The History of Lanark Village Florida
1893-1942
In the late 19th century, Scotsman William Clark and his associates began scooping up large tracts of land in Wakulla, Leon, and Franklin counties. They had big dreams for their land development syndicate, and building a bayside resort for the well-heeled was central to their plans.
To that end, the group constructed a dozen cottages and a grand hotel on the stretch of property near what is now the Lanark Village Boat Club along with a railroad to ferry wealthy patrons from Tallahassee to the inn.
In a sentimental homage to his native land, Clark named the development Lanark-by-the-Gulf, after the royal borough of Lanark located along River Clyde in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Lanark-by-the-Gulf sported luxurious rooms, a boardwalk, a pier, bathhouses, and a dance pavilion. Vacationers came for seasonal stays, sometimes bringing servants and livestock with them.
The hotel's brochure claimed that Lanark was "…the most picturesque place in western Florida". It’s easy to see why the Lanark Inn, as the crown jewel for the Clark Syndicate, drew visitors from across the south.
But eventually, the Inn’s heyday came to an end. There were various contributors to its demise, including a hurricane, a fire, prohibition, and the railway’s bankruptcy, which was hastened by the advent of car travel for the masses.
1942-1946
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, another disaster was looming, one in which Lanark would play a crucial role. In 1942, Camp Gordon Johnston was built on the site. The Lanark Inn was, according to Lois Swoboda, “commandeered for women’s quarters” dealing the resort its final blow.
Occupying the area between Carrabelle and Alligator Point, the Camp served as an Army Amphibious Training Center during the war. Conditions were harsh, and Lanark went from being a little slice of heaven for wealthy vacationers to hell on earth for its enlisted inhabitants.
Thanks in no small part to the courageous soldiers who trained there, the Allies were victorious, and little Lanark Village has been credited with helping to save the world.
1946-1964
Camp Gordon Johnston, its mission accomplished, closed in 1946, and a year later, Lanark Estates, Inc., a Miami-based development company, purchased some of the land it had occupied. In 1955, plans were drawn for a retirement community on the site, and the sturdy collection of cottages that had previously served as officers’ quarters were converted to low-maintenance row houses.
To generate interest in the community, the developers advertised in the newspapers of large East Coast cities such as Chicago and Washington D.C. Prospective homeowners arrived by the busload to snap up their coastal retirement homes.
1965-Present
In their attempts to expand, the Lanark developers over-extended themselves, and in 1965, the corporation filed bankruptcy. At that time, “The Lanark Village Association took on the task of managing the village” according to Lois Swoboda, and it has been an active force in the community ever since.
Today, the former officers’ quarters continue to house a population of mostly retirees though some younger individuals and families add to the mix. Children can be spotted riding their bikes in the streets, playing ball in the grassy courtyards between rows of houses, and finding eggs at Lanark Village’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt.
Residents still gather at the Boat Club, Golf Club, American Legion, and Chillas Hall to bond over shared interests and enjoy one another’s company. The bay’s beauty continues to lure sunbathers, fishermen, and nature lovers. Meanwhile, Village life warmly beckons those seeking a place to call home.