HOUSE AND GARDEN 
March, 191 
5 
i43 
Strange though it may seem, Iron Mountain, overlooking Mountain Lake, in Polk County, Florida, 
is the highest point of land within sixty miles of the Atlantic Ocean between Key West and Northern 
New Jersey. It is decidedly the greatest elevation in Florida—nearly 400 feet above sea level. The 
surrounding country is beautifully rolling, of uniform fertility, and contains many other fine lakes. 
Mountain Lake itself, fed by fresh-water springs, is of great depth and has a handsome shore line of 
over five miles. Fish are plentiful and the neighboring forests abound with game. Here is the heart of 
the citrus fruit country, and a climate delightful the year round. 
At Mountain Lake there is now proceeding the de¬ 
velopment of a group of winter home sites and of cit¬ 
rus fruit groves along distinctively unusual lines. 
More than 2,500 acres of the finest and highest land 
in Florida is being improved — much of the tract hav¬ 
ing been owned in one family for over thirty years and 
reserved for just this purpose. This tract surrounds 
Mountain Lake for several miles in every direction 
and includes in its center the summit of IronMountain. 
Winter homes and citrus fruit groves, both of the 
highest type, are the aim and purpose of this devel¬ 
opment. The former it is proposed to give in a 
landscape setting of a character never before at¬ 
tempted in Florida, as well as in a community afford¬ 
ing the utmost social security. The citrus groves 
will be equally above the ordinary and will offer an 
investment unusually attractive both in basic values 
and in their dividend-earning capacity. 
Frederick Law Olmsted, of Brookline, Mass., the 
world-famous landscape architect, is engaged in lay¬ 
ing out the property. Under his direction it will be 
made a place of great attractiveness, in which all the 
natural beauties are preserved. The Mountain Lake 
Corporation purposes spending over a quarter of a 
million dollars in improving the property with roads, 
golf courses, a club house and other luxuries. The 
reputation of Mr. Olmsted and his supervision of these 
magnificent and elaborate improvements assures 
their quality and thoroughness in every detail. 
M. E. Gillett & Son, of Tampa, Florida, owners of 
the largest citrus fruit nursery in the world, and of 
international reputation as builders of grapefruit and 
orange groves, are in charge of the more material side 
of the Mountain Lake development. These gen¬ 
tlemen have built many of the most profitable 
groves in Florida, and trees from their nurseries are 
regarded as the standard in quality wherever citrus 
fruits are grown. The Gilletts developed the famous 
thousand-acre grove at Lucerne Park, the pride of 
Polk county, and admittedly the finest in Florida. 
The Mountain Lake Corporation commands respect because of the standing of the gentlemen who compose it. 
the leading stockholders are the following successful directors of business enterprises of national reputation: 
Among 
Frank S. Washburn, president American Cyanamid 
Company, Niagara Falls, Ont.; president Ala¬ 
bama Power Company, Birmingham, Ala. 
James Mitchell, president Alabama Traction, Light 
& Power Company, Ltd., New York and London. 
Herbert E. Goodman, vice-president and general 
manager, Goodman Manufacturing Company, 
electrical mining machinery, Chicago, 111. 
Elmer A. Sperry, president Sperry Gyroscope Com¬ 
pany, New York. 
M. E. Gillett and D. C. Gillett, proprietors of Buck¬ 
eye Nurseries and Gillett Lumber & Transpor¬ 
tation Company, Tampa, Fla. 
E. C. Stuart, vice-president State Bank of Bartow, 
Bartow, Fla.; director Coronet Phosphate Co., 
Lakeland, Fla. 
Frederick S. Ruth, president Mountain Lake Corporation, Lake Wales, Fla. 
Full particulars will be supplied to any one interested—this proposition is one that appeals only to people of means and 
discriminating taste. It will stand a most searching investigation, which is welcomed by those who have the enterprise in 
charge—they will give the fullest information regarding property and plans. Preliminary booklet now ready—send for copy at once. 
MOUNTAIN LAKE CORPORATION, Sales Office, 1015 Citizens Bank Building, Tampa, Florida 
In writing to advertisers please mention House & Garden. 
