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About Walt Bethel:
Walt Bethel is a fourth generation Floridian, born and raised in Arcadia, with a vast knowledge of all areas of Florida Real Estate and an ardent appreciation for Florida history.
The purchase and development of his first orange grove when he was just sixteen years old fueled Walt's passion for real estate.
Since then, he has bought, owned, and sold a wide variety of properties throughout a successful business career.
His investments have included acreage, agricultural properties, residential homes, condos, and commercial properties.
Walt's marketing and sales experience was cultivated over time at his family's business, Bethel Farms, where he marketed, managed, and sold products to "Big Box" retailers across the Southeastern and Midwestern United States.
From an early age, Walt's dad instilled in him the values to work hard and always have a goal, to look for a better way of doing things, and to constantly improve on them.
The daily implementation of these principles, coupled with his enjoyment of networking with new people and his experience in business, sales, and marketing, have contributed to Walt's success as a Realtor.
Walt has served on various boards and committees throughout the years. He has coached and actively supports local youth athletic programs and leagues.
| He and his wife Jill, also a fourth generation Floridian, reside in Punta Gorda. They have two teenage children, a daughter Peyton and a son Truman. |
Note From
Our Neighbors
"The Granddaddy of Em' All "
87th Annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo
March 13-15, 2015
The Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo
is a non-profit organization that was established in 1952 by the Arcadia Rodeo Association, which evolved from a group of American Legion Members who held the first rodeo in 1929.
It is the oldest rodeo organization in the state of Florida, and benefits all of Arcadia and DeSoto County.
Rodeo Events
Bull Riding
Bareback Riding
Barrel Racing
Saddle Bronc
Steer Wrestling
Tie Down Roping
For directions, ticket sales, or more information visit:
www.arcadiarodeo.com
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Liverpool
Ghost Town Founded by John Cross
Liverpool was the southern point along the Peace River Phosphate Mining Company Railroad, a line that ran from Arcadia to docks along the Peace River. Phosphate trains would reach Liverpool, which had a drying plant and barge loading facilities to ship the cargo off down river. The town was settled and platted in 1880, shortly after the discovery of phosphate in the area. The founder, John Cross of Liverpool England, envisioned it to be a large center of business and commerce. John Cross' ambition may have been to capitalize on the rapid expansion of citrus farming occurring in Florida in the 1880s. He selected property at the tide-limit of the Peace River for a new town. He named it Liverpool, after that port in England, and opened a real estate office. The town was located three miles south of Fort Ogden, then a bustling center for citrus groves. Cross built a warehouse and dock and started a drayage line. He hauled freight from ships at his Liverpool dock to Fort Ogden, bringing back crates of oranges. He operated the town general store, and J.E. Riley, who oversaw the mining operations, acted as mayor and local sheriff. With the phosphate industry fueling the economy, the town grew to include it's own post office, hotel, newspaper, and stage stop. John Cross used his success and wealth from Liverpool to buy land and build in several areas of neighboring Charlotte county. By 1905 the Peace River pebble phosphate supply was tailing off, and the rail line was extended to the deeper waters of Punta Gorda and Boca Grande. The Liverpool terminus became a spur off the main route, operating for another few years until the local supply died out. And as the phosphate disappeared, so did the town. By the 1920's it was just another old mining town that faded away.
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Welcome to the Spring Edition of my "Real Estate Resource" Newsletter.
Please check out my website waltbethel.com to view my listings, search for property, or to enjoy one of my archived newsletters.
As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.
Walt
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Lost Towns of Charlotte County
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Compiled by LindseyWilliams.org
Ghost towns of the old West still stand on the arid plains as a reminder of prosperity that briefly flourished. The same type of ephemeral villages of old Florida disappeared rapidly under the onslaught of semi-tropical climate and foliage.
However, traces of Charlotte County's "lost towns" persist in the memories of old timers, musty newspaper clippings and faded maps. Such places once were important because of some special feature noteworthy to folks at that time.
What became Charlotte County in 1921 originally was part of Manatee County, then DeSoto County in 1887. Most lost towns here sprang up and disappeared in the few years following arrival of the railroad in 1886 until a network of automobile roads were laid down during the Great Florida Land Boom of the 1920s.
Herewith a compendium of such localities discovered during the preparation of these histories.
