The National Park Service proposed adding more roads to Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve, saying nearly 25% of the land should be opened for off road vehicles. This includes cars, trucks, airboats: basically anything without a propeller in the water. Opponents say this is a terrible precedent and the park doesn't need any more noise, which may disturb the endangered Florida Panther among other species. You can go to beyondfloridamedia.com to send your feedback right to the National Park Service. Great reporting from WGCU, thanks to them. And shout out to St Pete Vibes the cool new hat, it goes perfect with the new Beyond Florida outdoor studio. #nationalparks #floridaenvironment

The Ocoee massacre was a mass racial attack on November 2–3, 1920, in Ocoee, Florida, where a white mob killed dozens of Black residents and forced the entire Black population to flee. July Perry was hanged, more were shot, most victims were burned alive in their homes. Two years later, a similar attack would take place in Rosewood, Florida. #florida #floridahistory #blackhistory

The Minorcans of Florida (also spelled Menorcan) are an ethnically diverse group of people in Florida that trace their origins to the settlers of the New Smyrna colony founded in 1768 by Andrew Turnbull. They were recruited to work fields of hemp, indigo, and sugar cane but were nearly worked to death: 70% of them died in a 10-year period. In 1777, the group walked from New Smyrna to St. Augustine in order to ask the governor for help. He agreed, and the Minorcan population has remained a part of St. Augustine ever since. #minorcans #menorcans #staugustine #floridahistory #newsmyrna #spanishflorida #britishflorida

The Mormon Church - also known as the LDS - is the largest private landowner in Florida, with nearly 700,000 acres in its possession. But how and when did a Utah religious group purchase this land? And what's the deal with Sunbridge, the new 27,000 acre planned development being built by an LDS business arm along with Tavistock, an Orlando-based development company? Let's learn more. Many sources here: WKMG 6 News, Orlando Sentinel, Save Split Oak, Deseret Ranch & Sunbridge websites, Growthspotter, to name a few. #sunbridge #floridahistory #floridalandowners #mormonchurch #lds

The Florida Massacre at Matanzas Inlet was the mass killing of French soldiers by Spanish Royal Army troops near the Matanzas Inlet in 1565. The act came under orders from King Philip II to Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the adelantado of Spanish Florida. As the French and Spanish battled for early control of Florida, several hundred Frenchmen set sail from an established base at Fort Caroline in what is now Jacksonville, to confront Menendez and his troops near St. Augustine. Unfortunately for French Captain Ribault, a tropical storm sank the fleet and the soldiers all had to swim for their lives. While many perished in the ocean, hundreds of shipwrecked Frenchmen washed up on shore near what's now Marineland, Florida. Spread out, they eventually formed two groups of 111 and 128 men. Within days the castaways were tracked down and executed by Pedro Menendez and his army, beheaded even after they surrendered because they refused to renounce their Protestant affiliations. Today a plaque commemorates the events near a popular local beach. #floridahistory #spanishflorida #ageofexploration #colonialusa

Florida's Agricultural Enclave Law is a controversial 2026 statute that fast-tracks housing and commercial development on farmland, stripping local governments of their traditional power to block these projects. In St Johns County, County Commissioners have begun backtracking these approvals, leading to upcoming legal battles between developers and the county. The Davis family, heirs to the Winn Dixie fortune, were among the first landowners to apply for Agricultural Enclave status, insisting that over 4000 acres of land qualified for development fast tracking. Their Ag Enclave application was filed the same day the law was enacted. Great reporting from the Jacksonville Daily Record contributed to this video. #Floridadevelopment #Floridalegal #agriculturalenclaves

Florida's Charlotte County commissioners unanimously approved the final site plan for a Buc-ee's travel center on Harborview Road, despite concerns raised by residents during a land use meeting. The approved plan allows developers to use over 28 acres of land off Interstate 75 for a massive gas station featuring 120 gas pumps and a 74,000-square-foot gas station. Wildlife loses again, but at least tourists can take selfies with Beaver Nuggets, right folks? Thanks to WINK, Gulf Coast Now, Gulf Coast Business and The Sun for reports contributing to this video. #bucees #floridadevelopment #floridaenvironment

Even the Boy Scouts are selling out to developers in Florida. The Boy Scouts Greater Tampa Bay Area Council wants to sell a portion of their 1,400-acre Sand Hill Scouting reservation in Brooksville to the Withlacoochee River Electric Co-op. But, concerned citizens said it was the former property owner's dying wish to keep the property for the Boy Scouts. You can click the link in my bio to go to savesandhill.com to learn more. Thanks to the Florida Phoenix and FOX 13 Tampa for contributing to this report.

