Historic Downtown Ocala: A Guide to Brick City

(2 reviews)

Ocala, Florida audio tour: Historic Downtown Ocala: A Guide to Brick City

This is a 0.9mi walking tour

It takes an average of 30 mins to complete.

Ocala, Florida

The United States

$5.99

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About the Tour

Nestled in the heart of Central Florida, Ocala is rich in history, culture, and equestrian charm. On this family-friendly, one-mile walking tour, you‘ll discover the downtown area, where you can enjoy the past and present of this vibrant city.

The tour starts and ends at the gazebo in Downtown Ocala Square, a lively gathering spot full of history, perfect for photos. As you soak up the downtown area’s key sites, you‘ll hear tales shared by residents who‘ve lived here for decades, and find out how Ocala earned the nickname “Brick City.”

Along the way, I‘ll share what makes Oscala special, from its international horse airport to the filming location of Elvis Presley‘s Follow That Dream. As you walk, I‘ll also point out places to eat, like the Diner on the Square and Bank Street Patio Bar.

Highlights on this 30-minute Oscala tour include:

Taking in Marion Hotel, once a hotspot for deals and drama
Strolling along part of the Ocala Walk of Fame where you can see the names of the famous folk and horses that helped shape the city‘s legacy
Seeing Marion Theater, the fun 1940s-style cinema
Passing the Hilton Garden Inn Ocala Downtown on your way to Marion Opera House, which can surprisingly seat up to 800 people!
Capturing memories at iconic spots where history was made

Grab your camera and lace up your walking shoes for a journey through the Horse Capital of the World. This tour offers a fun, accessible way to experience Ocala‘s equestrian charm. You won’t just discover the city’s history, but the heart and soul of its people, past and present.

Tour Producer

Jack

1 tour

JaCk was born at a very early age in the foothills of east Tennessee. Having spent his working life in Ocala and now retired he spends most of his time making stuff up. JaCk is a professional story teller and president of the Ocali Story Telling Guild.
He is an amateur historian, and has lived in Ocala for 40 years.

Preview Location

Location 1

Start tour: Oscala Downtown Square Gazebo

Welcome to Ocala! My name is Jack. I am president of the Ocali Story Telling Guild and a short story writer. I am also an amateur historian. I will be leading you on this tour of downtown Ocala.

Our tour will begin at the gazebo in the square. Before we start, take a mome... Welcome to Ocala! My name is Jack. I am president of the Ocali Story Telling Guild and a short story writer. I am also an amateur historian. I will be leading you on this tour of downtown Ocala.

Our tour will begin at the gazebo in the square. Before we start, take a moment to relax, stretch, or have a seat on one of the benches, and let me tell you a little about our city.

Ocala is known as the horse capital of the world, home to over 31,000 thoroughbreds and more than 70,000 horses. It is the only city I know of that has an international airport dedicated to bringing horses here. The name "Ocala" is a Timucuan word with no known translation. Spanish explorers believed it meant "Big Hammock," and it was the name the Timucuans gave to the large village that once stood here, known as "Ocali." It might have been named after a famous Timucuan who discovered this area and decided it was an ideal place to build a village. Unfortunately, we may never know for certain.

Now, let’s get up, get a little exercise, and gain some knowledge about Ocala. Please note that many of the buildings on the square have QR codes you can scan for more information. There is also a booklet for sale with additional fun facts, titled Brick City Tour by Jack. Some of the locations mentioned are within easy driving distance for additional experiences.

We will begin our tour at the gazebo. Stand with your back to it.

If you were here in the 1800s, you would be looking at the Ocala Courthouse, the pride of the city. Sadly, it burned down on Thanksgiving Day in 1883. Most of the population was busy trying to extinguish the fire, and many a turkey dinner was spoiled. At that time, there was no fire department, but one was formed shortly afterwards—no surprise there! Out of fear of another fire, most buildings, and even the streets, were subsequently constructed with bricks, which is how Ocala earned the nickname “Brick City.”

