​

Thank you for stopping by and taking a glimpse into Gotha's history through the eyes of a longtime resident. This postcard-inspired artwork tells a personal story about one of Central Florida's hidden gems and offers a small window into the people, places, and history that make this community special.

​

For a deeper and thoroughly researched history of Gotha, I highly recommend the wonderful book The New Colony of Gotha by Kathleen Klare.

​

The postcard captures roughly a century of Gotha's story, from the years before World War I to the present day. It highlights the rich German heritage of Gotha's early settlers, whose influence remains woven into the community today.

​

My appreciation for Gotha has grown during more than 40 years of living here. The ideas reflected in this artwork come from memories that caught my attention over the years, conversations with neighbors who grew up here, family stories, newspaper articles, unusual structures, old construction sites, and the many things that seem just a little "out of place" and make you wonder about the story behind them.

​

One of the things we love most about this area is its rolling hills. Our home sits on a ridge connected to a larger ridge system that stretches from the Bok Tower area in Lake Wales all the way to South Georgia. Over the years, I've heard many stories about it. Some call it part of the Iron Mountain Range, while others say the soil and elevation are among the oldest and highest in Florida. Here in the heart of the state, we may be as much as 150 feet above sea level. We hope that's high enough!

​

I hope you enjoy exploring this artwork and discovering a little more about the history, character, and charm of Gotha.

​

MEMORIES FROM OUR PAST

​

When we moved to Gotha in 1982, our front yard held an unexpected treasure: a railroad car once used to carry citrus. It sat quietly on tracks that ran from Minorville, that is now the Westgate Properties of Ocoee, and on toward present-day Isleworth. Over time, the train and tracks disappeared, leaving behind only a trail and an old bridge that became our favorite route for walks across the Florida Turnpike. One day, we even enjoyed a picnic atop that abandoned railroad bridge, captivated by its beauty and mindful of its adventure-filled danger. Eventually, the bridge, too, vanished into memory.

​

Our lawn in Gotha rests atop nearly a foot of asphalt, a remnant of a World War II Army ordnance depot that once occupied this area. In those early years, we reached our home by a winding dirt road that circled a grassy island. The drive was magical, curving around peaceful lakes and beneath canopies of magnificent oak trees draped with Spanish moss. Acres of orange groves stretched around us, especially stunning during harvest season when the landscape seemed to glow more orange than green. As grove trucks rounded the curves on their way to Winter Garden's processing plants, oranges would spill onto the roadside. We happily gathered the unexpected gifts, enjoying fresh citrus straight from the groves.

​

We were fascinated by the mysterious Quonset huts and scattered concrete foundations dotting the neighborhood. Our mailing address back then was Winter Garden.  Some time later residents were given the opportunity to vote and our address officially became Gotha.

​

Life here has always offered unique surprises. At night, we can hear Disney's fireworks and see their colorful glow in the distance. On holiday evenings from our rooftop, as many as seven different fireworks displays can light the horizon. Our neighbors work throughout Central Florida, from Orlando to Disney and Universal, while enjoying the convenience of nearby Veterans Memorial Highway Interchange.

​

The area is rich with curious reminders of the past. Pieces of attractions like Splendid China and the Holy Land Experience can still be found scattered about, making for a fun and memorable driving tour whenever family and friends visit. Not far away are fields where buffalo graze, and over the years we've enjoyed encounters with visiting camels, elephants, and ponies, riding them when we could. Closer to home, we keep a respectful eye on the alligators, bears, raccoons, and sandhill cranes that share our neighborhood. Watching their young appear each year is one of life's small joys.

​

We especially miss hearing the bell tower chimes from Camp Ithiel on Hempel Avenue. Their melodies carried echoes of school days, church gatherings, and simpler times. While we miss those familiar sounds, the quiet that has replaced them has its own charm.

​

Change arrived in dramatic ways. The Florida Turnpike eventually divided our lake into two. The orange groves were burned, and for days afterward the air was filled with a heavenly aroma, like orange cakes baking in an oven. Sadly, those changes were followed by the rapid development and traffic that transformed much of the landscape we once knew.

​

To the west, we often witnessed sights that today seem almost unbelievable. Hot air balloons occasionally drifted low enough to touch our lake. Small aircraft landed nearby, and ultralights buzzed overhead with the distinctive sound of flying lawnmowers.  Quiet blimps, daring skywriters and open air biplanes pulling banners kept eyes looking skyward to see the midday advertising of local attractions.  I once flew from Maguire Airport in downtown Orlando to another Maguire Airport in Windermere.  Today, Plantation Grove Shopping Center on McGuire Road occupies what was once that old dirt landing strip.  Yet even now, new wonders await. We often step outside to watch rocket launches rising in the eastern sky, and the occasional sonic boom rattling our windows feels like an exciting bonus.

​

When I think back to shopping at The Gotha Store in the 1980s, I remember gazing across the street at the little white church on Hempel Avenue and wondering about the people who called this town home long before we arrived from up north. Today, Yellow Dog Eats occupies the old store, preserving much of the same layout as the grocery store I once visited. Standing there, looking out those familiar windows, I still find myself imagining the stories, the history, and the artwork that could be inspired by these enduring landmarks.

​

Gotha has changed in countless ways since we first arrived, but its spirit remains. The roads, lakes, old buildings, and cherished memories continue to connect us to the remarkable place we have been fortunate to call home for more than four decades.