Towns in Charlotte CountyACLINE | Pronounced ak- line, a contraction for Atlantic Coast Line rail road. Had turpentine still, sawmill and citrus groves. Home of the Bloody Bucket speakeasy. | ALBION | Exact location unknown. Reference says, "Near Bermont," east of Punta Gorda. Probably a sawmill. | BAIRDVILLE | Dairy and truck farms. School. | BERMONT | A general store post office and school. | BOCA GRANDE DOCK | Loading facility built 1860 by McKay and Summerlin for cattle. | BOCA GRANDE TOWN | On Gasparilla Island. Platted 1887 by Albert Gilchrist. | BOGGESS | A Peace River cattle fort marked off by Francis Boggess about 1860. | BUCKINGHAM | Site unknown Reference says, "Ten miles out of town" (Punta Gorda). | BURNT STORE | Trading post 1845, east shore of harbor. Burned by Seminoles. | CALVINA | Location unknown. Reference says, "This county, Jacob Bond postmaster." | CAMP POINT | Exact site unknown. "Near Bermont." | CAMP WHIPPLE | Temporary fortification to watch Indians during Third Seminole War. | CAYO PELAU | "Spanish" fishing village on that island. | CHADWICK BEACH | Homes, dance pavilion and store. Named Punta Gorda Beach late 1920s. Now Englewood Beach. | CHARLOTTE | A station on the CH&N railroad. Now Murdock. | CHARLOTTE HARBOR | Oldest town settled 1862 near cattle dock and store. Church, and school 1873. Post office 1877. | CLEVELAND | Platted 1885 for a resort hotel and village. | DEL VERDE | A development and inn during the land boom. | EL JOBE-AN | Now El Jobean, post office and store. First platted as Southland. | ENGLEWOOD | Resort hotel and town platted 1893. | ENGLEWOOD BEACH | See Chadwick Beach. | EUCRE PEN | An overnight holding pen for cattle. Name corrupted to Yucca Pen for nearby creek. | EVALAND | A turpentine still and CH&N flag stop. | FORT OGDEN | Established 1850 to build canoes with which to pursue Seminoles, later a large town in DeSoto County. | FORT WINDER | A refuge for settlers during Second Seminole War. | GASPARILLA | Fishing village and general store. | GILCHRIST | Homes of section hands for ACL railroad. | GILCHRIST STATION | The junction ACL and Seaboard RR. | GLEN | Holmes turpentine still, post office. | GROVE CITY | Resort hotel and lemon grove development. | HARBOR VIEW | Sawmill and development of "orange clubs. | HERMAN | Farm village. | HENDRICKS | Farm village. | HICKMAN | Exact location unknown. Reference says, "Post office of this county has been discontinued." | HICKORY BLUFF | Original name of Charlotte Harbor Town. | HULL | Phosphate mining town 1890. Burned in 1902. | LA COSTA | Early fishing town. Quarantine station 1890. | LA VILLA | Subdivision near Solona during land boom. | LEE BRANCH | Atlantic Coast Line flag stop. | LIVERPOOL | A bustling town platted 1880 at tide limit of Peace River. Had post office hotel, newspaper, stage stop. | LOCK JOINT | Fishing camp | MARS | CH&N loading dock at Frizzell's turpentine still. | MC CALL | CH&N station, post office, school, homes. | MC WILLIAMS SPUR | Sea-board Air Line railroad dock for Samville sawmill. | MORGANTOWN | Farm village | MURDOCK | A development of 10-acre farms, post office, school 1911 at CH&N Charlotte station. Later, headquarters for Frizzell ranch, turpentine still, store and sawmill. | NEW POINT COMFORT | A winter colony platted 1918. | NOCATEE | Fla. Southern Railway station. Citrus farms. | PEACON COVE | Fishing camp named for proprietor. | PINEAPPLE CENTER | Packing house, ACL flag stop. | PINELAND | Early settle-ment, site of Bert Heacock turpentine still and sawmill. | PINE LEVEL | Seat of Manatee County 1868-87. | PLACIDA | A CH&N bunk house, then the relocated Gasparilla fishing village. | PLATT | Homes of phosphate workers. | ROGERS | Originally a sawmill named for proprietor. Later: Lester and Broadbent. | ROUX | Originally a large sawmill and crate operation. Now the Babcock Ranch. | SALINE | Homes of workers for the Seaboard Air Line rail road. Acronym for the name. | SAMVILLE | Large sawmill town. Renamed Woodrow, Slater. | SHARPIE TOWN | A group of fishermen's homes on outskirts of Punta Gorda. Named for the type of sailing ships that tied up weekends, foot of Cooper St. | SHELL CREEK | Farm homes. | SOLANA | Winter homes and pineapple farms. Platted 1889. | SOUTH BOCA GRANDE | Port for phosphate ships, CH&N terminal. Now in Boca Grande. | SOUTHLAND | Platted 1887. Still for Weeks & Gurganious turpentine camp. Replatted 1923 as El Jobe-an. | SPANISH TOWN | Exact site unknown. Perhaps a group of homes for Cuban cigar workers east side Punta Gorda. | SPARKMAN | A town of homesteaders settled