Westgate River Ranch here in sunny Florida says it is the world's largest dude ranch....I have a feeling a few people in Texas are NOT going to agree with this statement but I did not make it. Just read the sign:
There are 1700 acres to this dude ranch which is located southeast of Lake Wales in the center of Florida. Here they offer RV campsites as well as regular rooms to rent.
I had never been there before, so Ronnie and I stopped off on our way to the Atlantic Coast last Friday.
There are canals everywhere which lead out to Lake Kissimmee and, of course, with an airboat you only need a couple of inches of water to get through the marshes and swamps which are full of gators. There was one right next to this airboat but when I wanted to take a photo this large swamp beast decided to disappear underwater.
How is this for a swamp buggy? That is exactly what it is! This monster machine can go through the swamps!
There were buffalo as well. I don't know if you are aware but buffalo once roamed our country all the way to Central Florida before the arrival of the 'white man'.
Longhorns were also at the ranch. The term 'Florida Cracker' comes from the original ranchers in Florida that herded cattle and used their whip. The cracking sound of the whip is where the term 'Cracker' comes from.
There was a tin-roofed country church on the property as well! And beautiful RV grounds, a restaurant, general store, post office and the list goes on!
This is a part of our state that I am rarely in. When I travel Central Florida I am always amazed at how much it still looks like Florida did in the 1950's and '60's. Not much has changed and it is also not nearly as populated as the coastal areas!
Our stay here was less than an hour, but it was interesting to visit! For the fisherman that loves freshwater fishing and has an RV this would be a vacation paradise!
You can even fly in since they have a small private landing field right on the ranch next to the golf course.
Westgate River Ranch near Lake Wales is indeed a great destination for the family that wants to experience a little of what life was like here in the sunshine state years ago for the farmer and rancher.
