Once home to several Native American tribes that banded together to form the Seminoles, Winter Park was once named “Osceola” after their famous chief. Winter Park became a thriving citrus community by the late 1800s and again in the 20th century after recovering from two freezes. By the early 1900s, Winter Park was a favorite retreat for well-off Northerners who traveled to Florida by both steamboat and train to stay at the state-of-the-art Seminole Hotel and enjoy the magnificent chain of lakes environment.