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Better Off Wet Water Lifestyle Magazine August 2022
Follow That Dream to Yankeetown
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8 BETTER OFF WET | AUGUST 2022
Follow That Dream to Yankeetown
FOLLOW THAT DREAM TOYANKEETOWN
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Follow That Dream to Yankeetown
Unique within Florida, Yankeetown is a small, hidden hamlet on the Gulf of Mexico, where nature and neighbors blend together. Majestic Oak trees draped with Spanish moss provide the background to our main street, while the beautiful Withlacoochee River provides our scenic waterway. Established in 1923, many of the original homes have been lovingly preserved, providing Yankeetown with a unique and charming landscape and rich history. Residents and visitors alike enjoy boating, fishing, the abundant wildlife and birds, the natural hammocks, marshlands, nature trails, bike paths, and kayaking. Waving hello to a passerby is a must in this friendly town, along with enjoying the beautiful sunsets. Serenity and nature have made Yankeetown their home.
10 BETTER OFF WET | AUGUST 2022
Follow That Dream to Yankeetown
Yankeetown is a small village of about five hundred just upstream of where the Withlacoochee River flows into the Gulf of Mexico, known by many as the town where Elvis “followed that dream.’ The village was settled in 1923 by an Indiana lawyer and politician named Armanis F. Knotts. A.F. Knotts had settled in nearby Inglis and owned land downriver. Mr. Knotts built the Izaak Walton Lodge as a place for fishing fans to eat and sleep in comfort. The lodge was named for Izaak
Walton, who was the famous author of the fishing classic “The Compleat Angler” that was written in England in the 1600s. The lodge location as of 2019, is home of Blackwater Restaurant. This place has a relaxing view of the river and features seafood and hand carved steaks. The dining room has a beautiful view of the Withlacoochee River as it flows gently towards the Gulf of Mexico. If you are lucky you may spot Manatee’s as you eat.
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Follow That Dream to Yankeetown
Today Yankeetown is a commercial fishing town. The Oak shaded streets are draped with Spanish moss and lined with examples of “Old Florida” cracker homes. The diverse rambling buildings and ancient trees remind you of how the whole State of Florida used to be before Yankees discovered it back in the day. The tranquil town of Yankeetown came to life for a few weeks in 1961 when Elvis Presley and film crews came to town to make Elvis’s 9th movie,” Follow that dream”. Much of the filming was done to-
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Follow That Dream to Yankeetown
ward the end of County Road 40 just downstream of Yankeetown on the Bird Creek Bridge, which still stands today. You can walk over the bridge and think of Elvis. A section of the highway leading to Yankeetown was renamed “Follow That Dream Parkway” to honor the memory of those good old days. Many local people were extras in the movie, and the local economy was helped a lot by the movie producers hiring locals to work on the sets. They labored converting local Pumpkin Island into a white sand beach and just being general workers and handy people on the set. Yankeetown still makes its living from commercial and sport fishing activities, and town life is centered along Riverside Drive which parallels the north bank of the Withlacoochee River.
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Follow That Dream to Yankeetown
“
The
town is a slice of serene Old Florida... ”
14 BETTER OFF WET | AUGUST 2022
Follow That Dream to Yankeetown
The town is a slice of serene Old Florida, but there was a time in the early 1960s when it was electrified by the presence of the King of Rock and Roll. Text for this article was used from Yankeetown’s public government website: https://yankeetownfl.govoffice2.com/ The Town Hall is located at 6241 Harmony Lane, Yankeetown, FL 34498 The hours of operations are from 8am-3pm.
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