Society Depot Museum gives visitors a chance to see photos and items from the town’s history, as well as an antique caboose, a 1929 steam engine, and the town’s 1920s-era jail.
Once you’ve explored downtown, check out one of the area’s 29 lakes — including Lake Istokpoga, Lake Placid, and Lake June-in-Winter — for fishing or boating. Some lakes also have swimming.
“Lake June is a very popular spot because it has a sandbar,” says Katelyn Stuart, an Orlando resident who spent lots of time in the town during the summer growing up. “Around June and July, you can anchor your boat up and expect to see around 100 people or so.”
Golfing and biking are also popular. If you’re looking for a place to eat, just a couple of miles from downtown is Jaxson’s on Lake June, popular with locals and famous for its Hookiemelt — chicken topped with onions over sour cream, wing sauce, and jack cheddar. There’s also the fried cheesecake topped with strawberries, whipped cream, and drizzled chocolate. Come early on Tuesday or Thursday to watch the sunset and enjoy karaoke with Party Dog Rick, one of the chefs.
