Lakefront Howell Bungalow on Crooked Lake, built in 1929, renovated in 2024

The Howell's 1920s lakefront bungalow on Crooked Lake is an ideal family vacation spot in Babson Park, Florida. It's been lovingly restored and well-maintained for decades, with its most recent renovation in 2024. The owners have welcomed vacation renters for over 20 years, with many guests returning for 10+ consecutive years.

Spring-fed Crooked Lake is over 4,200 acres and is an "Outstanding Florida Water." Outstanding Florida Waters are rivers, lakes, and other water features designated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as "worthy of special protection because of their natural attributes." Outstanding Florida Waters have special restrictions on any new activities that would lower water quality or otherwise degrade the body of water.

Crooked Lake is an ideal lake for many water activities. Fishing for tournament bass and speckled perch (Florida Crappie) is a year-round sport. Boating, swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, jet skiing, water skiing, and kayaking are fun family activities. Watching stunning sunsets or simply relaxing on the white sandy beach are also options. Bring your own boat and watercraft. A cement boat launch is available on the property.

In a quiet private-home neighborhood along the Scenic Ridge Highway, our Bungalow offers comfortable space for 6: Living room with satellite TV, DVD, and DVR; Dining Room; fully equipped kitchen; Sunroom overlooking the lake with dining table and seating area; 3 bedrooms, and two full baths. The primary bedroom has a King bed and an adjoining bath with shower and tub. The lake-view bedroom offers a King bed, and the third bedroom has a queen bed.

Just off the sunroom with panoramic views of the lake, there is a spacious lakefront covered porch for reading your favorite novel, cooking on the gas grill, dining, and gathering in the comfortable seating area less than 40 steps from the water’s edge.

On the beach, you will find for your enjoyment a large tiki hut, a shaded hammock under the palm trees, Adirondack chairs, and two kayaks.

For bird watchers, we often see strolling sandhill cranes, soaring bald eagles and ospreys, colorful wood ducks, anhinga, herons, black-bellied whistling ducks, Florida mallards, herons, and other wildlife.

Local restaurants within 10 miles include:
The Coop (Comfort food), The Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern, L'incontro (fine Italian), Crazy Fish Bar & Grill (casual seafood), Manny's Chop House (steak house), Cherry Pocket Steak & Seafood Shak (on Lake Pierce), and Blue Palmetto Cafe at Bok Tower Gardens (quick bites),

Things to do within a one-hour drive include:
*Bok Tower Gardens
*Lake Kissimmee State Park
*Streamsong Golf, Dining and Spa
*Ridge Audubon Center and Museum
*Lake Wales History Center
*Polk Museum of Art
*Tiger Creek Preserve
*Legoland
*Circle B Bar Reserve
*Lake Myrtle Sports Center
*Florida Skydiving Center
*Webber International University
*Warner Southern College