Wesley Chapel is an unincorporated census-designated place in Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Tampa Bay Area metro. The population was 44,092 at the 2010 census and continues to grow tremendously. It is located just east of I-75 between SR 56 and SR 54 and contains many upscale housing complexes and the Crystal Lagoon, as well as Saddlebrook Resort and the Wesley Chapel sports complex. The Advent Health Center Ice hockey complex is in Wesley Chapel also. Shopping centers include The Grove, the Shops at Wiregrass, and Tampa Premium Outlets.
Wesley Chapel is an unincorporated census-designated place of 6.1 square miles at the southern border of Pasco County near I-75 and I-275. In 2010, the US Census recorded 44,092 residents. It is one of the fastest growing areas in the United States. John Boyette was born in 1875, the son… Read More
Check us out on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/PascoExt UF/IFAS Pasco Extension upcoming May 2022 events! Orchid Identification and Care Orchids are easier to care for than you might think! Discover how you can keep your orchids thriving. We’ll discuss and identify various orchids, how you can grow and… Read More
Note** Events are subject to change and in Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted. UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County upcoming April 2022 events! Plant Propagation! Learn the joy of taking a piece of your neighbor’s prized plant (with permission of course), and growing an identical one for yourself. Date: Sat,… Read More
Note** Events are subject to change. Masks are recommended. UF/IFAS Pasco Extension upcoming January 2022 events! Learn on the Lawn “The Basics of Vegetable Gardening” Join us at this FREE UF/Pasco county seminar. Pre-registration is required. Please note this is an outdoor event, dress accordingly also sunscreen, hat etc. Location… Read More
Let the good times grow with healthy habits and food! The UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Community Garden Program is now leasing FREE garden plots to Pasco residents. Free Community Garden Plots in Dade City Pasco Extension pairs applicants with an appropriate community garden location in Dade… Read More
17,800-square-foot recreation center is first built in Pasco County in 30 years Wesley Chapel District Park Recreation Complex Grand Opening Celebrate with us in grand style! Join Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources as we officially open our state-of-the-art Wesley Chapel District Park Recreation Complex… Read More
County leaders will discuss priorities for 2022 Legislative Session Pasco County Elected Officials to Hold Roundtable The Pasco Board of County Commissioners and the Pasco County Legislative Delegation will hold a Roundtable Discussion Thursday, August 26, 2021, at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports… Read More
659 volunteers pick up trash at 37 locations throughout Pasco 2021 Great American Cleanup Collects 37K Pounds of Trash Pasco County volunteers collected 36,920 pounds of trash throughout the county during the 2021 Great American Cleanup on March 3, 2021. 659 volunteers cleaned up public spaces, roadsides and waterways –… Read More
Thinking of starting your own business? What’s stopping you? Probably not knowing where to begin, how to get funding, wondering if there is a need for your idea, and fear of failure. None of these roadblocks are unusual. The smart thing is knowing where to go for guidance in overcoming… Read More
Kelly Sinn, CEO for Sunrise of Pasco, has announced the agencywill kick-off SAAM (Sexual Assault Awareness Month) by hosting an event at the Advent Health Center Ice Arena in Wesley Chapel on April 2nd from 7 p.m. till 9 p.m. Sunrise of Pasco will host event at Center Ice… Read More
Do you dream of performing onstage, or have plans to earn a performing arts college scholarship? Prepare first in a local competition, “Spotlight on Talent” which is hosted by the Heritage Arts Center Association (HACA). The event gives talented performers up through grade 12 valuable opportunities for audition and… Read More
~~Drop off a tree for recycling; pick up a tree for repurposing~~ Christmas Tree Recycling Available in Pasco County Turn your Christmas tree into a gift that keeps on giving. Pasco County Recycling encourages residents to recycle their Christmas tree following the holiday season. Recycled… Read More
~~Pasco’s first playground for kids of all abilities opens at Wesley Chapel District Park~~ Universally Inclusive Playground Ribbon Cutting Join Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources as we unveil the new universally inclusive playground for children of all abilities during a ribbon-cutting Wednesday, December… Read More
Wesley Chapel is an unincorporated census-designated place of 6.1 square miles at the southern border of Pasco County near I-75 and I-275. In 2010, the US Census recorded 44,092 residents. It is one of the fastest growing areas in the United States.
