Talk of The Villages Florida - We had no idea that there was such a big lake right above TV

Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)

- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - We had no idea that there was such a big lake right above TV (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/we-had-no-idea-there-such-big-lake-right-above-tv-61819/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by justjim (Post 565351)

Senior: Average depth of Lake Weir is 6 ft. This is not unusual for lakes in Florida as most of the lakes are shallow in nature. Another more important "thing" about Florida lakes----They are full of alligators! Not to alarm you or others but if you live on a lake in Florida you better have a keen awareness of the gators who often may sun at the edge of the lake and your yard and sometimes make their way up to your back door. On the positive side, the sunsets over a lake are very beautiful.

Thanks for posting the depth of Lake Weir. Appreciate it.

Oh yes, I'm aware of the alligators. Have seen many beautiful lake properties all over Florida and always "think" what lurks beneath?

If we did bring the boat down, it is on a trailer and towable, he could just store it near TV and take it to the ocean or rivers........inland waterway.
Or sell it up here and join the Deep Sea Fishing Club.

However, the grandkids do love the boat. Most recently they tried out a smaller lake in Vermont......Lake Bomoseen; the kids aren't fussy at all.
A shorter drive than hauling it up to Lake Champlain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptJohn (Post 565550)

Here are some details, Gracie, complete with address. Mapquest shows the address as on the north side of Lake Weir, between se 131st and 132nd. Happy hunting! (I wonder if there is a marker there?)

FBI Agents discovered the hideout of Ma Barker and her son, Fred, after Arthur "Doc" Barker was arrested in Chicago on January 8, 1935. A map found in his possession indicated that the other gang members were in Ocklawaha, Florida. Agents surrounded the house at 13250 East Highway C-25 on the morning of January 16, 1935. Ordered to surrender, Fred opened fire; both he and his mother were killed by federal agents after an intense, hours-long gun-battle. According to the FBI, a Tommy gun was found lying in the hands of Ma Barker.[4] Their bodies were put on public display, and then stored unclaimed, until October 1, 1935, when relatives had them buried—at Williams Timberhill Cemetery in Welch, Oklahoma[5]—next to the body of Herman Barker.

Edit: Found it's for sale:
Gator Joe's Beach Bar and Grill in Ocklawaha, Florida was named after a large alligator that lived in Lake Weir. The FBI killed Fred and Ma Barker in Ocklawaha, Florida (Marion County), after the FBI discovered "Ma" by tracking letters she sent to her other son, telling him about "Gator Joe". The restaurant's website displays a wanted poster for the Barker-Karpis gang.[10]
The Barker deathhouse in Ocklawaha, Florida was listed for sale on August 16, 2012. Offers on the Florida property are being accepted through October 5, with a suggested minimum of $1 million. Furniture is included.

What a history lesson. Thanks for posting. Appreciate your input.

I'm printing it out to read to hubby........one of his current favorite shows re "Prohibition" is BOARDWALK EMPIRE on Showtime.....Steve Buscemi from the Sopranos has a starring role; set in Atlantic City, N.J.
but has gangsters from Chicago, N.Y., etc.

No thanks on buying that house. It's probably haunted.

You need to get "Google Earth" on your computer. It's easy to download and it's free. Lake Weir is 3.4 miles from my house as the bird flies or about 5 mile by car up Rte 25. It's amazing what you can see on Google Earth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr (Post 565806)

You need to get "Google Earth" on your computer. It's east to download and it's free. Lake Weir is 3.4 miles from my house as the bird flies or about 5 mile by car up Rte 25. It's amazing what you can see on Google Earth.

You can see Gary Morse's house!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shimpy (Post 565492)

Very popular restaurant right on the lake is Gator Joes in Ockalawa which claim to fame is the town where the G Men gunned down Ma Barker and her gang.