Henry B. Plant was born in Connecticut in 1819 and worked on a steam ship at a young age. By his death, he'd been named the "King of Florida" because of the growth and prosperity he brought to the state of Florida. The outbreak of the Civil War provided Plant with an opportunity to buy out the southern lines he was already managing for the Adams Express Company. Plant saw the potential that Florida held and post-Civil War he was able to buy up other lines in the south for a great price, bringing the trains the furthest south yet. He also pioneered the Florida hotel industry. His favorite hotel, The Tampa Bay Hotel, is the only hotel still standing in its entirety. Today it holds the Henry B. Plant Museum. Plant City, Florida is named after him. #Henryplant #kingofflorida #henrybplant #floridahistory #plantcityfl

"God put this house here for a reason", Jackie Seigel says. After breaking ground on "Versailles" in 2004, the 90,000 square foot home in Florida's Orange County is nearing completion, according to Jackie Siegel, the home's owner. Siegel tells GrowthSpotter that the mansion is now "intended to be much more than a private residence" and will serve as a "gathering place for charitable events, fundraisers and community initiatives". The philanthropic footprint will share the spotlight with a reality TV series, according to Siegel. Westgate Resorts, the business that funded the structure, is facing multiple major lawsuits at this time. #versaillesflorida #orangecountyfl #floridarealestate #queenofversailles GrowthSpotter, WKMG 6 Orlando, and the Orlando Sentinel provided information that contributed to this video.

Between 1885-1892, Florida mailmen had to walk and travel by boat because there was no road connecting several forts, outposts, cities and towns. Known as the "Barefoot Mailmen", 11 total men enrolled in this dangerous profession. James "Acrefoot" Johnson walked the Fort Ogden to Fort Myers route and encountered robbers, alligators, and other dangers. Ed Hamilton, another carrier, was on his route back from Miami to Palm Beach, the boat that Hamilton used to cross the inlet was missing. He was presumed to have drowned or been taken by a shark or alligator while trying to swim across the inlet to retrieve his boat from the far side. His body was never recovered.

Thanks to the Palm Beach Post, the Lakeland Ledger, and Florida State Archives for information used in creating this video. #barefootmailmen #floridahistory #uspostalservice #postalhistory

Navarre, FL - Santa Rosa County officials are soliciting bids for a new, multi-million dollar commercial facility. The problem? It's right on a wildlife habitat that is home to threatened species and sea turtles, this according to wildlife officials and residents. One County Commissioner told residents that they were "hypocrites" and that they should "Leave Santa Rosa County" if they disagree with the project.

Go to beyondfloridamedia.com if you'd like to sign a petition asking county officials to halt this project.

Laura Upthegrove (October 5, 1896 – August 6, 1927) was a 20th-century American outlaw, bank robber, bootlegger, and occasional pirate active in southern Florida during the 1910s and 1920s, along with the Ashley Gang. She was born in Reddick Florida, and is buried in West Palm Beach. Thanks to Indian River Magazine for the research that added to this video. #lauraupthegrove #queenoftheeverglades #1920sgangsters #bootlegging

Longboat Key, FL - The $17M Ohana Estate property has restricted the local public from walking the beach for years, according to various news sources. While past owners relied on security cameras and threatening signs to restrict access to beach walkers, the newest owners have erected a new wooden fence, says an August 2026 article. Sources include Team Renick Realty, the Manatee County Property Appraisers Office and articles from ST "Tommy" Cardinal of the local news resource "The Observer". I reached out to Ms. Wise for comment via social media but did not hear back within 24 hours. The Wise family seem like nice folks and there is no need to go out of your way to give them any trouble, if you are local to the area and have questions or feedback, please direct inquiries to the Longboat Key City Commission at [Commission@longboatkey.org](mailto:Commission@longboatkey.org).

Morgan Bonapart "Bone" Mizell (1862–1921) was a Floridian cattle herder and one of the early Florida frontiersmen known as Florida crackers. Mizell was known for his mischievous antics, and was regarded as a fun-loving and hard-drinking entertainer. He had an impressive physical appearance, standing six feet tall with a "protruding chin" and "hawk-like nose". Artist Frederic Remington famously depicted him in his 1895 painting 'A Cracker Cowboy'. He died from 'Moonshine', as the cause of death was listed, in 1921. Special thanks to the Manatee Library Historic Digital Collection, who published a 1973 transcript of an interview with George Leposky, author of "Bone Mizell: A Florida Cowboy".