John Boyette was born in 1875, the son of John “Berry” Boyette and nephew of Thomas Ashley Boyette. He is shown with his wife Blanche, and children, Johnnie, William, Ruby, and Vera. Photo courtesy of Cletia Pierce, from Images of America: Wesley Chapel by Madonna Jervis Wise. (e2679)
The pioneer Boyett(e), Gillett(e), Godwin, and Kersey
families received land grants in the area in the 1840s. The real influx of
settlers, however, began around the War Between the States when the Stanleys
and Coopers arrived.
A historical marker has: “Originally called Double Branch for the twin creeks that flowed across the Boyette land, the community was named for the Methodist chapel that stood on the northwest corner of SR 54 and Boyette Road.”
The church itself was named for John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement. The name “Wesley Chapel” appears in Hernando County school board records from 1877-1878. At this time, Pasco and Citrus Counties were united as part of Hernando County.
Previous Names for Wesley Chapel
Alligator hunting in the swamps of Wesley Chapel. Lonnie Tucker on far left is guiding the two visitors through the swamp. Photo courtesy of his daughter Anna Jo Bracknell, who said it was typical for him to harvest 3 to 4 gators per evening. From Images of America: Wesley Chapel, by Madonna Jervis Wise. (e2656)
A popular nickname for the area at that time was Gatorville. It was not because of University of Florida either.
In September of 1887 voting precincts were established for
the newly-formed Pasco County. Wesley Chapel was designated Precinct 4.
A post office operated in the area from 1897 to 1902. The post office was called “Wesley,” and maps during that period have the shortened name “Wesley” and some school board minutes also used the shortened name.
Since its founding in 1878, the Double Branch Baptist Church (now the First Baptist Church) has served as a focus for Wesley Chapel community life. The church has had three buildings in its long history. Henry Ryals was pastor in the first building in 1880, Ed Bryant the second in 1935, and Lynn Foster the third in 1970.
Early Wesley Chapel Industries
Cuts Manning, a log roller at the sawmill. (Florida State Archives)
The turpentine still and sawmill represented early industries, though cattle ranching and hog farming on the then open range, crop farming, and citrus growing predominated. When times were hard people turned to charcoal making and even moonshining to survive.
Most roads began as wagon tracks between the farms and ranches and the locations where goods were sold. Eventually these were improved, paved and today have names like State Road 54!
Born on July 25, 1876 in Quitman, Georgia. Moved to Pasco County as a young man and married Ellen Osburn. Agent Waters was shot and killed along with Pasco County Deputy Sheriff Arthur F. Crenshaw from ambush on October 4, 1922. They were returning from a ranch after completing the execution of a search warrant for bootleg liquor. The name of John V. Waters is inscribed (East Wall, Panel 27, Line 5) on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. (State of Florida Archives)
In 1925, there were 3 incidences of arrests, deaths and illegal moonshine production in Wesley Chapel reported in the Tampa and Dade City newspapers. The moonshine operations continued through 1927, with Federal Marshalls uncovering numerous stills and confiscating thousands of gallons of liquor and mash.
Moonshine and a still in the attic. (Florida State Archives)
A prominent local name, Strickland, and a Sicilian distiller named Sangiorgi were some of the many people whose copper stills, liquor, weapons, and mash were confiscated from the local swamps and deep woods during Prohibition.
Wesley Chapel begins Growth with Electricity in the 1940s
Luther Daniel Smith was instrumental in bringing electricity
to the community of Wesley Chapel in 1940s while he served on the Withlacoochee
River Electric Cooperative Board.
In 1956, the Highway 54 West Bridge was built west of the
Eagles Flea Market. The 1960s saw the construction of I-75, connecting the area
with travelers from the north and south.
Double Branch Baptist Church Groundbreaking. Photo provided by Madonna Jervis Wise, author of Images of America: Wesley Chapel. (e2651)
In 1971, a new sanctuary was built for the Double Branch
Baptist Church and the former one was torn down.
The Wesley Chapel pioneer cracker home of Daniel Smith, built in 1894, was donated to Cracker Country in 1979. This hands-on museum is housed at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Smith House, and shares the story of frontier life in Wesley Chapel.
Saddlebrook Resort post card, about 1982.
Saddlebrook Resort formally opened in 1981, with a car-free walking
village design, allowing guests to walk throughout the resort without the need
of a transportation system while providing sanctuary to nature. Thomas L. Dempsey
was the visionary for this award-winning golf and tennis resort in Wesley
Chapel.
