College Park

College Park sign

Building Your Dream Home in College Park, Florida

About College Park, Florida

College Park is a community within the city of Orlando, deriving its name from the many streets in the area that were named for institutions of higher learning such as Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and others. Its close proximity to downtown makes it a highly desirable area for custom home building. College Park is about 20 minutes from Orlando International Airport and 30 minutes from theme parks and area attractions.

A Brief History of College Park

Citrus grower John Ericsson built the first known home in College Park at 19 West Princeton, in the middle of what was then an 80-acre grove. Other settlers soon followed, especially after the arrival of the South Florida Railroad in 1880. The Great Freeze during the winter of 1895 halted growth in the neighborhood for over a decade. New residents began arriving in large numbers during the real estate boom of the 1920s, when the City of Orlando expanded its northern boundary north to Par Street to include College Park.

Notable Residents

During the post-war years, the neighborhood was home both to astronaut John Young, who grew up in his parents’ home at 815 West Princeton Street and beat generation writer Jack Kerouac who lived at 1418 Clouser Avenue when his masterpiece “On the Road” was published as well as when he wrote the follow-up “The Dharma Bums”. The house now operates as the non-profit Kerouac Project, a haven for up-and-coming writers. Not only is it a unique tribute to Kerouac, it established Orlando on the international literary map.

Life on Edgewater Drive

In 2002, Edgewater Drive, the main thoroughfare of the community, was re-striped from a 4-lane byway to a more pedestrian-friendly 3-lanes (1 in each direction with a central turn lane) with bicycle lanes. Edgewater Drive is home to many unique restaurants and shops and is within easy walking distance of most of the area homes. In addition, College Park has easy access to the Ivanhoe Row area and includes an “Antique Row” and other eclectic dining options. Ivanhoe is also on the shore of Lake Ivanhoe and includes a spectacular view of downtown Orlando.

Build Your Custom Home with Budron Homes

Interested in building a custom home in the College Park community of Orlando? Feel free to speak with one of the best home builders in Orlando, Budron Homes, about any questions you may have. Budron Homes is here to serve you and make sure your custom home is the home of your dreams. Call us today at (407) 347-0701 for a free consultation. Budron Homes is rated A+ with the BBB of Central Florida and is a 2015 Parade of Homes winner. View from Lake Ivanhoe