This geocache is part of the County of Highlands Centennial GeoTrail. Visit the link below for the official GeoTrail passport to log the codewords for all GeoTrail caches, turn in and receive a set of 5 souvenir tags. Website https://visitsebring.com/sebring-area-geotour/ for more information about the Sebring Area GeoTour and the County of Highlands Centennial GeoTrail. Geocache is placed within Highlands Hammock State Park, entrance fee is required. Park is open from 8 am until sundown, 365 days a year.
The Historic Orange Grove Restoration is a project of the Friends of Highlands Hammock State Park. The project took three years to complete.
The historic orange grove is an important cultural feature at the park. It is located on the park’s loop road, so it is seen by thousands of visitors each year.
The pioneer Skipper and Eiland families, who lived here in the late 1800s/early 1900s, cleared the land, planted groves and were a part of the cattle drives to the coast. When John Roebling acquired the hammock properties in the early 1930s, he maintained the existing groves. Two of the six Roebling groves were planted on old Skipper and Eiland groves. A 1935 map reveals total plantings of 1,563 citrus trees including Hamlins, sweet oranges, sour oranges, tangerines, grapefruit and lemons.
The Historic Orange Grove Restoration began in 2018 with the identification, collection and maturation of existing seedlings found within the park.