Winter Garden

About Winter Garden

Winter Garden is located on Lake Apopka just 15 miles west of downtown Orlando in Orange County. About 47,000 residents enjoy Winter Garden’s safe and friendly neighborhoods, high-quality schools, numerous parks and lakes, and wealth of recreational amenities.

With the motto Where Good Things Grow, the former Citrus Town is an excellent place to raise a family, retire, and everything in-between. Proximity to Orlando’s theme parks is another great asset to life in Winter Garden, but just a bit farther east awaits the rocket launches and gorgeous Atlantic beaches of Florida’s Space Coast.

Established in 1903, Winter Garden’s Historic Downtown is now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Downtown’s Centennial Plaza is an active gathering spot for the whole community, with year-round concerts and farmers market, plus a deep roster of annual celebrations.

Built in 1935, the Winter Garden Theatre makes downtown a mecca for the whole county with live theater, dance, music, and film screenings. SoBo Art Gallery is another cultural draw. Downtown is also a favorite stop for locals, visitors, and county residents biking or blading the 22-mile paved West Orange Trail, which connects Oakland Nature Preserve to Apopka and goes right through Centennial Plaza.

Winter Garden History

A wooden train station was built just after the Orange Belt Railroad came through in 1886. Soon after a second rail line and station were built. Along the parallel tracks stores sprang up giving Winter Garden its start, and it’s still a shopping destination. Citrus was the major crop shipped out from both depots, where people routinely disembarked to fish for large-mouth bass in Apopka Lake.

The prosperity of this Citrus Town reached a peak in the mid-20th century. Discover how Winter Garden has made a phenomenal comeback by visiting the Heritage Museum in Historic Downtown. In addition to the archive and exhibits, the museum also houses a visitors center.

Living and Working in Winter Garden

In addition to its Historic Downtown as a gathering spot, Winter Garden also maintains a Golf Cart District, where speeds of 20 mph keep things moving quietly and safely. From organized youth sports to day trips for active 55-plus folks, life in Winter Garden is thriving at any age.

The highly rated K-12 public schools and parks attract families with growing children. Excellent health care and hospitals keep everyone healthy, as do Parks & Recreation extensive fitness programs. Most residents own their own homes, which run above the national average.

There is a wide range of price points for condos, townhomes, apartments, and single-family homes, which include a balance of new developments and unique dwellings. More than 2,000 small businesses make Winter Garden home. Residents pursue careers in leisure & hospitality, healthcare, real estate, aviation, and retail.

Things to do in Winter Garden

Relaxation, recreation, nature, and the arts all flourish in Winter Garden. Set out for a bike ride on the West Orange Trail to Oakland Nature Preserve. Or visit Winter Garden’s newest and still-growing nature preserve Tucker Ranch on Johns Lake, for hiking the trails or launching your canoe or kayak for a paddle.

Fish Lake Apopka or watch the sunset on the lake at Newton Park, where you’ll always find a public boat ramp and occasionally a symphony under the stars. Central Florida Railroad Museum downtown is fun for all ages. Join the Art Association or volunteer at Garden Theatre onstage or behind the scenes.

Head out for a day at the theme parks or Canaveral National Seashore on the Atlantic Ocean.

Resources for Moving to Winter Garden

The city provides twice-weekly trash and once-weekly recycling and yard-waste pickup. For electric and gas, contact Duke Energy and Apopka Gas. Phone and cable suppliers include Century Link and Brighthouse.

Winter Garden Transportation

Major arteries serving Winter Garden are State Roads 429, 50, and Florida’s Turnpike. Residents fly through Orlando International Airport. West Orange Trail is your local bike/walk path, which connects up to Florida’s 250-mile Coast-to-Coast Connector Trail.

Winter Garden is a coveted place for families, empty nesters, and retirees, who enjoy outstanding year-round recreation, wonderful schools, and proximity to Orlando and the Space Coast.