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Highlands Hammock State Park - A Place Of Virgin Beauty
 The park is located in Highlands County, 4 miles west of Sebring Florida. Today the park has over 9000 acres. The feature attraction in this park is the hardwood forest. The park development was designed to protect and display this feature. A loop drive allows vehicles to circle through the hammock. Parking is provided along the way to enable visitors access to trails. One trail leads to a boardwalk elevated through a swamp fed by Little Charley Bowlegs Creek.
The early impetus to create a park came from citizens in Sebring and Avon Park during the 1920s. Funds were raised by local residents to acquire and preserve the dense, tall growth of palm and hardwood trees. In 1930, Margaret Shippen Roebling donated $25,000.00 to purchase the original 1000 acres. Subsequently, she donated an additional $ 25,000 with the condition that the Highlands community raise $ 5,000.00 to show its commitment. Almost every citizen contributed from a dollar, (often a real sacrifice) to $1000.00.The park was dedicated in 1931.
Funds were lacking for development, especially as the country was in the throes of the Great Depression; but the economic collapse spawned the Civilian Conservation Corps.
A CCC unit was established at Highlands Hammock to continue with the park’s development. From 1933 to 1942, the CCC and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed an impressive collection of facilities throughout Florida including Highlands Hammock. The park hosts the State Civilian Conservation Corps Museum which illustrates the rich heritage provided by this federal program.
 The park contains 138 campsites for family camping as well as a wilderness camping area and facilities for youth camping. There is also an area for equestrian camping with a horse trail. The CCC Museum is nearby to picnic shelters and childrens' playgrounds. The park hosts the popular Music In The Park series. Numerous foot trails provide access to the hammock. A bicycle trail winds some 8 miles through some of the parks 15 natural communities.
The park provides so many wonderful opportunities for visitor enjoyment. Contemporary entertainment with the Music In The Park Series and trails by gnarled 1000 year old oak trees in the hammock are but two of them.
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