Okeechobee's Cracker Cowboy Experience
open's this fall.

The timing could not be better. With the wave of "Agri-Tourism" currently sweeping the country it's no surprise that Florida, with all that it has to offer, will now bring to the vacationing public a unique approach to its history, its cultural origins and its preserved artifacts.

Three local area entrepreneurs, native Floridian and Okeechobee resident George Sweat, along with Florida citrus expert Bill Owens and a real Okeechobee cowboy and modern day cattle rancher John Glenn have teamed up to bring you " Okeechobee's Cracker Cowboy Experience".

John Glenn who has spearheaded this project has brought together area historians and cultural experts whose combined efforts will soon make available to Florida's vacationers and residents a new, very different and wonderful experience.

"This is a tour that is authentic and rich in history" said George Sweat. "Most people do not know that the "American Cowboy" origin actually began in Florida along the Okeechobee lake area" said George.

Hundreds of years ago, long before tourists or even cities, there was another Florida. When Spaniard Ponce de León discovered it in 1513, Florida was mostly wide, green spaces. In 1521 when he returned, he brought horses and seven Andalusian cattle, the ancestors of the Texas Longhorns. He knew he'd found pastureland. Spanish explorers turned Florida into America's oldest cattle-raising state.
The early cattle-raising days were rough for Spanish settlers. The St. Augustine missionaries who raised beef also fought Indian raids and mosquitoes. Despite the cattle fever ticks, storms, swamps and snakes, before 1700 there were already dozens of ranches along the Florida Panhandle and the St. Johns River.

By the 1800s, the Seminole nation possessed extensive herds of cattle. Most Florida settlers raised beef for food. As Indian and white settlers moved south, so did the cattle. They moved through Alachua County into the Kissimmee valley and on to Lake Okeechobee.

Railroads reached into Florida. Because trains could ship cattle, the beef industry grew. New towns sprang up around the ranches, and more people arrived from other states. There was work for blacksmiths, shopkeepers, and cowboys in these settlements. During the Civil War, Florida became a chief supplier of cattle to the Confederacy, both for meat and leather.

After the Spaniards left Florida much of their cattle were left behind and continued to multiply in the wild and dense brush. Early day bush settlers soon began to search for and find ways to herd the cattle for their meat, skins and trade.

Florida's old-time cowboys had a unique way of herding cattle. They used 10- to 12-foot-long whips made of braided leather. Snapping these whips in the air made a loud "crack." That sound brought stray cattle back into line fast and earned cowboys the nickname of "crackers." Many rode rugged, rather small horses known as "cracker ponies."

Many were herded to Punta Rosa in southwest Florida, sold to Cuba for gold and put on ships for their trek across the Florida straits to the island of Cuba.

Okeechobee's Cracker Cowboy Experiencetour grounds and facilities are currently under construction and development at Freedom Ranch, a 138 acre working cattle ranch located off of highway 441 in OkeechobeeCounty. Over 100 acres of the ranch are untouched and in pristine condition, which will be part of the tour.

"Although there is an agri-tourism crossover, we are going to focus mainly on the "Cracker Cowboy" history of the area; right on thru the modern day working's of a real Okeechobee Cowboy Cattle Ranch" Said John Glenn.

The tour will include a welcoming orientation, guided and narrated nature trails on a seated trolley that leads to an 1860 version of a Cracker Cowboy Camp in the wilderness. The history of Florida's wild and harsh frontiers being settled by determined men and women will be explained with actual demonstrations that allow the visitors to truly experience the lifestyle of a Cracker cowboy. Short multimedia presentations with a snack and beverage, special events, arena shows, and opportunities to experience the real sights and sounds of a working ranch will be included as part of the entertainment.

The emphasis will be on authenticity for all aspects of the tour. Authentic artifacts will be on display throughout the ranch for the visitors to look at, along with their history applications right down to real cracker cowboy snacks. There will be special exhibits and guest speakers as well.

Other attractions at the ranch that will be made available to the visiting public will be:

1.Authentic Okeechobee Cracker Cowboy Gift Shop.

2.Photo opportunity areas.

3.Interactive areas: such as petting areas and close-up animal zones.

4.Instructive & fun areas: such as Hay Rides, Whip Cracking, Horse Rides, Roping Zones and much more.

5.Informative zones: such as viewing the "day to day" workings of the ranch, like herding, shoeing, tagging/branding and overall animal care.

6.Non-Guided (Info-Posted) Nature Trails will also be made available to individual hikers.

7.Sandwich Shop & Cafeteria and family picnic areas.

"The Cracker Cowboy Experience is an exciting addition to the OkeechobeeCounty tourism industry. Visitors to Florida are looking for unique, natural, historical and family oriented entertainment. They now will be able to visit Okeechobee and not only learn the importance of, but experience the Cowboy and Ranch heritage of this area." Said Kathy Scott, Tourism Coordinator for the OkeechobeeCounty Tourist Development Council. "This facility will add to the "Real Florida Attractions" that OkeechobeeCounty Tourist Development Council promotes to attract visitors to OkeechobeeCounty."

"The big theme parks have become so expensive they have made it very difficult for the average family to enjoy" said WilliamOquendo, marketing director for the new attraction. "We have all seen the mouse many times over and the public is hungry for real history and cultural information"

Okeechobee's "Cracker Cowboy Experience"plans on opening its doors in the fall of 2007. Official grand opening date is pending. Tour ticket prices will be about $35 for adults and $24 for children over the age of 12. Children ages 4 -12 will be about $18 and children under the age of 4 will be admitted free. Official ticket pricing are pending. Group tour discount rates and senior citizen discounts will be made available.

For tour dates, ticketing, advance reservations, group rates and general questions contact:

John Glenn
Director of Operations
Okeechobee Cracker Cowboy Experience at Freedom Ranch
11655 Hwy 441 S.E.
Okeechobee, Florida.
Tel 863-763-9800
Fax 863-763-9819
Jglenn@alphaministries.org

For marketing information contact:
WilliamOquendo
Tour Marketing Consultant
The Ad ShopTreasureCoast
292 West Arbor Avenue
Port St Lucie, Florida. 34952
Off 772-626-7512
Fax 772-231-3726
william@theadshoptc.com

General Tourism inquiries for Okeechobee county contact:
Kathy Scott,
Tourism Coordinator
OkeechobeeCounty
Tourist Development Council
500 N.W. 6 th Street
Okeechobee, Florida34972
863.763.3959 office
863.763.5785 fax
800.871.4403 toll free

tourism@okeechobee.com
www.okeechobee-tdc.com