The Shields Painting Difference: Perfection with Every Brush Stroke
Many painting companies in Florida rely on flashy marketing and big promises to try and attract new clients. But when it comes time to work, they fall short of their promises. This is often due to a lack of experience, qualified painters, and a drive to overachieve. At Shields Painting, we do things a little differently than other painting companies in Citrus County. We believe that a professional paint job should be as close to perfect as possible. Our goal is to leave you 100% satisfied, whether we're touching up an old residential paint job or performing a complex commercial project. It might sound simple, but we achieve that goal through honesty, hard work, beautiful results, and reasonable pricing.
As a family-owned and operated painting company in High Point, FL, we strive to provide personalized, professional, and friendly service. Shields Painting has been in business since 1968 for a good reason. Whenever possible, we go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Unlike some of our competition, we want to know all about your house or business painting project: your vision, your preferences, your challenges, and your goals. When we understand your needs, we can present you with a fantastic final product - one that you're proud to show off to friends and neighbors.
At Shields Painting, we combine our extensive experience with time-tested, meticulous painting processes, resulting in the highest quality painting results around. As a painting contractor in Citrus County, we can take on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in Florida.
A few of our most popular painting services include:
- Interior Painting
- Exterior Painting
- Residential Painting
- Commercial Painting
- Cabinet Painting
- Ceiling Painting
- Fence Painting
- Sign Painting
- MUCH More!
Our commercial, industrial, and residential painting contractors take the proper steps to protect your property and belongings while we work. Our team will clean up after ourselves, so your property is left clean and free of debris when we're done. After all, we think there's only one way to do a job, and that's the right way.
Painting Services

Eco-friendly & clean work area.

PDCA Certified Member.

Your Go-To House Painting Company in High Point, FL
Your home is a haven of relaxation and solitude. It is uniquely you - a place where you can express who you are through style and design. Whether you need interior touch-ups for your crown molding or a new exterior coat of paint, hiring a reliable painting contractor is the best way to get quality results.
At Shields Painting, we know how important it is to have a home that highlights your tastes and personality. That's why we offer an extensive array of residential painting services in Citrus County. As tempting as it might be to try a DIY paint job, without the proper skills and experience, there is a good chance that the results will turn out less than satisfactory.
High-quality painting requires skill, experience, and patience. If you're a homeowner who needs residential painting services but doesn't have the time, patience, or skills to handle the job, look no further than Shields Painting. We offer accuracy, precision, and longevity with each paint job we perform. Our customers choose Shields Painting for their home because they receive:
- Free Quotes with Detailed Project Breakdowns
- Affordable Pricing
- Expert Painting Contractors
- High-Quality Paint Products
- Combo of Traditional and Modern Techniques
- Well-Maintained Tools
- Unmatched Craftsmanship
- Friendly, Personalized Service
- Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work!
The majority of our house painting services come in two forms: interior and exterior.
Interior Residential Painting
As an interior painting contractor with decades of experience, our expert technicians have developed an interior painting process that maximizes quality and emphasizes customer satisfaction. We understand that interior painting goes beyond aesthetics. It protects your ceilings and walls and helps you sustain a healthier place to live for your family. When only the finest craftsmanship will do inside your home, Shields Painting is here for you.
Our seasoned team of painting experts and craftsmen is dedicated to respecting your space and providing you with the look and feel you're craving inside your home. Whether you bought a new house and want to make it your own or need minor touch-ups but have no time, Shields Painting is ready to tackle the job, no matter how small or large.
Unlike some painting companies, our interior house painters take the time to get the details right, every time. For instance, color is only one aspect of your interior paint job. The paint sheen or finish is just as important. Certain finishes are better for living rooms and bedrooms than in kitchens and bathrooms. We'll help you find the right finish and paint colors for your home, so you don't have to worry about touch-ups or repainting.
Some of our most popular interior house painting services include:
- Ceiling Painting
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Living Room Painting
- Bathroom Painting
- Basement Painting
- Color Consultations
- More

Cabinet Painting
Citrus County cabinet painting deserves its own section on this page because it requires more time, skill, and quality paint than most sections of your home. If your home's cabinets are built into its woodwork, replacing them can be obnoxiously expensive. Compared to the cost of installing new cabinets, painting your kitchen cabinets is much more affordable.
At Shields Painting, we specialize in transforming old cabinets into new, gorgeous features that are just as usable as they are beautiful. Each step of our cabinet painting process is meticulous and thorough. And we'll take care of the entire job, from cleaning, prep, and sanding to priming, painting, and reassembly. This unique service lets you enjoy a brand-new look in your kitchen without having to go into debt by replacing your cabinets.
Whether your cabinets are new, but you want to change their color or you'd like to transition wood cabinets to a painted finish, Shields Painting has the expertise and experience to give you a new look you'll love.