Maybe Gracie could organize her posse of Water gun toting ladies and reenact the shoot out on it's anniversary.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackz (Post 565874)

Maybe Gracie could organize her posse of Water gun toting ladies and reenact the shoot out on it's anniversary.....

Or have the luncheon at Gator Joes instead of Crisper's that month. A change would be nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by justjim (Post 565351)

Senior: Average depth of Lake Weir is 6 ft.....

No, the mean depth of Lake Weir is 20 feet as reported here. The 6 foot depth you are referring to is within 100 feet of the shore line.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdVinMass (Post 566331)

No, the mean depth of Lake Weir is 20 feet as reported here. The 6 foot depth you are referring to is within 100 feet of the shore line.

Thank you Ed. I thought "Oh My Gosh" the boat would get stuck for sure.

I told my husband it was only six feet deep.

However, others said they've never spotted boats out on the lake at all......

The Villages is definitely in a nice safe BUBBLE and beautiful within, however, we did notice when we drove OUT OF IT.......that it's quite different out there.

For someone else (not you) who mentioned not paying attention, or putting too much stock into to anything I would read in the Orlando Sentinel, the exact reason I do read it every morning, is to get a feel for what is happening in Florida as a whole.

I believe in knowing what is going on........and also to get a feel for the surroundings and natural environment "around" and "outside" The Villages, Florida.

Get back to the lakes, I did send for the "Chain of Lakes" series of interconnecting canals and depths of those lakes..........we did see them. Too bad we missed Lake Weir; never even knew it was up there.
In the good old days we would have had a big Florida paper map.

All of the lakes around here are pretty quiet during the week. But the last time I stopped by the Lake Weir boat ramps was on a weekend last spring and they were fairly busy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdVinMass (Post 566349)

All of the lakes around here are pretty quiet during the week. But the last time I stopped by the Lake Weir boat ramps was on a weekend last spring and they were fairly busy.

Well that certainly makes sense if most of the boaters are working all week.
I appreciate all of your input. Thanks.

Next time we visit TV, we will take a short ride up there.

[QUOTE=senior citizen;565332]

However, I still can't find the depth of the lake. Probably read right over it. I did read that it had a boat launch area......for trailered boats......
QUOTE]

We frequent the lake and have a depth finder and the lake runs anywhere from 6' near the shore line to 15' in most places. Oh, and the Carney Island county park has really great ramps. There's even a concession stand on weekends and a nice park and swim area for the kids.

And about Lake Weir Living? It may or may not be your thing but we know several of the numerous home owners and all are very satisfied with the developer and the homes. And it is true that there are no fees at all. You only have property taxes.

[quote=GypsySooners;566670]

Quote:

Originally Posted by senior citizen (Post 565332)

However, I still can't find the depth of the lake. Probably read right over it. I did read that it had a boat launch area......for trailered boats......
QUOTE]

We frequent the lake and have a depth finder and the lake runs anywhere from 6' near the shore line to 15' in most places. Oh, and the Carney Island county park has really great ramps. There's even a concession stand on weekends and a nice park and swim area for the kids.

I was going to tell Ed that when I checked with my husband, he said that the boat will float in any depth of water.

What do I know? (when I said it might get stuck in 6 feet).

Yes, his boat also has a depth finder and all the other high tech gizmos.
He puts the boat "in" up here using boat ramps in various lakes........

Sounds nice........thanks again.

Thanks for sharing your information.

re:Sandy Beach on the lake

Us Northerners love to think of lake activities and dream about a lake in Florida with all the warm weather BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN NOT SWIM IN LAKES IN FLORIDA!!! any bit of water could be the stomping grounds of a gators!!!! Just felt I needed to say it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdVinMass (Post 566331)

No, the mean depth of Lake Weir is 20 feet as reported here. The 6 foot depth you are referring to is within 100 feet of the shore line.

To anyone needing info on Lake Weir.......

See above hyperlink "reported here" for great map and informational pages on Lake Weir, sent by Ed. I printed it all out. Thanks again Ed.