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Copyright 2006,
Terri Bakas, All Rights Reserved, website
content and photos.
A Guide to the Lake St. Charles
Community & Amenities
Continued from First Page
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Historic
Riverview
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Moody House
Located along Lake St. Charles Blvd. |
Riverview United Methodist
Church
Riverview’s First Church |
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The Alafia River,
Riverview, & the Moody House.
Alafia means "River of Fire," so named
by the Indians because the river
shimmered with light at night. The
luminescence was from the river’s
phosphorous content, and the river of
fire, along with the area’s beauty
helped draw the first settlers. After
the end of second Seminole War
(1835-42), a retired military man,
Benjamin F. Moody, became the area's
first resident in 1842. Benjamin Moody
was on the first board of county
commissioners after Florida became a
state in 1845, helped start the area’s
first school, and helped establish the
first church, Riverview United
Methodist, located near Lake St. Charles
on US Hwy 301 which is an old Indian
trail. In 1905 Benjamin Moody’s
grandson, WB (Ben) Moody purchased what
is now known as the Moody house on
Hackney Drive, adjacent to Lake St.
Charles. This sprawling old home, built
in 1896 was the home of WB Moody and
later of his daughter Mary Moody who was
born in 1901. She was a beloved local
school teacher who taught in the small
Riverview schools for many years. Mary
Moody lived in the Moody home until the
1990s.
The Moody house is a close reminder
of the long history and quiet beauty
of Riverview. |
An abundance of wildlife is our most cherished
amenity!
Supported by the thick wooded conservation
area, ponds and wetlands, wildlife thrives in
Lake St. Charles. Eagles are frequent visitors
to the community and are often seen fishing in
the lake or resting in the trees. Migrating
birds drop in each season to replenish their
strength for their long journey.
 
 
Three Community Websites
“Life on the Lake” is a website hosted by John &
Terri Bakas, Lake St. Charles residents. This
privately-owned Lake St. Charles community
website is located at LakeStCharles.com.
LakeStCharles.org is the CDD & HOA community
website.
RiverviewOnline.com is a popular Riverview
community website hosted by John & Terri Bakas
for all Riverview residents.
Lake St. Charles Monthly Newsletter
Lake
St. Charles produces a monthly full-color,
multi-page newsletter that is full of useful
Lake St. Charles information, events and board
updates.
 
Riverview
Branch Library
The Riverview Branch Library is only about a
half-mile from Lake St. Charles.
Villas of Lake St. Charles:
Located at the intersection of Lake St. Charles
Blvd. and Krycul Ave., the Villas of Lake St.
Charles is the perfect location for relatives
who wish to live close to you.
Traffic Light at Entrance to Lake St. Charles:
The traffic light at US Hwy 301 & Lake St.
Charles Blvd. provides for an easier commuting
experience and extra traffic safety.
Close to the Alafia River
The Alafia River winds through Riverview
and imparts a restful spirit to life here. Lake
St. Charles is less than a mile from the Alafia
River.
Two Beach Parks Located Close to Lake St.
Charles
Doggie
Delight:
Leashed
dogs are allowed on the beach at Apollo Beach
Nature Park!
Apollo
Beach Nature Park
is a Hillsborough County beach park located on
the Bay and is about a 25 minute drive from Lake
St. Charles. This quiet beach is a great place
to watch the beautiful Florida sunsets. You can
also enjoy fishing, sunbathing, strolling along
the beach, and leashed dogs are permitted. The
beach has a picnic pavilion and grill. This is
an easy and convenient drive. Just take I75
south to Big Bend road (Apollo Beach exit).
Turn right and go to US Hwy 41. Go straight
across 41 and keep driving. You’ll pass Tampa
Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center. A short
distance past the Viewing Center the road dead
ends at Apollo Beach Blvd. Turn right. Apollo
Beach Blvd. dead ends at Surfside Blvd. Turn
right and follow the road a short distance, it
runs straight into the park.
University of Florida, IFAS
Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center:
This is a wonderful treat provided free of
charge by Tampa Electric Company. See Florida
manatees as they migrate to the warm waters of
Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center.
Exhibits, movies, boardwalks, gardens and some
of the best wildlife watching in Tampa Bay are
featured. The center, which is handicapped
accessible, is open to the public through April
15 (10:00 am-5:00 pm), also features a picnic
shelter and gift shop.
The Manatee Viewing
Center is located at Hwy 41 & Big Bend Road,
about a 20 minute drive from Lake St. Charles.
 
E.G. Simmons Park (Beach & Boating Access),
located about 30 minutes from Lake St. Charles,
E.G. Simmons Park is a County Park with Bay
beach access. This park features a large boat
ramp with ample parking, a children’s play
ground, large picnic pavilions with grills, a
beautiful beach for sunbathing, strolling or
swimming, nature trails, and great views of
downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg skylines on
the horizon, as well as the Skyway Bridge.
Full Service Marinas
and Convenient Boat Rentals:
From Lake St. Charles it is just about 20
minutes to Apollo Beach marinas and boat
rentals. Apollo Beach is a small beach
community with many restaurants, services and
shopping.
Gulf Beaches at Anna Maria
Island
Gulf Beaches at Anna Maria Island
And
Official Guide to the Island
And
Where to eat on the Island
Anna Maria Island has
beautiful public gulf beaches and is located
about an hour South of Lake St. Charles
Summerfield
Crossings Golf Course
Golf:
From Lake St. Charles it is just about a 25
minute drive to the popular Summerfield
Crossings Golf Course with Doc’s Grille and PRO
Shop, near the intersection of US Hwy. 301 & Big
Bend Road, 13050 Summerfield Blvd. in
Riverview. The
Summerfield Golf Course is a Scottish Links
course that is reminiscent of the great courses
in Scotland . This championship course is
unique with pot bunkers and waste areas. The
typical small undulating Scottish greens make
for some challenging putting.
 
Shopping
Lake St. Charles is conveniently located to many
popular retail and commercial shopping areas.
Lake St. Charles Plaza and the Radiant gas
station with car wash is located at the entrance
to Lake St. Charles Blvd. Lake St. Charles is
only a few minutes from a large number of shops,
grocery stores, churches, schools, Home Depot,
Lowes, Walmart and much more. Professional
offices are located within a few minutes of
Lake St. Charles.
The Brandon Westfield Mall and a movie theater
is only a few minutes away, along with Barnes
and Noble and Borders. The upscale Sweetbay
Supermarket (now be converted from Kash n’ Karry)
is the anchor tenant of Lake St. Charles Plaza.
Publix is located just a few minutes away on
Bloomingdale. The Brandon Westfield Mall is
only a few minutes away. The
brand new Riverview Town Center shopping and
restaurant plaza is now under construction. A
Lowe’s home improvement store has already
opened. McDonald’s, Kazbar’s restaurant,
Walgreens, CVS, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, and Ruby
Tuesday (new under construction) are located at
this intersection and more retail and commercial
construction are under way.
Travel
Quick and easy access to Interstate 75,
Interstate 4, the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown
Expressway and Hwy 301. Downtown Tampa and
MacDill Air Force Base is an easy commute.
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