Q:2 Mayor John’s Response

Lake Placid is known as the Town of Murals and the Caladium Capital of the World. What do you believe makes this town unique, and what do you want people outside the area to know about it?

Lake Placid is genuinely one of Florida’s best kept secrets — and I say that as someone who has had the privilege of calling it home for over five decades.

Where else in America can you walk down a main street and be surrounded by more than 50 hand-painted murals that tell the story of a community’s soul? The Lake Placid Mural Society has created something that draws visitors from across the country and around the world. These aren’t just paintings on walls — they are a living museum of who we are and where we came from. I’m proud that our town has championed and supported that vision every step of the way.

And then there’s the Caladium. Lake Placid produces nearly 100% of the world’s caladium bulbs. That’s not a small distinction — that is a global legacy growing right here in Highlands County. Our Caladium Festival brings thousands of visitors to our doorstep every year and puts Lake Placid on the international map.

But what truly makes this town unique isn’t just the murals or the caladiums — it’s the people. Lake Placid has the kind of community spirit that most towns spend decades trying to manufacture. Our neighbors show up for each other. Our business community is deeply invested in this town’s future. And now, with new businesses arriving on Interlake, companies like Amazon bringing careers to our families, and a downtown revitalization fully underway, we are not just preserving what makes Lake Placid special — we are building on it.

What do I want people outside the area to know? Come see us. Walk our streets. Meet our people. And when you do — you’ll understand why I’ve dedicated 28 years of my life to making sure this town reaches its full potential.