The journey begins in Koreshan, now a state historic park and former home of the followers of the Koreshan Unity, a singular religious movement that promoted utopian ideas and its own cosmology. The area preserves original buildings, workshops, gardens, and paths that allow an understanding of daily life within this community at the beginning of the twentieth century. From there, the route advances eastward and northward through urbanized areas, golf courses, airport infrastructure, and extensive forested zones where the presence of wildlife remains notable.
Further along appears Lehigh Acres, a vast planned settlement whose recent history clearly reflects the impact of Florida’s real estate boom and collapse. Wide avenues, vacant lots, and incomplete developments alternate with commercial and residential areas, gradually giving way to an increasingly agricultural landscape. From this point on, the route enters one of the most productive regions of the state, with large farms, orange groves, and cattle ranches that supply much of the country.
Arrival in Felda marks the rural heart of the route, a small and discreet community historically linked to the railroad, agriculture, and oil extraction. From there, the return leg crosses the natural environment of Corkscrew Swamp, an immense sanctuary managed by conservation organizations, renowned for its centuries-old cypress trees and extraordinary biodiversity. The route ends back in Koreshan, closing a journey that combines alternative history, urban speculation, rural life, and some of the most valuable ecosystems of southwest Florida.
The complete route, together with its detailed historical context, is part of Discovering Florida – Volume 3.
