Camp Mack: A History

For thousands of years only indigenous communities traversed Florida's dense interior. The Kissimmee River Valley was an area of lakes, flood plains, and oak hammocks inaccessible to most until the late 19th century. At that time, Floridians began to populate this area developing navigable waterways and unique communities. Camp Mack, located along the Kissimmee River on the eastern end of Polk County, has been a hub for gamesmen and adventurers since the 1830s. The following interviews will introduce community members connected to the Kissimmee River Valley and Camp Mack.
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[@TheBluewaterBull]

Great hearing these stories from the old timers. We have a small camp on Lake Kissimmee and it's old Florida at its finest. I could only imagine how great it was 50+ years ago.

[@elang8599]

Well said my friends.

[@OvalSlash]

So great to listen to such awesome history & memories 🙂

[@elang8599]

I'm glad I found your history tale of the river land. I wish I could save all the land because the money hungry vampires of today has no love for the land. I'm 70 yrs old now and had the grace of owning an air boat for 16 years and road on zippers properties hunting ducks with Dick Poke owner of Cypress Gardens Ford De Haven owner of Gulf State Signs. My they rest in peace. I'm friends with the Cosises that own Camp Lester next to camp Mack. Y'all are my kind of people. My family were from Chattanooga Tennessee. I've lived in Polk county 70 yrs and worked and watched the Citrus industry flourish. I miss it. Now I hate all the land being raped. God Bless all y'all's families. Thank you for your history lesson!

[@FL_Native_68]

That was the best part

[@caroldehaven]

Great interview with Tom Freeman!! Our family had a weekend place at Camp Mack. Great memories!

[@WHATTHEBEEP1]

this is amazing, so happy that you all were able to capture this history!

[@elang8599]

I've sat in that milk truck on many rainy days and nights. Walls are full of holes but the roof was good then. All these city slickers have built gazebos and pick nick tables. I was there when the canal still had mounds on the banks and hogs would be standing on top of the mounds. God knows I miss the old days.

[@tigerbay9878]

Great!!! I would give anything to go back.

[@PipesTravelercom]

Well done!

[@nomadmarine0331]

Been all over these places back in the day

[@scottbroadway7811]

Wetlands of Florida Revisited

[@Travelinalong5553]

45:39 hebb family bartoe

[@marciapennington3598]

Tom's last interview before his death on October 1, 2020.

[@skullyscott5011]

Coulda been more interesting. First guy rambled on aimlessly.

[@travisbell5481]

Could you have done better? Skully scott

[@skullyscott5011]

@@travisbell5481 probably not

[@FL_Native_68]

That was the best part!