Wesley Chapel’s Education and Housing
Wesley Chapel School (1926-27) The two-room schoolhouse was located where the current parking lot of the current First Baptist Church of Wesley Chapel (off SR 54) now is situated. It would be the parking lot to the left of the church if you are facing the front of the church. One room was designated for the 1st through 4th grades and the second room was for the 5th through 8th grades. Photo courtesy of Wayne Sweat, from the new book “Images of America – Wesley Chapel” by Madonna Jervis Wise. (e839)
Wesley Chapel began growing at an unprecedented rate about
this time. 1998 saw the construction of the Sand Pines Elementary School, the
community’s first modern school. Today there are eight public elementary
schools in Wesley Chapel, as well as two middle schools and two high schools.
In fact, the Double Branch Baptist Church was renamed the First Baptist Church
in 1999, the same year as Wesley Chapel High School opened.
In 2006, Wiregrass Ranch High School opened to meet the growing demand of families moving to Wesley Chapel. There are many housing and apartment complexes that were built on the ranches and farms of yesteryear.
Epperson Ranch opened with the Crystal Lagoon in Wesley Chapel.
In 2018, Epperson Ranch opened the Crystal Lagoon, the first
man-made clear water lagoon in the U. S. This 7.5 acre freshwater lagoon is
available to both residents of the Epperson Ranch and the public.
Wesley Chapel’s Shopping and Dining
The first outdoor mall to be built in the area is The Grove, a 445,000 square foot complex that includes a Cinebistro movie and dining theater. The Grove is located in the northeast quadrant of I-75 and State Road 54.
Enjoy dining served at the movie theater at the Cobb Theater in The Grove shopping center.
One of those is Wiregrass Ranch, a 5,000-acre ranch that was owned by the Porter Family. In 2008, The Shops of Wiregrass, an open-air retail and entertainment destination located on the corner of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, opened there.
The Shops of Wiregrass is a popular Wesley Chapel shopping and dining destination.
Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel opened a $150-million hospital
and wellness center on part of the land in 2012.
In 2015, the Tampa Premium Outlets shopping mall brought
discount designer retail to the area and continued the wave of development to
the west side of I-75/I-275.
The abundance of state-of-the-art retailers, restaurants and
amenities have caught the eye of people from around the world who seem to be
moving to Wesley Chapel in droves.
Wesley Chapel’s Sports Tradition Continues
The largest hockey complex in the southeast U.S., premiere golf and tennis academies and more make Wesley Chapel a great place to grow your sports skills!
The largest hockey complex in the southeast United States is
in Wesley Chapel. Advent Health Center Ice was opened at I-275 and State Road
56 in 2017. It has four full-sized ice rinks, as well as a kid-sized rink and
offers classes in figure skating, hockey, curling as well as tournaments, open
skates and dry rink activities. Rentals and events are available.
Saddlebrook has continued its tradition of tennis and golf education, opening the Saddlebrook Preparatory Academy to provide an accredited comprehensive education program while they are attending the Saddlebrook Tennis Program or Golf Academy
Wesley Chapel is an unincorporated area at the southern border of Pasco County, approximately midway between the east and west borders. It is a unique part of Florida’s Nature Coast. Arkyan [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)]
Is Wesley Chapel part of the Nature Coast?
Wesley Chapel continues to grow in population and amenities.
In an area that was pre-designated for economic growth and development, the
Connected City is focused on the next-generation experience of its residents.
This is not simply rooftops, streets and commerce, this is Smart Homes,
autonomous vehicle paths and a business core designed to attract and support
the best and brightest, according to Pasco County.
And, though Wesley Chapel seems more like a bedroom community of Tampa, its location within Pasco County makes it part of Florida’s Nature Coast. There is certainly a lot of shiny new stuff there along with a history that is common to the rest of our area.
Wesley Chapel is one of the fastest growing areas of Florida with tons of options and amenities. Image courtesy of Pixabay
My eldest son chose to live in Wesley Chapel, even though he
was raised in Brooksville. As a young man, it was more appealing to him to live
in a multi-story apartment complex with twenty chain restaurants that will
deliver to him at any time. He still loves to come out and kayak, fish and walk
in the woods. He would rather drive to the outdoor recreation. I would rather drive
to the shopping and restaurants.
Florida’s Nature Coast has it all and Wesley Chapel is an important
part of that.