Sunrise Over Orange Lake Overlook. 8.5" x 11" print

Marjorie A. Hoy Memorial Park at Orange Lake Overlook, An Alachua Conservation Trust Preserve. Located just south of McIntosh, FL on U.S. 441, the historical significance of Orange Lake Overlook (OLO) dates back to the 16th Century when it was utilized by the Timucua Indians for the village of Potano. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries it became part of Florida’s prestigious agricultural scene. The entire 300-acre hill was planted with citrus, and in the 1950s, the little buildings and mill on top of the hill became the Ollie Huff Citrus Shop and packing house.

For over 30 years, O.D. “Buddy” Huff Jr. managed the groves, while his wife, Ollie, ran the orange shop, which offered fresh-squeezed orange juice to travelers passing through North Central Florida. The groves suffered a setback in 1983 from a hard freeze and were re-planted only to be decimated by a second hard freeze in 1984. Following Buddy’s death in 1984, the Huff family left the citrus business and leased the land for cattle grazing.

The now abandoned citrus shop, former packing shed, and stunning view has served as a hub for a wide range of artists and has acted as a catalyst for conserving some of the best views of “old Florida,” or real Florida, in the region through their artwork. With the threat of residential development of the land, the local community rallied to save the overlook, supporting efforts by Alachua Conservation Trust to purchase 71-acres of land and the remaining structures.