The History of Winter Garden Village
from Citrus Groves to Community Gathering Place
Long before Winter Garden Village became a place to shop, dine, and gather, the land was part of one of Central Florida’s citrus groves.
The property where Winter Garden Village stands today was once known as Fowler Orange Grove, a working citrus grove that helped shape both the history and economy of the Winter Garden area.
In the late 1800s, settlers were drawn to the fertile soil surrounding nearby Lake Apopka. Farmers began planting large tracts of orange trees, and citrus quickly became the region’s most important crop. When the Orange Belt Railway arrived in 1886, the community began to grow rapidly as fruit and vegetables could be shipped to markets across the country.
By the early 1900s, Winter Garden had become a thriving agricultural town built around the citrus industry, laying the foundation for the community we serve today.
.jpg/:/cr=t:12.5%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:75%25/rs=w:1209,h:605,cg:true)
THE FOWLER FAMILY GROVE
The land that is now Winter Garden Village was originally homesteaded in 1877 by Al Thomas and LaMyra Bartholomew Thomas. President Chester A. Arthur officially granted the land deed to the family in 1882.
Over time, the property passed to LaMyra’s sister Abigail and her husband, John Fowler, and the grove became known as Fowler Grove.
For more than a century, the Fowler family cultivated citrus on the land, producing oranges that were shipped across the country. The grove became a 500-acre citrus operation and remained in the family for approximately 125 years, becoming an important part of the region's rich agricultural heritage.
The final citrus harvest from Fowler Groves took place in 2006, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the site.
WINTER GARDEN: THE CITRUS CAPITAL
During the early and mid-1900s, Winter Garden became a major hub for the citrus industry in Central Florida. The arrival of the Orange Belt Railway allowed growers to ship fruit across the country. Farmers planted large tracts of orange groves, and this, along with packing houses and train depots, became the backbone of the local economy.
By the 1940s, the city proudly proclaimed itself the largest citrus shipping point in the world. Generations of families helped build the citrus industry that defined this region for decades. Their work not only supported the local economy but also shaped the identity and character of the community.
In later decades, Central Florida’s citrus industry began to decline due to many challenges including greening disease, damaging freezes and hurricanes, rising production costs, and increasing competition from imported citrus.
A NEW CHAPTER: HONORING THE AREA'S HERITAGE
Following the final citrus harvest in 2006, the land at Fowler Grove entered a new phase of its history. The property gradually transitioned from agricultural use to a commercial destination after decades of citrus industry challenges and regional growth.
Today, Winter Garden Village carries forward the citrus legacy, connecting the region’s agricultural past with the vibrant community that exists here today. What was once a working citrus grove is now a place where over 1 million people each year gather, shop, dine, and spend time together.
Throughout the property, thoughtful design elements pay tribute to its agricultural roots. From artwork and architecture to shared spaces, these details honor the founders, growers, and workers who helped shape the Winter Garden community.
Even the name — Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves — reflects the citrus groves that once covered this land, ensuring that the history of the property remains part of its story today.