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Dixieland is one of Lakeland’s most colorful and vibrant neighborhoods, with many bungalow homes originally built between the 1920s and 1940s, amongst generous green spaces, churches, schools, and a growing retail corridor of vintage shops, restaurants, art galleries and coffeehouses. Lake Hunter offers an eclectic mix of shopping and dining options. Vintage shops are a growing industry in the Dixieland district, selling everything from knick-knacks to clothing and furniture. It is one of the city’s most traditional neighborhoods, with a grid pattern of streets and alleys, a mature tree canopy, and historic lights, all of which add to the historic atmosphere. Lakeland’s art scene is booming, with the local neighborhood association sponsoring Dixieland’s Alley Fest, a daylong event featuring small businesses and local artists setting up shop in Lakeland’s alleys. Lake Hunter also offers many performance venues. Dixieland historic district is described as an exciting, diverse, and up-and-coming place to call home.
Of the many amenities, Union Hall hosts community events, including concerts, while Pink Piano is a more specialized event space for live music. Both the Polk Museum of Art and Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center are about a mile northeast off Lake Morton. The nearby lakes offer a wider range of outdoor recreation for the residents. Lake Hollingsworth is just south of the neighborhood, and Thomas B. Mack Park is next to it with scenic boardwalks and wildlife. The Lakeland Country Club features a lakefront Veranda Bar, along with amenities like a resort-style pool, fitness center and tennis courts. Closer to home, Dobbins Park’s playground, pavilion and field are popular for parties and after-school playtime with Drane Park offering a more low key atmosphere with relaxed green space and shaded with Spanish moss.
The homes surrounding Lake Hunter range from Dixieland’s historic bungalows to brand-new Craftsmen. These classic bungalows are a local attraction protected by regulations to maintain the neighborhood’s architectural heritage. The Craftsman homes feature iconic gabled roofs and columns sat behind tight square lawns. Homes vary from 2-7 bedrooms and range in size from 588 square feet to 4,000 square feet in living area.
The Dixieland Historic District is the backbone of Lake Hunter with the community home to more than 500 historic buildings, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Today, it is considered one of Lakeland’s most vibrant neighborhoods thanks to the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Dixieland Art Infusion project. It is bounded by South Florida Avenue to the east, Lake Hunter to the west, Dobbins Park to the south and downtown to the north.
The Dixieland District is just 1 mile from the heart of Lakeland. Bartow Road connects commuters to Interstate 4, heading about 35 miles west to Downtown Tampa, 56 miles northeast into Orlando. and 42 miles to Tampa International Airport. North Florida Avenue heads north into the communities surrounding the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve. Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center is the closest hospital, only 3 miles north along the avenue. Citrus Connection bus stops are located along Sikes Boulevard, Ariana Street and occasionally along Florida Avenue.