Exterior Residential Painting
Your home - it's a place that not only keeps your belongings safe. It protects your family and loved ones, too. It's one of your largest investments, and like anything else of value, it should be protected. However, Florida weather can take a toll on your home's structure and paint, lowering your home's value and even putting your family at risk.
While it's true that a beautiful exterior affects your house's value, it shouldn't take thousands of remodeling dollars to make a positive change to your home. There's a fine line between reasonable pricing and top-quality painting, and that sweet spot is what Shields Painting aims for. If you want to transform how your friends and neighbors see your home, never underestimate the power of a professional paint job.
Our exterior residential painting services are designed to boost curb appeal, give your home a fresh look, and help it stand up to Florida's unique weather. But we provide more than that. When you hire Shields Painting for your outdoor painting project, you will enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your home is in truly capable hands. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and help bring out the best in your property, whether you need to re-stain your deck or remove old, peeling paint from your siding.
If you're on the hunt for the very best exterior painting contractor in High Point, FL, look no further than Shields Painting.
Some of our most popular exterior house painting services include:
- Vinyl Siding Painting
- Deck Painting and Staining
- Stucco Exterior Painting
- Wood Exterior Painting
- Porch Painting and Staining
- Soffit Painting
- Fascia Painting
- Window Painting
- Front Door Painting
- Thorough Painting Prep
- More

The Premier Commercial Painting Company in High Point, FL
When it comes to first impressions, your businesses' appearance plays an important role. Your commercial property's paint job factors into its overall aesthetics. A great-looking, well-maintained paint job can mean the difference between a customer walking in your storefront and passing by. Conversely, an old, worn-out commercial paint job can send the wrong message to prospective customers. If you can't take the time to keep up your property's appearance, why would a customer spend their hard-earned money on your products?
The same goes for your businesses' interior paint. Would you want to do business with a company that has peeling paint or unsightly crown molding? At Shield's Painting, our goal is to create a beautiful environment that your customers and employees will love inside and out. When you work with our business painters, you can rest easy knowing we treat your business like it were our own. We always clean up after ourselves and know that operations cannot come to a halt just because we're painting. As such, we'll work with your busy schedule to ensure the job gets done right the first time without disrupting your day-to-day commitments.
With decades of commercial painting experience, we know the demands of a commercial painting project necessitate a disciplined and focused approach from the start. Our team of business painters is committed to delivering quality, on-time results on every project, every time - no excuses

We offer professional business painting services to a variety of building types, including:

01
Industrial Painting
A high level of care and finesse are required to effectively paint an industrial property. At Shields Painting, we know that industrial paint jobs involve much more than aesthetics. That's why our industrial services are customized to your specifications, using industrial-grade materials that stand up to heavy-duty operations.
02
Retail Store Painting
Our commercial painters apply effective, yet appealing interior and exterior paint that stand up to the daily rigors of busy retail environments.


03
Small Business Painting
Do you own a restaurant franchise? Have a small "mom and pop" location that needs a fresh coat of paint? Shields Painting has the resources and reliability to efficiently get the job done the first time. That way, you can focus on serving your customers, not having your business repainted.
04
Healthcare Location Painting
From walk-in clinics to long-term care facilities, Shields Painting is sensitive to your patients' needs. We know you must protect your patient's privacy while maintaining productivity. Our approach to healthcare location painting centers around your schedule to avoid disruptions in care.


05
Apartment Complex Painting
Erase signs of wear and make your apartment complex or multi-family building a more desirable place to live with a stunning, professional paint job.
Florida's Most Trusted Painting Contractor
Shields Painting has been in the business since 1968. In a world where so much has changed, we are proud to uphold the ideals that make us successful: hard, honest work, getting the job done right, and excellent customer service. Providing you with trustworthy, quality work will always take priority over rushing through a project to serve the next customer. That is just not the way we choose to do business.
As professionals dedicated to perfection, we strive to provide a unique painting experience for every customer - one that focuses on their needs and desires instead of our own. Whether you need residential painting for your home or commercial painting for your business, we encourage you to reach out today to speak with our customer service team. Whether you have big ideas about a new paint project or need our expertise and guidance, we look forward to hearing from you soon.

