TODAY’S FEATURED PROPERTIES 

One of the best kept secrets in Highlands County is Lake Lotela just southeast of Avon Park and minutes from Sebring.  This beautiful clean, clear sand bottom lake is great for swimming, water sports, boating, and fishing.  The lake is over 800 acres with white sand beaches to enjoy spring and summer afternoons or weekends on the lake.  My husband has caught numerous bass over ten pounds from this lake and you can too.
 
The Lake Lotela area is also home to Pinecrest Golf Club, a Donald Ross designed course built in 1926 and the oldest remaining golf course in Highlands County.   This is a semi-private members owned course.   The greens are great to play and always in good shape.   Because it is such a nice course with a lot of golf history, many retired golf pro’s spend their winters playing this course  I recently sold a villa directly on the course to Ed Abrain former President of Titlest Golf Company.  He likes to  spend his winters here golfing on this fine course.  I once asked Fred Bruno, a winter resident and golf pro from the Long Island Country Club why golfers like Pinecrest so well.  He said it is because of the history and the talent that plays this course.  Here’s a triva many do not know about Pinecrest.  In 1960 the first televised PGA golf tournament was at Pinecrest in Avon Park.
 
If you want to be a part of Pinecrest and the history, check out these great homes that I have for sale directly on the lake.  By the way, old timers in the 30’s referred to this lake as Big Lake.
 
845 Lake Lotela Dr.  This home is located on the south side of Lake Lotela and a short golf cart ride to the club house.  This vintage three bedroom, two bath, two car garage home has beautiful views of the lake and is nestled among the orange trees.  The sun room is a great place to enjoy your morning coffee!
 
606 E.  Cornell St.   This wonderful 1926 home has a beautiful wrap around porch.  Old timers in the area said this is one of the original homes on the lake and was once occupied by a Sunday School teacher who use to entertain students on the porches.  The home has been beautifully restored and also has an apartment or guest house.
 
618 E. Cornell St.  This home was build in 1935 and the interior appears to be straight out of Southern Living Magazine.  This 4 bedroom home has a formal living room and dining room, new kitchen, and two decks to enjoy the relaxing landscaping.  The beach is well maintained with a panoramic view of the lake.  There is a huge concrete picnic table down by the water to enjoy Sunday afternoon picnics by the lake.
 
If you would like to view one of these real estate listings and to find out why Lake Lotela is the best kept secret in Highlands County, give Maureen Cool a call at 863 873-7243 to set up an appointment. 

Last Friday I had the honor of attending The Sebring Sports Car Racing Hall of Fame luncheon to introduce the 2008 Inductees to the Hall of Fame.  This years inductees included legends Derek Bell, Roger Penske, Hans Stuck, David Cowart and Audi.  For the person who knew nothing about sports car racing when she moved to Sebring in 1988, I have become a fan and I look forward to the socializing, fast cars, party time and good times each year.  The first two years I lived In Highlands County, many of the locals said this is the weekend when you leave town!  Of course coming from Tampa, the "Guy" thing to do was head to Sebring the third week in March and party….I have always heard Sebring stories from guys I worked with and friend’s husbands.  I never dreamed I would be apart of all the excitement.

One of the first race car driver’s name I learned was Hans Stuck.  While working for race tickets with my Rotary Club in the pouring rain, I had the duty of guarding the entrance to Club Sebring.  Nobody could enter the Pit Boxes without a pass.  Under the boxes were the pits.  Race car drivers actually drove in and hung in the pit before it was their turn to drive.  One of the drivers there 15 years ago was Hans Stuck.  He autographed my race ticket.  When I showed some friends who had autographed my ticket, they were really impressed and told me what a great race car driver he is.  Hans Stuck is the name I always associated with the 12 Hours of Sebring.  Today I had the good fortune to attend his induction in to the Hall of Fame.  After, all the inductees signed the official 12 Hours of Sebring poster.  I plan to have the poster framed for my son Danny.
 
Each of the drivers during their speech expressed that Sebing is one of the most challenging tracks in the world and Sebring is the race to win.  Sebring is know as the American LeMans Series and Sebring is known by race fans around the world.

 
Not only is Sebring famous, it is also great place to live.   If you want to find out more about Sebring contact Maureen Cool  — Highlands County’s Coolest Realtor and Number 1 Expert.  Or if you are at the track for the 12 Hours of Sebring, stop by my spot on the Hairpin and say hi.  Friends from RE/MAX Realty Plus in Sebring and I will be there enjoying the race!
 

"TODAY’S FEATURED PROPERTIES"