Sebring Station

Sebring was founded in 1911 by pottery manufacturer George Sebring, who envisioned a prosperous resort town on the shores of Lake Jackson after going on a fishing trip here. Despite its somewhat remote location at the time, the town grew steadily and attracted large numbers of tourists. This was made possible by the arrival of the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) railroad in 1912, which facilitated the development of the local mining, timber, and tourism industries. Before the railroad, the only way to reach the town was by taking a sand trail.

Sebring Station was one of six depots the SAL built on a new rail line dubbed the "Orange Blossom Special," which was the first to link south Florida to New York City and other major cities of the northeast. The new line, which allowed passengers to travel on one train all the way down and not switch trains or take steamships, boosted the town's popularity and prosperity. Tourism was so successful that in 1926 hotels had to rent cottages to provide lodging for guests. Eventually, the ACL and SAL merged in 1967 to form the Seaboard Coast Line.

"Sebring, FL (SBG)." The Great American Stations. Accessed April 5, 2021. https://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/sebring-fl-sbg.

Welcher, Vicki L. "Old Seaboard Air Line Depot, Sebring." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. March 16, 1990. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/6e7bfee2-c87c-4026-9e81-ee58d1196242.