Now take two steps forward.

The courthouse was rebuilt in 1908 and once again became the pride of the city. It featured a beautiful dome clock, so everyone in Ocala knew the time. If a politician wanted to anger the voting population, tearing down the courthouse would do the trick—and that’s exactly what happened in 1965. The outrage led the city council to make a decision that proved to be even worse: they decided to build a fountain. This fountain featured lights salvaged from the World's Fair that illuminated the water and had various ways of throwing water into the air. Teenagers found entertainment by throwing in SOS soap disks, which would cause the fountain to fill with suds. The people of Ocala said the suds were the only good thing about the fountain, as it only worked sporadically. Eventually, the fountain was removed, leaving us with the area where you are now standing.

Now, turn around.

The original gazebo stood on the square from the 1880s until it fell into disrepair in the 1940s. The Ocala Historic Preservation Society, which was founded because of the pile of dirt and debris left in the middle of town after the courthouse was torn down, provided the funding to have the gazebo reconstructed. This replica was dedicated on July 4, 1987.

Now, turn slightly to the left and walk to the northwest corner of the square. You will find yourself at the corner of South Magnolia and State Road 40, which used to be called Ocklawaha Street and is now known as Silver Springs Boulevard.

While you walk, let me briefly explain how VoiceMap works.

It uses your location to play audio automatically, at the right time and place. This means that you can put your phone away now. Don't worry if I'm silent at times, when I'm not giving directions or telling stories. There's a map on your screen if you ever feel lost, and if you do get way off track without noticing, VoiceMap will let you know. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Ocala Downtown Square
108 N Magnolia Ave
316 E Silver Springs Blvd
15 SE Osceola Ave
120 E Silver Springs Blvd
24 SE 1st Ave
50 SE 1st Ave
56 SE 1st Ave
120 E Fort King St
50 S Magnolia Ave

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
1 Downtown SQ, Ocala, FL 34471, USA
Total distance

1km
Final location
16 S Magnolia Ave, Ocala, FL 34471, USA
Distance back to start location

38.62m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins at the town square in front of the gazebo. The square is easily accessed from Sliver Springs Blvd.(SR 40) headed east from hwy 441 (Pine Street). For free parking every day, park in the Downtown Parking Garage: 296 SE Broadway Street, Ocala, FL 34471. There are also parking meters around the square.

Perfect for all ages, the route is easy to navigate on flat, paved surfaces, making it accessible to everyone, whether you‘re strolling with little ones, using a wheelchair, or cruising along on a scooter.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

If you are inclined to do a little shopping, there are stores along the way, You will pass many restaurants and bars, from fine dining, to fast food. Keep your eyes open for a place of your liking. The tour ends across from Grandpa Joe's for a little candy.

Best time of day

The best time to do this tour is from dawn to dusk most days. The Square is open to events and live music in the evenings on Fridays and Saturdays. Try to avoid high traffic times between 7 and 8 AM and 5 and 7 PM. The traffic can be very loud on SR 40 (Sliver Springs Blvd). You may want to use ear buds or head phones on this section of the tour.

Precautions

This is a fun little walking tour with only one concern: traffic. Please beware of your surroundings, and stay on the sidewalk. Only cross the street at crosswalks and traffic lights. Remember, Florida is always hot. Bring some water, stay hydrated.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”

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Historic Downtown Ocala: A Guide to Brick City

About the Tour

Tour Producer

Jack

Preview Location

Location 1

Start tour: Oscala Downtown Square Gazebo

How VoiceMap Works

Major Landmarks

Ocala Downtown Square

108 N Magnolia Ave

316 E Silver Springs Blvd

15 SE Osceola Ave

120 E Silver Springs Blvd

24 SE 1st Ave

50 SE 1st Ave

56 SE 1st Ave

120 E Fort King St

50 S Magnolia Ave