In 1885, George Thomas King, founder of Villa City, built an estate on this site that became the showplace of the area. By 1895, the town had a post office, school, church, hotel, photographic studio, dispensary, and 35 homes. The citrus-based community flourished until the Big Freeze of 1894-95. After a devastating Dec. 29 freeze, a small warm spell filled the trees with sap. Snow fell on the evening of Feb. 7, 1895, and when the warming sun returned, the frozen trees exploded. With their hopes and dreams broken, the settlers left. The last original house, the Gano House, was demolished in 1968, but the beauty of the area remains.