Did you know Apopka is one of Central Florida’s top destinations for outdoor recreation?
The great outdoors is just greater around here.
Apopka is the fertile ground of the region, fusing thousands of acres of state parks and preserves with a wellspring of freshwater springs. It nurtures a rare quality of life that is attracting visitors—and the Orlando region’s booming residential population—to a way of life that intrinsically celebrates the wilds in a distinctly Florida way.
Boasting 27,000 acres of beautiful parks and recreation, 394 miles of bike and walking trails, and the fourth-largest lake in the state of Florida, Apopka is a magnet for people of all ages because of its abundant natural resources.
Centuries ago, the enduring allure of the great outdoors attracted early settlers to Apopka. They were drawn to the verdant land, proliferation of lakes and springs, and accessibility to the St. Johns River and Wekiva River. These rivers served as Metro Orlando’s original expressway system.
Before the Timucuan peoples settled in what is today northeastern Florida, before European settlers ventured southward into Central Florida, before Florida was … Florida, the St. Johns River flowed north from deep inside the region to the Atlantic Ocean. For thousands of years, the river has meant transportation: carrying goods and passengers upstream into the state, and downstream for coastal trading, and has facilitated commerce, enhanced security, and provided food and recreation for tourists.
Today, Apopka is still magnetizing hundreds of thousands of people to the area for its natural beauty, year-round eco-tourism, and vibrant recreational activities.
Exploring Florida’s Natural Attractions
When locals throughout Orlando think of Apopka, their minds most often drift to idyllic scenes of pristine, jewel-toned natural springs. Nature and the greater outdoors have been the natural attractions for more than a century.
Kelly Park/Rock Springs, just 9 minutes away from Wyld Oaks, is a popular wildlife preserve with a rich history. In 1910, one of the founders of Johns Hopkins Hospital and avid naturalist, Dr. Howard A. Kelly, visited Rock Springs. Taken with the “sweet” spring water from the “mysterious cave,” he purchased 200 acres surrounding Rock Springs in 1921 for use as a wildlife preserve and bird sanctuary.
Kelly gifted the land to Orange County in 1927 with the understanding that it would remain a public park for all to enjoy. Today, it attracts several thousands of visitors each year to tube down the cool, crystal clear springs along with kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, and camping.
Just 10 miles from Wyld Oaks, Wekiva Springs State Park offers an oasis of nature with lush tropical hammocks and jewel-toned emerald springs that feed the Wekiva River. This Florida gem has been drawing visitors to its recreation areas since the 1860s and is known as Orange County’s longest-running tourist attraction. Several hundreds of thousands of local, national, and international visitors frequent the park each year to kayak, canoe, fly fish, hike, bike, and horseback ride along 31 miles of trails.
Beyond Mother Nature’s creations, Apopka is also home to one of the most expansive outdoor athletic complexes in Central Florida.
The Northwest Recreation Complex (NWRC), located just 3 miles from Wyld Oaks, spans 182 acres and attracts 250,000 visitors annually. To know Florida youth sports is to know that it’s a year-round pursuit in the Sunshine State. Youth sports leagues descend on Apopka’s NWRC throughout the year for baseball, soccer, and football. NWRC is where families flock to watch their kids play Little League baseball, travel baseball, Pop Warner and flag football, youth soccer, tennis, and lacrosse.
This impressive complex also features a 1,360-seat outdoor amphitheater with space for an additional 5,000 spectators on the lawn for concerts and events year-round. The City of Apopka hosts Saturday Sounds, a free outdoor concert series in the amphitheater, as well as a spectacular, family-friendly 4th of July celebration with music and fireworks each year.
A Wellspring of Opportunities
As one of Central Florida’s fastest-growing cities, Apopka is growing while protecting its precious ecosystem, eco-tourism, and outdoor recreation attractions.
With the abundance of routine local, regional, and out-of-market visitors throughout the year, and its growing population, demand for retail opportunities is at an all-time high. And the recent 429 expressway completion will only amplify accessibility to this area of Apopka.
Centuries of history have proven the natural attraction of Apopka’s greater outdoors—and it’s only branching out and growing stronger.