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Latest News in High Point, FL
1 mountain climber's unique mission: to scale every county peak in Florida
Steve Hartmanhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/mountain-climber-county-high-pointer-florida-peaks/
Tampa, Florida — Not since early explorers came to Florida in search of the fountain of youth has there been a crazier quest than that of 47-year-old Andrew Karr."We all have things that grab us," Karr told CBS News. "And I just found myself charmed by this."Karr is what they call a "county high pointer," someone who tries to climb to the highest point of every county in a given state — typically Colorado.Karr spent some time there, but now teaches at the University of S...
Tampa, Florida — Not since early explorers came to Florida in search of the fountain of youth has there been a crazier quest than that of 47-year-old Andrew Karr.
"We all have things that grab us," Karr told CBS News. "And I just found myself charmed by this."
Karr is what they call a "county high pointer," someone who tries to climb to the highest point of every county in a given state — typically Colorado.
Karr spent some time there, but now teaches at the University of South Florida and lives in Tampa. It got him wondering if he could he climb Florida's high points.
Unfortunately, Florida makes Kansas look like Kilimanjaro. It's arguably the flattest state in the nation and doesn't really have any high points. But if you want to get technical, or topographical — and you are truly desperate for adventure — it can be done.
And Karr is doing it — using maps, apps and good old-fashioned sightlines.
He pinpoints every peak. In Union County, for example, the high spot was in a well-manicured, public place. However, other county high points are often deep in the woods, or on private property.
In one case, it was the backyard of Debbie Mitchell's home in Volusia County.
Perhaps his most absurd ascent was at the front door of a JCPenny in the Countryside Mall in Pinellas County.
"I bought a shirt at that one," Karr said.
Sir Edmund Hillary he is not. But Karr's response is, "So what?" And he has now hit the high points of almost every one of Florida's 67 counties.
"On any adventure, and also in life in general, you have to make the most of wherever you are," Karr said.
"Every peak is equal," Karr said, because attitude trumps altitude. That applies to whether you're conquering Colorado's front range, or just Debbie Mitchell's front yard.
Steve Hartman has been a CBS News correspondent since 1998, having served as a part-time correspondent for the previous two years.
How Wide Is Florida? Width at Its Widest and Narrowest Points
Kirstin Harringtonhttps://a-z-animals.com/blog/how-wide-is-florida-width-at-its-widest-and-narrowest-points/
Florida, also known as the Sunshine State, is home to warm weather, famous theme parks, nightlife, and plenty of coastlines. People from all over the globe travel to Florida, and it’s one of the few states that’s easy to identify due to its unique shape. At its widest point, it’s just 160 miles wide! Since Florida is a peninsula, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of ...
Florida, also known as the Sunshine State, is home to warm weather, famous theme parks, nightlife, and plenty of coastlines. People from all over the globe travel to Florida, and it’s one of the few states that’s easy to identify due to its unique shape. At its widest point, it’s just 160 miles wide! Since Florida is a peninsula, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Straits of Florida all encircle the state on three sides.
The Overall Size of Florida
Florida has a maximum width of 160 miles and a maximum length of 500 miles. The Atlantic Ocean marks the beginning of Florida’s state line, which continues up to the River St. Marys. The Florida Panhandle, also known as West Florida and Northwest Florida, is a stretch of land that sits between Alabama on the west and north, Georgia on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico on the south.
This area is about 200 miles in length and 50 to 100 miles wide. Speaking of its unique shape, the Atlantic Ocean marks the beginning of Florida’s state line, which continues up to the River St. Marys. It then goes from the St. Mary’s River’s source to the confluence of the River Flint and River Chattahoochee.
Before joining the line between Florida and Alabama, the Florida-Georgia border stretches through Lake Seminole. Following that, it extends straight west to the River Perdido prior to descending its talweg to the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida Population
The Sunshine State is one of the most densely populated states, with nearly 22 million residents. There are around 390 people per square mile! Jacksonville is known for being the most populous city in the state, with nearly one million residents.
Surprisingly, there are several cities in this beautiful state that have less than 400 people who call them home. McIntosh, near Orange Lake, has a population of 293 people. At the same time, Marineland has a whopping seven residents!
Peaks and Valleys
