The route covers approximately 80 miles through Polk County, connecting rural landscapes, former railroad communities, large lakes and heavily suburbanized areas of Central Florida. The ride passes through communities such as Alturas, Wahneta, Eagle Lake, Cypress Gardens, Eloise, Lakeland, Gibsonia, Kathleen, Highland City and Gordon Heights, revealing the strong contrast between traditional agricultural regions and the rapid urban expansion that now dominates much of the county.
The journey begins near Alturas, a small community surrounded by lakes and vast citrus groves. The area still preserves a deeply rural atmosphere shaped by rolling terrain, narrow roads and agricultural land. Alturas developed during the early twentieth century and is also remembered for the notorious criminal case involving George Trepal, who was sentenced to death after poisoning a neighboring family in 1988. During the opening miles the landscape is dominated by orange groves, small lakes and cattle land.
Farther ahead the route crosses Peace Creek near the headwaters of the Peace River before entering the sprawling suburban region surrounding Wahneta and Eagle Lake. These communities originally expanded through agriculture and the turpentine industry but are now part of the immense urban growth surrounding Winter Haven. The ride continues past countless lakes and through Cypress Gardens, the historic theme park founded in 1936 and considered one of Florida’s earliest major tourist attractions. Today much of its historic botanical gardens form part of Legoland Florida.
The route proceeds toward Eloise and Jan Phyl Village, communities historically tied to railroad development and agricultural expansion in Central Florida. Alongside portions of the route survive former rail corridors once operated by the South Florida Railroad and later the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Farther ahead appear areas such as Fussels Corner, Combee Settlement and Crystal Lake, heavily suburbanized communities around Lakeland historically connected to phosphate mining and rail transportation.
In Lakeland and Gibsonia the landscape becomes fully urbanized, surrounded by major highways, shopping centers, lakes and residential developments. The ride passes historic areas linked to Polk County’s railroad and mining industries. Farther north appear Kathleen and vanished railroad settlements such as Socrum, Tedderville and Bryantville. The route also crosses areas near the headwaters of Itchepackesassa Creek and former transportation corridors now used by CSX Transportation.
The final section follows portions of the Fort Fraser Trail, a path constructed beside the old railroad line that once connected Lakeland with Bartow and eventually Southwest Florida. The route crosses Highland City and areas historically associated with Fort Fraser, a military fort established during the Seminole Wars. Near Bartow also appear references to the vanished Fort Carroll and former settlements tied to mining and railroad transportation.
During the final miles the suburban landscape gradually disappears once again, giving way to citrus groves, lakes and the rural scenery that still defines southern Polk County. Throughout the entire route, the ride reflects the historical evolution of the region from military forts and railroad corridors into the modern suburban developments steadily spreading across Florida’s agricultural heartland.
