Located along the shoreline of picturesque Little Lake Harris, the quaint town of Howey-in-the-Hills is only a half-hour drive from the major metropolis of Orlando, Florida. Like Howey-in-the-Hills, the history of Orlando is very fascinating, as well. The city itself first emerged during the mid-19th century, although the Timucua and Seminole people inhabited the space for generations prior. (The same is true for the greater Orlando metropolitan area, including the modern-site of Howey-in-the-Hills.) However, Orlando was then just a small community that had materialized around a remote U.S. Army base known as “Fort Gatlin.” Residents had even originally called the nascent village “Jernigan” after the region’s first Euro-American settler, Aaron Jernigan. Growth stayed stagnant for the next several years, too, with just a handful of families settling in the town. But the settlement finally rose in prominence once state legislators opted to place a county courthouse downtown during the 1850s. Renaming the municipality as “Orlando” in 1857, local officials began reconstructing its street grid to accommodate its newfound political significance. The name “Orlando” itself was derived from Orlando Reeves, a U.S. soldier who was killed while fighting in the earlier Seminole Wars.

This development nearly came to an abrupt end when the American Civil War erupted, as the Union naval blockade of Florida greatly reduced the commerce Orlando enjoyed with neighboring coastal towns. Nevertheless, Orlando subsequently underwent a period of prosperity that lasted for decades in the years following the conflict. Often remembered as the city’s “golden age,” Orlando saw its economy expand rapidly thanks to the emergence of the famous Floridian citrus industry in the surrounding countryside. Dozens of people established their own fruit groves on the periphery of the city’s borders, making the area one of the prime locations for citrus cultivation. Numerous other operations opened as a result, such as juice refineries, packaging plants, and shipping companies. Great wealth flowed into Orlando in turn, which helped enlarge its size considerably. Unfortunately for the city though, the dominant era of Orlando’s citrus industry came to a close when a damaging cold front overtook the region amid the winter of 1894—1895. (Historical sources have since remembered this time as the “Great Freeze.”) Many private farmers never recovered from the weather event and relocated to communities elsewhere in Florida. In their wake arrived a few business tycoons, who gradually consolidated the remaining farms under their control.

With only a handful of large citrus farms left in operation, movement to Orlando had slowed yet again by the beginning of the 20th century. But the mounting popularity of land speculation in Florida managed to reverse the city’s sagging economic fortunes. Real estate magnates had started to gradually acquire large tracts of wilderness, which they cleared to build a variety of commercial and residential structures. Orlando became one of the most active areas for this construction, in part due to its tranquil climate and proximity to numerous lakes. The community thus turned into a popular holiday destination, with many upscale hotels and resorts dotting its skyline. (Other areas nearby, such as Howey-in-the-Hills, were affected by this economic activity, too.) Although the outbreak of the Great Depression temporarily blunted this transformation, Orlando nonetheless continued to be a major travel hotspot for the rest of the century. Perhaps the greatest event affirming Orlando’s status within the tourism industry was the decision of The Walt Disney Company to debut its Walt Disney World entertainment complex nearby in 1971. Walt Disney World soon gained an renowned international reputation for its extensive services, eventually becoming the most visited vacation compound in the world during the early 21st century.

Orlando itself has remained one of Florida’s most exciting places to visit, entertaining countless guests from across the globe every year. In fact, some 74 million people travel to Orlando annually, leading to many people identifying the city as the top tourist destination in the whole United States. Central to this enduring legacy are the celebrated theme parks that reside in Walt Disney World, as well as its comparatively newer competitor, Universal Orlando. However, the city boasts a number of other outstanding amusement facilities, such as SeaWorld Orlando, Legoland, and Fun Sport America. Even though some of those locations are historic in their own right, more conventional cultural heritage attractions exist within Orlando, as well. Among the best historic sites in Orlando include the Harry P. Leu Gardens, Lake Eola Park, the Orlando Museum of Art, and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. But many more places to explore are situated right outside the city, too, such as the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Sanford and the historic Howey Mansion complex in Howey-in-the-Hills. Cultural heritage travelers are certain to experience a memorable trip when visiting the greater Orlando area as such.

George O’Neil: While the historic El Campeón course was the brainchild of the industrious William J. Howey, its specific design was the result of landscape architect George O’Neil’s imagination. Originally from the Chicago area, O’Neil was one of the nation’s foremost golfers at the time of El Campeón’s debut during World War I. He specifically rose in prominence serving as an accomplished golf instructor, with many considering his professional insight to be invaluable. In fact, numerous high-profile figures eventually sought out O’Neil for lessons, such as John D. Rockefeller, Charlie Chaplin, and even future U.S. President Warren G. Harding! Several legendary golfers also conferred with O’Neil for insight, including Harry Vardon and Chick Evans. His diverse knowledge about the sport gradually elevated his public profile to the point where a few country clubs hired him on as their primary golf course architect. In addition to earning a commission to construct William J. Howey’s Chain-O-Lakes Country Club, O’Neil had also gained the contract for other magnificent facilities like the South Bend Country Club in Indiana and the Beverly Country Club in his own hometown of Chicago. One area in particular where O’Neil seemed to have a significant presence was the American Southwest, namely Southern California. Indeed, O’Neil had spent many of his winters vacationing in the region and became acquainted with several of its influential golfers. The experience eventually produced work at some of California’s most celebrated golfing venues, such as the Pasadena Golf Club and the Mountain Meadows Golf Club.

Gary Koch: A native of Tampa, Florida, Gary Koch has been a fixture in professional golf for nearly half a century. He first began competing as an amateur regularly during his teenage years, eventually winning the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1970. His talents earned him a prestigious scholarship to the University of Florida, where he ranked as a three-time All-American. The highlight of Koch’s time at the school was his part in helping the collegiate Florida Gator’s men’s golf team win two Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships, as well as a single NCAA Championship title. Koch subsequently pursued a career as a professional golfer upon graduating, ultimately winning six official competitions on the PGA Tour over the next two decades. Perhaps his greatest achievement was when he earned two first-place finishes at the San Diego Open and the Bay Hill Classic, respectively, in 1984. As Koch’s playing career progressed, so did his interest in other endeavors within the world of professional golf. He specifically started sportscasting games during the 1990s, working first for ESPN before becoming a longtime member of NBC Sports. However, Koch also began offering his particular insights into golf course architecture, helping to design celebrated venues like the Mystic Dunes Golf Course, the Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club, and of course, Las Colinas at Mission Resort + Club. Koch has since maintained his venerable reputation within the golfing industry, going on to obtain the Payne Steward Award for his contributions in 2023. (Koch has also earned three more professional titles while playing on the PGA Tour Champions’ Legends of Golf tournament.)