By the 1960s and 1970s, residents and scientists began to view the Blue Creek region through a new lens: ecological significance. Lake Wales Ridge, including lands near the creek, contains some of the most unique and endangered ecosystems in Florida. Recognizing Biodiversity Biologists documented rare plant species, including scrub oaks, rosemary

Though citrus was profitable, its success was always vulnerable to weather fluctuations. Several pivotal events left lasting marks on Blue Creek Southmoon. The Freezes of the 1940s and 1950s Severe cold spells damaged young trees and wiped out entire seasons of fruit. The creek banks, however, offered slightly warmer microclimates, allowing some

Following the Seminole Wars and expansion of European American settlement into Central Florida, the Lake Wales region began attracting homesteaders looking for farmland, timber, and grazing territory. Blue Creek Southmoon remained relatively isolated due to its wet terrain and dense vegetation, but several hardy families established claims near the

Centuries before European settlement, the Blue Creek region was used by Indigenous peoples belonging to the broader family of tribes connected to the Creek, Seminole, and earlier Timucuan cultures. While archaeological data in the immediate area is limited, the Lake Wales Ridge as a whole contains numerous traces of ancient habitation. The natural