in 1920s. Had post office, store, school and church. Named for senator. | TAMIAMA CITY | Town on the Tamiami Trail in Lee Co. | TATER HILL | Sweet potato farm on which Arcadia platted when DeSoto County erected 1887 | TRABUE | Original name of Punta Gorda when platted 1885. Terminal of Florida Southern Railway 1886. Large resort hotel. Town incorporated 1887. Elected Charlotte Co. seat 1921 | TUCKER'S CORNER | Intersection Tucker's Grade and S.R. 31. Stage coach route to Fort Myers before bridges. | TUCKER'S WOODS | Flag stop on Seaboard Air Line. | VINELAND | Homestead of William Goff. School, post office and sawmill 1889. | WILLOW PEN | Exact site unknown. A cattle holding pen and farms in "township south of Punta Gorda." Perhaps original name of Eucre Pen. See above. | WOODMERE | A huge sawmill town now in Sarasota County. |
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Featured Listing
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Fully Equipped Machine Shop and Manufacturing Business
2692 Nat Ave. Arcadia, FL 34266
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CLICK PLAY TO TAKE DRONE TOUR
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DESOTO COUNTY
A fully equipped machine shop and manufacturing business for sale in Desoto County, Florida.
This well- established business performs all types of machining work and capitalizes on many years of experience building and refurbishing high quality products. This sale also includes proprietary brands of mowers and fertilizer spreaders that are manufactured on site and marketed throughout the agricultural industry.
The building encompasses over 39,000 total square feet and boasts up to 26' high ceilings. It is also ideal for manufacturing and assembly line operations or distribution. The current owner is ready to retire.
A strong reputation, customer lists, equipment, and full inventory complete the package. LAND AND BUILDING MAY BE PURCHASED WITHOUT THE BUSINESS. The adjacent 4.68 acres of commercial real estate may be purchased in addition.
CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT!!
Read More
MLS# C7205536
Sale Price: $1,795,000
Acres: 8.51
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Featured Listing
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Turn-Key Wholesale Plant Nursery
9100 McRoy Rd. Sebring, FL 33875
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Location! This well-established Plant Nursery is located on 6.68 acres with over 300 ft of State Rd. 66 frontage.
An ideal opportunity to own a wholesale plant operation which includes an abundance of growing houses, bedded grow areas, irrigation wells, office, garage/workshop, equipment and all current inventory . There is ample irrigation throughout the entire nursery.
This business has been in operation for many years with great customer rapport. Plants include large trees , small plants, liners and more. Seller is retiring.
This property includes two parcels 25-35-28-A00-0050-0000 and C-25-35-28-A00-0071-0000. Adjacent property with single-family home is also available for sale.
Call for an appointment to see this turn-key opportunity today!
Read More
MLS# C7205143
Sale Price: $475,000
Acres: 6.68
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Featured Listing
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Light Industrial Building with Hwy 70 Frontage
5385 SE Hwy 70, Arcadia FL 34266
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DESOTO COUNTY
Industrial Light Building on 10.67 acres is ideal for your processing, manufacturing, or distribution business. This property is suitable for tractor or semi dealership.
Less than 3 miles to Arcadia, with ~440ft of Hwy 70 frontage, this immaculately maintained property is on the road of potential. Fenced property with gated entrance offers a 9,000 sq ft shop with office and large mezzanine for storage.
Fully functional 2,160 sq ft office space under air contains reception area, three offices, restrooms, and conference room. There is plenty of room for parking and equipment across the property.
Two total parcels zoned Industrial Light, parcels 02-38-25-0000-0154-0000 and 02-38-25-0000-0153-0000. There is also an adjacent 20+ acres which may be available. CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT!! Read More... MLS #: C7202000 List Price: $650,000 Total Acres: 10.67 See My Listings for more information. |
Previous Featured Listing
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243+ Prime Agricultural Acres
CR 760 Arcadia, FL 34266

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