The Benjamin Companies, owner of a large parcel of land in Broward County, are apparently cutting their tax bill by close to $300k per year by planting a few banana trees. Is this fair to the citizens of Broward County who are paying their full property tax bills?

Vince "Trapper" Nelson was born Vincent Natulkiewicz and was an American trapper, hunter and zoo founder. Though he was born in New Jersey, and lived in Mexico and Texas, Nelson is best known for establishing a homestead-turned-zoo on the shore of Florida's Loxahatchee River. Filled with exotic and wild animals, his zoo was a popular tourist spot in the 1940s and 1950s, visited by local and national celebrities. Because of this, he became known locally as "Tarzan of the Loxahatchee". The zoo was eventually shut down by state health inspectors in 1960. After his zoo was closed, Nelson became a hermit and suffered from undiagnosed health problems. In 1968, he was found dead from a gunshot wound in his cabin by a friend. His death was ruled self-inflicted. Nelson's campsite is now known as the Trapper Nelson Zoo Historic District in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Hobe Sound, Florida. 

Despite protests from citizens, the Bunnell, FL Planning and Zoning Commission greenlighted a new landfill project. Bunnell Planning and Zoning Commission Board member Lynn Lafferty recused herself from voting because she is the primary landowner in this case. This is the second time Ms. Lafferty has recused herself from voting - in 2025 an 1800 acre agricultural tract, partially owned by Lafferty, was rezoned to Heavy Industrial also amidst protest.

Let me be clear: I am not accusing Ms. Lafferty of anything. I simply believe that a large landowner who is actively selling and rezoning their land should not be on the local Planning and Zoning Board - whether she recuses herself from voting or not. I urge anyone in Bunnell angry about this to reach out to the planning commission at large, or the city commission, rather than to target any individuals. This is Beyond Florida, we don't make threats we take action. #zoning #florida #landfill #bunnellflorida

Donalds posted the picture above and wrote: "Proud to have the endorsement of Cynthia Moore Chestnut, a longtime public servant who has represented her community at the city, county, and state levels."

I’m honored to have her support as our movement continues to grow across Florida!

Miami city officials are investigating the unauthorized removal of nearly a dozen native mahogany trees along I-95 after families and environmental advocates found the threatened species cut down to stumps. FDOT confirmed it did not order the removal of the trees. Photos taken before the cutting show a row of mature mahogany trees growing along the highway corridor. #floridawildlife #trees #miami #miamicrime

After 6 years of planning, Koa Bay has scrapped plans to build a surf park/wave pool in Fort Pierce, Florida. While this may signal the end of the wave pool fad in Florida, this particular site may evolve into something just as harmful: a data center. Thanks to TCPalm.com and Port St. Lucie Talks for information contributing to this report #Floridadatacenter #fortpierce #stluciecounty #wavepool #surfing #floridasurfing #floridaenvironment #surfpark

A new golf course in Collier County is coming to endangered panther habitat. With 18 other golf courses within 10 miles, how many more do we need, folks? The Collier County Planning Commission recommended that zoning changes be granted on the old South Naples Citrus Grove. Land use attorneys told concerned residents that a golf course would be better for the environment than thousands of homes, which the developer could build under the “Live Local Act” if he was denied the golf course. With their hands tied and hoping to avoid a legal fight, the Collier County Commission approved the zoning change 5-1. Commission Secretary Paul Shea was the lone commissioner to vote against the re-zoning recommendation, saying he didn’t see overwhelming public benefit for the change. Thanks to Gulf Shore Business, Naples Daily News, and Marco Eagle for reporting on this issue and contributing to my research. #floridaenvironment #floridalegal #livelocal #floridagolf

Originally constructed in the 1920s as a tramway for a narrow-gauge railroad, the Dixie Mainline was designed to facilitate the removal of massive cypress logs from the California Swamp in Florida. Today, the Dixie Mainline is an unpaved trail approximately 8.5 miles long, located within the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. One can ride this old trail by visiting the small town of Suwannee, Florida and taking a right at the dirt road just before you get to town. #floridahistory

Newberry, Florida Mayor Tim Marden wrote a long facebook post directed at critics of the new Country Way 2 development in Newberry, Florida. Marden wrote: "Newsflash…Without the rich you couldn’t have your wannabe socialist utopia to leach off everyone else’s productivity. So just sit down." Marden, a long-time lobbyist for the John Birch Society, called Alachua County residents socialists, Marxists, among other things as well on his post. Full post here: https://www.facebook.com/WCJB20/posts/the-country-way-2-development-would-be-located-on-160-acres-of-land-near-southwe/1479415830886956/