LAKE WALES, Fla., Oct. 25, 2026 — Before Texas, there was Florida. "Florida was known for its cattle industry before any other state, including Texas," according to Florida State Parks. At Lake Kissimmee State Park in Polk County, that history comes alive in a re-created 1876 cow camp (Florida State Parks).
Where the cattle came from
When Spanish conquistadors arrived in the early 1500s, they brought small herds of Andalusian cows and horses, the state says. Today these are known as Florida cracker cows and cracker ponies (Florida State Parks). Left to run wild for about 500 years, they adapted to Florida's harsh environment and became a Florida-specific breed, according to the park (Florida State Parks).
When the United States acquired Florida in 1821, wild cracker cows were plentiful, "and thus the Florida cattle industry was born," the state says (Florida State Parks).
Life of a cow hunter
Jacob Summerlin, called "The Cracker King of Florida," made his fortune hunting cattle in the Kissimmee and Peace River areas, according to the park (Florida State Parks). His cow hunters could be gone for weeks, moving from camp to camp. Each camp was about a day's ride apart (Florida State Parks).
Florida's thick brush made lariats useless, the state says, so hunters used whips and trained leopard cur dogs to find cattle in marshes, swamps and pinelands (Florida State Parks). The herds were driven to Punta Rassa near Fort Myers and shipped to Cuba, and the cow hunters were paid in Spanish gold doubloons (Florida State Parks).
Visit the camp
At the end of a trail, visitors find a cow hunter in a frontier camp under an oak hammock, "cooking, making coffee, tending to the cattle or just resting up," according to the park's cow camp page. Visitors are invited to sit by the campfire for a cup of cow hunter coffee (Florida State Parks).
The park's Hours & Fees page lists the Cow Camp as open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays from Oct. 1 to April 30, closed Christmas (Florida State Parks).
More to explore
White-tailed deer, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, turkeys and bobcats have been seen in the park, which sits on lakes Kissimmee, Tiger and Rosalie (Florida State Parks). The park lists more than 13 miles of hiking trails, six miles of equestrian trails, and dark skies popular for stargazing (Florida State Parks).
Note: The park says its campgrounds have been closed for a renovation project since Feb. 17, 2026 (Florida State Parks).
Plan your visit
- Address: 14248 Camp Mack Road, Lake Wales, about 15 miles east of Lake Wales off State Road 60 (Florida State Parks)
- Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year (Florida State Parks)
- Fee: $5 per vehicle (Florida State Parks)
- Phone: 863-696-1112 (Florida State Parks)
Sources
- Florida State Parks, Lake Kissimmee State Park: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lake-kissimmee-state-park
- Florida State Parks, "Lake Kissimmee's Historical Cow Camp": https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/lake-kissimmees-historical-cow-camp
- Florida State Parks, "1876 Cow Camp Living History Reenactment": https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/1876-cow-camp-living-history-reenactment
- Florida State Parks, Lake Kissimmee State Park "Hours & Fees": https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lake-kissimmee-state-park/hours-fees
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