Orange Lake Overlook
The Orange Lake Overlook property, located just south of the town of McIntosh, is primarily agricultural pasture land with a gentle rolling slope from west to east in the direction of Orange Lake. The majority of the site has existed as grazing pastures for roughly 30 years. Before becoming pasture, the land was used for citrus production prior to the citrus industries devastation due to the hard freeze in 1980.
Through the desires of the Sawallis family to perpetually protect the land from becoming anything other than natural undisturbed areas & pastures, a conservation easement was desired. The negotiation of the conservation easement resulted in the transfer of nine acres out of the original 93+. These nine acres are located along the jurisdictional line of the west shore of Orange Lake.
Future improvements include interpretive trails, boardwalks, an observation tower, stabilized pervious parking, ecologically sensitive stormwater retention areas, & fencing to allow for the free range movement of the existing wildlife as well as the removal of invasive & exotic plants. These improvements will allow for the Orange Lake Overlook property to serve as a destination of those interested in learning about the history & natural occurrences on the site as well as the adjacent lands.
Preservation of the viewshed from U.S. Highway 441 across the parcel toward Orange Lake is an important goal of the planned improvements as is the protection of the areas historical, cultural, & natural resources.