The highest natural point in Florida is known as Britton Hill. Ironically, Britton Point is the lowest “high point” in America and stands 345 feet above sea level. Britton Hill, Florida, and the area’s Lakewood Park make a great place to play games and settle down for a tasty picnic. Three nature trails are available for exploring while taking in the local beauty and wildlife. The lowest point, along with the majority of the state, is at sea level with the Atlantic Ocean.
What is the Widest and Narrowest State in the United States?
So, how does Florida compare with the rest of the country? Well, the widest state in the nation is Hawaii. The island of Niihau to the mainland measures 1,500 miles. That’s nearly 100 times that of Florida!
Although many would think that Rhode Island takes the cake for the narrowest state in the country, a portion of Delaware takes the title. There’s a small sliver of the state that is just nine miles wide!
Wildlife in Florida
There’s no denying that this southern state is full of wildlife. While it’s known for alligators, pink flamingos, and the Florida panther, there’s so much more to discover.
There are a plethora of mammals, including bobcats, bears, foxes, and otters, that call the Sunshine State their home.
Reptiles are vital to this state. A variety of snakes, frogs, crocodiles, and lizards are found in and around bodies of water.
In addition, during winter months, over 450 birds can be spotted in Florida!
People love enjoying the beach during the warm summer days, but winter is a popular time for locals to enjoy an afternoon of birding on the coast! Many animals are unintentionally released or got away from captivity; others have accidentally hitched rides on goods from other countries, leading to invasive species.
Is Florida Worth a Visit?
This state is one of the most popular states to travel to in the United States. Whether you’re looyou’reo take the family to Disney World in Orlando or have your breath taken away on the Seven Mile Bridge, there’s sothere’s for everyone.
Retirees enjoy the timid winters that average around 57 degrees, and summers stay relatively tolerable with highs in the upper 80s.
However, one reason people avoid visiting Florida is due to the hurricane season. If natural disasters are a fear of yours, consider traveling to the state anytime between December and May!
Truthfully, with the oceanside sunsets, bustling night clubs in Miami, seeing the 2,000-year-old Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site, the soft sand on your feet, incredible restaurants and breweries, we find it hard to stay away from the Sunshine State!
Where Is Florida Located on a Map?
Florida is the southernmost portion of the United States thanks to its peninsular shape that juts down and looks like a barrier between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. It is bordered by Alabama and Georgia. The closest distance to Cuba is 103 miles (90 nautical miles); the closet distance to the Bahamas is 53 miles.
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About the Author
Kirstin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering animals, news topics, fun places, and helpful tips. Kirstin has been writing on a variety of topics for over five years. She has her real estate license, along with an associates degree in another field. A resident of Minnesota, Kirstin treats her two cats (Spook and Finlay) like the children they are. She never misses an opportunity to explore a thrift store with a coffee in hand, especially if it’s a cold autumn day!
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.
Eagles draw 1-1 at High Point University
| Shane Harvellhttps://fgcuathletics.com/news/2023/8/31/womens-soccer-eagles-draw-1-1-at-high-point-university.aspx
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Florida Gulf Coast University women's soccer team earned a 1-1 draw Thursday at High Point University."Winning on the road is a challenge, and I think tonight's match will teach us a lot," head coach Jim Blankenship said. "Had a lead but couldn't see it through to a good High Point team."Fresh off back-to...
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Florida Gulf Coast University women's soccer team earned a 1-1 draw Thursday at High Point University.
"Winning on the road is a challenge, and I think tonight's match will teach us a lot," head coach Jim Blankenship said. "Had a lead but couldn't see it through to a good High Point team."
Fresh off back-to-back home victories, FGCU (2-1-1) rode into High Point (1-1-3), eying its third straight win. The Eagles were 15 minutes away from doing just that in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
HPU connected on its equalizing strike in the 75th minute, marking the first goal that freshman goalkeeper Olivia Molina has surrendered in her last 334 minutes of play.
Molina was credited with six saves Thursday while facing 21 shots from the Panthers.
Two crucial FGCU saves secured the inevitable 1-1 tie.
Junior Reese Mendenhall's defensive save in the box after a loose ball off the crossbar kept the Panthers off the board early. In the 53rd minute, Molina stifled another HPU scoring opportunity with a full extension save.
FGCU entered the break with a 1-0 advantage courtesy of a redirect goal from junior Katharina Oelschlaeger in the 42nd minute, set up and assisted by sophomore Eden Bretzer's cross. Thursday's goal marked Oelschlaeger's first goal of her FGCU career.
