Fort Meade is the oldest (1849) town in Polk County. Started as a Seminole War fort once manned by one Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, whose memorial rests in Heritage Park, the town has reinvented itself many times.

It survived a Union raid on its cattle herds in 1864, a terrible downtown fire in the 1880s, and the up and down years of the phosphate boom and the citrus industry.

Today Fort Meade is undergoing a new experience: the development of a world class golf and spa resort Streamsong.

Two Ben Crenshaw/Tom Doak golf courses have been carved out of the rugged terrain. A lakeside guest house and fancy steakhouse have opened. By early 2014, the Lodge with an additional 216 guestrooms, spa, restaurants, and rooftop lounge will be added.

Located on the Upper Peace River, Streamsong will also feature bass fishing, hiking, and other sports. It will hard to imagine that Fort Meade will still have the image as a rustic little town in southeast Polk County.