Florida Flywheelers Antique Village

In the early 20th century, the engines in labor-saving devices such as tractors and sawmills used flywheels -- heavy, freely turning wheels that stored the energy needed to keep the engine running and helped it run at an even speed.

In Polk County, a club is devoted to those old tractors and engines, and the club's members maintain a historical park that is the site of occasional shows open to the public.

The Florida Flywheelers Antique Village is on 240 acres between Avon Park and Fort Meade.

It contains about 50 buildings such as stores, gas stations, a firehouse and a chapel, recreating a pre-1950 village, an era when flywheel engines were common.

One permanent display is a sawmill run by a steam engine.

While flywheel engines are the focus of the park, there is also a variety of period memorabilia to be seen.

The park also includes a campground and picnic area.

The Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club was founded in 1972 to promote interest in restoring, preserving and exhibiting old engines and mechanical devices, and to educate its members and the public about their technical and social contributions, according to the club's website.

Admission for November, December, January, and February shows is $7 per person. Children younger than 12 are admitted for free.

Visits by school groups may be arranged during the shows.

For information on the Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club's 2012-13 schedule, or for more information about the club or the park, call 863-285-9121 or log onto the club's website at www.floridaflywheelers.org.

It's located at 7000 Avon Park Cutoff Road in Fort Meade, three miles south of U.S. 98 or eight miles west of U.S. 27.