High Point outpaced the Eagles in shots 21-9 and corners 12-5. Offensively, graduate student Grace Paradis led all Eagles with two shots, including one on goal.
The Green & Blue will continue its Tar Heel State slate Sunday at noon against App State. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
Class of 2015 Outcomes: Alicia Miller Teaches in Florida
highpoint.eduhttps://www.highpoint.edu/blog/2015/06/class-of-2015-profile-alicia-miller-teaches-in-florida/
With another successful commencement behind us, recent High Point University graduates are preparing to commence prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other esteemed organizations thanks to their journey at HPU. Here’s a glimpse of one extraordinary senior from the Class of 2015:Name: Alicia MillerHometown: Tiffin, OhioMajor...
With another successful commencement behind us, recent High Point University graduates are preparing to commence prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other esteemed organizations thanks to their journey at HPU. Here’s a glimpse of one extraordinary senior from the Class of 2015:
Name: Alicia Miller
Hometown: Tiffin, Ohio
Major: Miller graduated with a B.A. in Studio Art and Spanish Education on May 9.
Post-graduation plans: Miller accepted a position with Teach for America as a middle school or high school mathematics teacher in Miami-Dade county, Florida – the fifth largest school district in America. “There is a huge need there for great teachers and I feel honored to have gone through an intensive interview process and chosen as a TFA teacher. I would have sought employment as a Spanish teacher in the Miami area regardless, but I feel very strongly about the visions of the program. I also look forward to using my Spanish with the large Spanish-speaking population in Miami.”
How HPU helped you get there: “My education classes at HPU definitely gave me a clear view as to what education should look like in the 21st century and placed me in classes of all grades and in at-risk schools starting the first semester of my freshman year. It has given me more experience than most education majors at other universities, and was one of the reasons I chose High Point University. I knew I wanted to work with diverse students when I graduated high school – my high school was the only public high school in a small farm town with less than 18,000 people. I didn’t get a lot of diverse experiences there and knew I wanted to change that.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “Dr. Claudia Femenias. Officially she is my my advisor, teacher and mentor; unofficially she is the woman I emulate. My freshman year I took a conversation course with her on Hispanic Topics. I found out that she was leading a Maymester to Guatemala that summer and I saved up to go abroad. I caught a bug in Guatemala, the travel bug, and Dr. Femenias as my advisor helped me to find a way to double major and travel abroad two more times in my four years at HPU. She is also the professor that has written me more letters of recommendation than I can count as I feel out all sorts of future paths, including the Peace Corps and Teach for America.”
Most impactful moment at HPU: “Dr. Femenias is the common denominator in the wonderful trail of events that connect my amazing experiences at HPU. Dr. Femenias, for one of her classes my sophomore year, offered extra credit to go to a speaker that HPU was hosting. She was a professional artist from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was presenting in Spanish with Professor Nuñez translating. I went and was absolutely intrigued by the presentation since it was a hybrid of my two passions: Spanish and art. A year later when I was talking with my advisor, Dr. Femenias, and I was looking for a completely immersive Spanish experience, I decided on Buenos Aires, Argentina. Long story short, Dr. Femenias asked me if I remembered Fernanda Piamonti, the artist that came to speak last year. I did, and she ended up being my host mother. I lived in her art studio for six months while studying Spanish in Argentina, the dream living situation.”
Advice for underclassmen: “Get to know your professors. Whenever someone asks me the best part about HPU, my answer, without hesitation, is always the professors. High Point University’s greatest available resource is the professors. Talk to them, collaborate with them, open yourself up to them. They have all helped shaped the open-minded individual I am today.”
Are you a 2015 HPU graduate with an exciting job or graduate school offer? Share your news with us for a chance to be featured!
Highest point in Florida could become Walton County 'brag point'
Tony Judnichhttps://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/2021/03/10/britton-hill-floridas-highest-point-off-beaten-path-walton-county/4600177001/
PAXTON — A journey to Britton Hill, the highest natural point in Florida, moved one recent visitor to poetry.“Get lost to get found, Florida’s highest little ground, cows & crickets the only sound, the silence now so loud, time to pavement pound,” an unknown author wrote Jan. 2 in the visitor’s log at Lakewood Park, which stands atop Britton Hill at the north end of Walton County.Britton Hill, at 345 feet above sea level, is in the unincorporated Lakewood community, just northeas...
