The Polk Experience

Polk County legend Scot ”The Rocketman” Ellis comes in for a landing

Perhaps the greatest water ski jumper of his generation, Polk County legend Scot "The Rocketman" Ellis is calling it a career. Find out how a globe-spanning career started in Lakeland with .49 cent tacos and his plans for the future. 

Women, Softball and Sport, with THE Spring Games CEO, Alison Strange

Alison Strange, CEO of THE Spring Games, joins Kevin Smith and Jack Cormier to discuss the upcoming event in Polk County, the long last influence of sports tourism on a community and how the past two years have changed the game for events in general. 

That’s a fivehead

On this roundup episode, we discuss if the Rays should come to Polk County, upcoming sports events including RussMatt and PFX, and the recent Major League Baseball Hall of Fame winners and losers. 

A preview of the Central Florida Classic STOL Competition

If you like planes - especially takeoffs and landings - this is the event for you. 

STOL stands for Short Takeoff and Landing, and its the hottest aviation competition category going. 

Joining us is Anitra Goddard of the National Stol Series to talk about the Central Florida Classic STOL Competition going on in Lakeland Dec. 3 and 4 as part of the Sun N Fun Holiday Fly-In and Car Show. 

Josh Hicks takes us on a tour of Davenport‘s newest community center

Growing by leaps and bounds, Davenport needed a community center.

Josh Hicks has been there since the doors opened and shares the town's vision for their future.

Artist and entrepreneur, Lakeland‘s Gillian Fazio

Both artist and entrepreneur, Gillian Fazio has paved her own way to success. Her murals can be found throughout Central Florida and even on the Central Florida Visitor Information Center in Davenport. Listen in to how, just four years out of college, she's created her own career path. 

Amada Anderson of Winter Haven Food Tours

With more than 30 restaurants in a two mile radius of downtown, Amada Anderson knew that Central Florida's Winter Haven was the perfect spot for a food tour. 

We talk food, her YouTube channel and more on this episode of the Polk Experience.  

An RV park so nice that Margaritaville came knocking

It started as a blueberry farm.

It became an RV resort

And in just a few months, Cabana Club will finish its transformation into Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Cabana Cabins in Auburndale. The hospitality brand, named after the Jimmy Buffett beach bum classic, is known around the world.

Less known are the Cabana Cabins. More tiny house than rustic abode, these charming overnight options allow we who don’t RV to enjoy this amenity package destination.

Giving us our tour today are Alexa Russo and Beth Wiley, their marketing department’s dynamic duo.

Lakeland Originals: Gene Engle and The Orange Cup

The Orange Cup has been one of the premier powerboat races in the Southeast for nearly 90 years. For nearly all of those years, a member of the Engle family has been at the helm. Today we talk to Orange Cup Race Director Gene Engle about the fastest sport on water, powerboats that go nearly 150 mph, and the future of the Orange Cup -- to be held this year Oct. 16-17, 2021. 

A day trip to Bartow

Here's something a little different -- a proposed day trip to Bartow. 

 

We visit the Cookie Jar, Rafal Natural, the LB Brown House and the Netflix-featured, Wonder House.