Homeland Heritage Park

Homeland Heritage Park may be the closest you can come to time travel in Polk County.

The park, an open expanse housing several buildings dating to the late 19th century, offers a sense of what life was like here before modernity arrived.

The former one-room Homeland School, the oldest public school building in Polk County, is one of the main attractions. The wood-frame structure, built in 1878, hosts students for demonstrations of a school lesson circa 1880s.

The five-acre park also contains the Old Homeland Methodist Church, which was built in 1887, the former Methodist parsonage and church annex, the Raulerson House, built in 1880, and the English family's log cabin and barn, built in 1888.

The park is located at 249 Church Ave. in Homeland. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and by appointment on Saturday.

Admission is free.

Educational tours are offered on weekdays. Tours for senior citizens and school children are offered by appointment. Schools can arrange field trips by calling in advance.

The park has areas that are available for private and community rentals.

For more information regarding fees and available dates, call 863-534-3766 or log onto www.polk-county.net/ and click on parks and recreation.