The route covers approximately 89 miles through Lake and Marion counties, crossing a region dominated by lakes, former railroad corridors, protected natural areas and historic towns in Central Florida. The ride connects communities such as Tavares, Leesburg, Fruitland Park, Lady Lake, Weirsdale, Ocklawaha, Huntington and Silver Springs while following roads that pass countless lakes and former settlements established during the railroad and citrus boom of the late nineteenth century.
The journey begins in Tavares, the seat of Lake County and widely known as “America’s Seaplane City” because of the constant seaplane activity on Lake Dora. Founded in 1880 by Alexander St. Clair Abrams, the city expanded through railroad development and lake transportation. Many of the old rail lines and stations still survive today as part of excursion train routes. The downtown area preserves historic buildings, marinas and the traditional atmosphere of Florida’s inland lake communities.
The route continues along Lake Eustis and passes former railroad settlements such as Bassville Park, Lisbon and Lanier, the latter eventually becoming a ghost town after the decline of rail transportation. Farther ahead lies Leesburg, one of the region’s most important historic cities, originally tied to agricultural commerce and steamboat transportation. Today the city is especially known for hosting the Leesburg Bikefest, one of the largest motorcycle festivals in Florida.
The ride then follows the western shore of Lake Griffin toward Fruitland Park and Lady Lake, two communities heavily transformed by the growth of The Villages, the massive retirement development that now dominates much of Central Florida. The area also once included numerous vanished towns such as Chetwynd and Conant, settlements established by British immigrants and later devastated by the freezes of the 1890s that destroyed much of Florida’s citrus industry.
After entering Marion County, the landscape becomes rural and peaceful once again. The route passes through Weirsdale and East Lake Weir, surrounded by endless citrus groves and large lakeside properties. Farther ahead lies Ocklawaha, a community historically tied to the river of the same name and the steamboat traffic that once moved through Central Florida’s interconnected waterways during the nineteenth century. The Ocklawaha River and its surrounding protected lands remain among the region’s most important natural ecosystems.
The final section heads toward the outskirts of Ocala through communities such as Candler, Huntington and Silver Springs Shores. Near the route stands the Fort King National Historic Landmark, a reconstruction of the military fort established during the Seminole Wars and considered the origin of present-day Ocala. Eventually the ride reaches Silver Springs, famous for its crystal-clear springs and for becoming one of Florida’s earliest tourist attractions.
Silver Springs State Park protects thousands of acres surrounding the Silver River and its remarkably transparent springs. Since the late nineteenth century the site became internationally famous for its glass-bottom boat tours. Decades later the area served as a filming location for numerous movies and television productions, including several Tarzan films starring Johnny Weissmuller. Today the park remains one of the most iconic natural landscapes in the Sunshine State and the highlight of this extensive cycling journey.
