From early Frontier Fort to WWII Sonar Site to Community Park Vision
The Fort Gatlin site has a rich history spaning hundreds of years. From early frontier days when the army built Fort Gatlin as a place to shelter and defend against the Native American tribes at the time. To the Navy constructing the Sound Laboratory, and now to what we hope will be a site for the community to connect and enjoy the space and learn about the land they now call home. Below is a well penned excerpt from one in our community articulating this point.
“I know that we have a lot of people living in Orlando today that didn't grow up here and probably don't think Orlando has much history prior to Disney. Well, I think we should try to change that. At this very moment we have a rare and unique opportunity to build a historical park on this very site and tell the WHOLE story of Orlando! The Fort Gatlin site is probably the most important historical site in Orlando. As I said earlier we have a very rare and unique opportunity to change that, but we have to act quickly. OCPS intends to market this rare historical site to the highest bidder by the end of July 2025 and if that happens any chance of preserving it as a park are gone FOREVER!
Why is the Fort Gatlin site so important? It is the very beginning of what would become ORLANDO. Prior to the construction of Fort Gatlin by the U.S. Army this part of Florida was Indian territory--Seminole Indian territory. Clashes between the early settlers and the Seminoles were frequent and the presence of federal troops was the only way to keep peace. Fort Gatlin was manned intermittently by the army during the twelve-year war with the Seminoles but mostly served as a haven for the settlers when tensions were high with the Indians. The fort was strategically located on a small piece of land located between Lakes Gatlin, Gem Mary and Jenny Jewell. Strategic in two ways 1. The location of the fort limited the Seminoles' movement in the area and 2. The only North-South road that could support wagon traffic through the area was the Delaney/Summerlin trail that wound around Lake Pinelock, past Lake Jenny Jewell, approached Fort Gatlin then turned right at the fort back toward what is now Orange Ave. After the war several soldiers that served here continued to make the Fort Gatlin area home.
I could go on and on with the early history of Orlando, but the most important point is that we all have an opportunity and an obligation to take a careful look at what would be forever lost if we make a bad decision now. Instead of circumventing the will of the people lets embrace the will of the people and embrace the early history of Orlando. Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past and once again pave over our history.”
~Neighborhood Resident
Long before European settlement, this area was inhabited by Seminole groups-a mixture of the Creek refugees, various Florida tribes, and escaped slaves. Seminole leaders such a King Phillip and the Coacoochee met under the Council Oak nearby to plan and govern their communities.
The U.S. Congress passes the Indian Removal Act, demanding that all Native American tribes east of the Mississippi relocate westward. Seminoles resist, setting the stage for conflict.
On December 28th, 1835 The Seminole warriors ambushed Major Francis Dade’s column—officially ignites the Second Seminole War (1835–42)
On November 9th, 1838, nearly 3 years after the Dade Massacre, The U.S. Army establishes Fort Gatlin on what is now the shore of Lake Gem Mary. Named for Assistant Surgeon John S. Gatlin (killed in the Dade Massacre), the 80 × 80 ft log stockade—with two blockhouses at diagonal corners—was sited to control natural chokepoints formed by Lake Gem Mary, Lake Jennie Jewel, and Lake Gatlin
On August 14th, 1842, Colonel William Jenkins Worth declares the Second Seminole War over. Though active hostilities cease, a military presence at Fort Gatlin continues for several more years.
The U.S. Arm officially and finally, withdrew the majority of their forces from Fort Gatlin. They left behind a handful of solders and their families, who began to farm citrus and raising cattle on the nearby lands.
The old fort site becomes the county seat of newly formed Orange County (separated from Mosquito County in 1845). The budding community is renamed Orlando, reputedly after militia member Orlando Reeves, who died in the war and is said to be buried nearby.
Orlando is growing rapidly with new settlers now. The Hotel Fort Gatlin opens downtown which was on the site of the Orlando Sentinel building, that is also consequently undergoing redevelopment as a sign of current modernization of our society. The hotel featured an AAA office, a Radio Station and Murals by a local artist Joy Postle. Gatlin Avenue and the Fort Gatlin Shopping Center adopt the fort's name, cementing its legacy in local toponymy.
During World War II, the U.S. Navy builds the Underwater Sound Reference Laboratory on the archaeological site of Fort Gatlin. Leveraging the depth of Lake Gem Mary, the facility—comprising low- and high-frequency test bays and an anechoic tank—advances sonar transducer calibration as a cutting-edge sonar test site. Engineers and technicians developed and calibrated acoustic equipment essential for submarine detection, making this site a pivotal asset for Allied naval operations during World War II.
The lab is reorganized as the Underwater Sound Reference Detachment (USRD) under the Office of Naval Research, continuing classified sonar research.
As part of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure), the Navy decides in 1996 to shutter the Orlando lab; it officially closes in 1997 and its functions move to Newport, Rhode Island.
Orange County Public Schools acquires the former lab, repurposing it as an administration building (notably for Environmental Compliance and Sustainability) before deeming it unsuitable for long-term use
The Department of Defense formally gifts the property to OCPS. Under the transfer agreement, any demolition requires State Historic Preservation Office approval, preserving the site’s archaeological significance
Today, Fort Gatlin’s shell stands unused, but residents are advocating for its demolition and the creation of a vibrant community park. Proposed plans include interpretive displays honoring the site’s naval history, playgrounds, picnic areas, walking trails, and a pavilion to foster educational and recreational opportunities.
For all the latest news and updates on our progress with the site, check out the "Updates" section.