PAXTON — A journey to Britton Hill, the highest natural point in Florida, moved one recent visitor to poetry.
“Get lost to get found, Florida’s highest little ground, cows & crickets the only sound, the silence now so loud, time to pavement pound,” an unknown author wrote Jan. 2 in the visitor’s log at Lakewood Park, which stands atop Britton Hill at the north end of Walton County.
Britton Hill, at 345 feet above sea level, is in the unincorporated Lakewood community, just northeast of Paxton and less than five miles south of the Alabama state line.
Florida’s highest point is designated by a monument and signs in the Walton County-owned Lakewood Park at 2756 N. County Road 285, as well as by directional signs, such as one at the CR 285-County Road 147 intersection.
From the small park’s clover-covered ground or its driveway, visitors can enjoy a pastoral view of green farmland dotted with dozens of black cattle.
Next year, county officials might begin promoting the obscure landmark of Britton Hill as an off-the-beaten-path gem.
‘Midget Mountain’
Britton Hill/Lakewood Park is located 28 miles northeast of Crestview and 23 miles northwest of DeFuniak Springs. On an iPhone Maps app, the hill is robotically deemed a “mountain.”
A faded brochure posted on the park’s kiosk lists the high point of each state. According to the brochure provided by the Highpointers Club of Northfield, Minnesota, Britton Hill is the lowest state highpoint in the United States.
The second-lowest, at 448 feet above sea level, is Ebright Azimuth in Delaware. Alaska’s Denali (aka Mount McKinley), at 20,320 feet, is the highest highpoint.
“It was back in 1900 when William “Will” Henry Britton, a timber baron from North Carolina, bought the Lake Lumber Co. in Florala, Alabama,” states a Northwest Florida Daily News article from Nov. 18, 1991 that’s posted in the Lakewood Park kiosk. “Will moved the mill business three miles east. He named the site Lakewood. And in 1904, his brother, Thomas Jones Britton … and several other partners established the Britton Lumber Co.”
According to the article, the floors of New York’s Grand Central Station and Waldorf Astoria Hotel and the New Orleans’ Courthouse are made out of rift-sawn longleaf yellow pine from Lakewood.
The once-flourishing lumber town also is known as being the birthplace of William De Kova “Bill” White, a former Major League Baseball All-Star player and broadcaster who in 1989 became the first Black president of MLB’s National League.
In addition, Jacqueline Cochran, “the internationally acclaimed female aviator and founder of her own perfume company, whose labels include Nina Ricci and Pierre Cardin, spent part of her childhood in Lakewood,” according to the 1991 article.
In 1982, an Associated Press report called Britton Hill a “Midget Mountain” that attracted visitors with mountain-climbing gear. In 1984, the state Legislature approved a matching grant for Walton County to establish the park and monument to mark Florida’s highest point.
Bragging rights
While Walton County’s “Lakewood” isn’t mentioned, the Florida map in Rand McNally’s 2021 Road Atlas does include “Britton Hill, 345 ft., Highest Pt. in Florida.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, “We do not receive many (or any) calls about Britton Hill at the South Walton Visitor Information Center,” said David Demarest, spokesman for the Walton County Tourist Development Council.
Britton Hill “hasn’t really been in our wheelhouse,” he said, because until March of this year there was only one special taxing district for the county’s tourist development tax (TDT) and it only included South Walton. That meant the tax was only collected in South Walton, and therefore may only be legally used to promote/improve South Walton, Demarest said.
Last year, however, voters in North Walton voted to enact a tourist development tax for the area north of Choctawhatchee Bay as well. Those collections began in March of this year, he said.
“After collections have been made for a year, those funds may then be spent to promote and improve those areas north of the bay, and I would expect that effort to include promotion for Britton Hill, leading to more calls for information,” Demarest said. “We’re currently ramping up our assets and knowledge base in preparation for that increased scope of promotion, and I expect that Britton Hill will be a great brag point for Walton County and an interesting PR pitch.”
More:Walton County TDC gets go-ahead for new visitor center
Demarest said it’s important to note that funds raised in each of the special taxing districts still must be used to promote those specific areas, even though both are within Walton County.
“Still, I’m sure there will be some opportunities for synergy,” he said.
More:COVID-19 vaccine tracker: See how many people in Florida have been vaccinated, by county, state
Besides taking a selfie at Florida’s highest point, visitors to Lakewood Park atop Britton Hill can enjoy two picnic pavilions, one of which has a grill. The park also has restrooms and features three hiking trails, each of which is less than a mile long.
“Maybe some day I will move to Florida?” a visitor from Pittsburgh recently wrote in the park’s visitor’s log. “I am retired and getting old. It is very cold in the winter in Pa. and don’t like it no more.”
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