In today’s day and age, most Orlando locals know of Thornton Park Village as one of Downtown Orlando’s most affluent neighborhoods. The neighborhood, known for its quaint cobblestone streets, boutique shopping, dining, and entertainment, is also one of the most sought-after zip codes within the Orlando city limits.

Above all, Thornton Park village sits on a very rich history which contributed to the expansion of Downtown Orlando and the beautiful village we know today.

The history of our neighborhood brings us back to the early 20th century. What is now beautiful high-rise and mid-rise buildings, was once home to cattle barons and citrus growers. The now-brick streets were starting to be built and shaped throughout the neighborhood. James Thornton, a local developer, was the original developer of the neighborhood that would one day grow to be a walkable neighborhood flooded with high rises, coffee shops, and restaurants. Many current street names such as Thornton Avenue, Thornton Lane, and James Street, were named after the developer. In 1915, the village of Thornton Park was born.

Thornton Park area photos by Chris Colon

After the Second World War, families and businesses thrived in the Lake Eola and Thornton Park neighborhood and even added a new addition, which is now known as the fountain at Lake Eola. However, as the 1960’s approached, the Thornton Park neighborhood took a swift decline as other parts of Orlando started expanding. Colonial Plaza, Orlando’s first suburban shopping mall, opened about two miles away from the Village, which lured people out of the quaint downtown neighborhood.

In 1971, Walt Disney World first opened its doors bringing in tourism, creating jobs, and moving Orlando’s local population west of Downtown Orlando. Thornton Park Village’s population was changing and aging. The neighborhood, once filled with young professionals, no longer had an appeal as that demographic was looking for more youthful neighbors, as well as larger homes and yards to expand their families.

In the 1980’s, Thornton Park Village’s population and glamour had taken a massive decline. Lake Eola was even nicknamed “Lake Eerie-ola” as there was some crime in the area, and many residents moved out of the once progressive downtown neighborhood.

Revitalization efforts began with a partnership between longtime residents and then-Mayor Bill Frederick, who wanted to take a stand and build the neighborhood back up to the glory it was meant to achieve.

Thornton Park Village residents started petitioning to make key areas of the neighborhood, like the “Washington Street Bridge” be designated as historic sites. With this wave of revitalization, a new influx of young white-collar workers (many of whom were in the LGBT community) moved into town looking for a more “authentic” neighborhood, as opposed to the more urban areas they had come from.

With the fresh, new residents came the buying, fixing, and flipping of the quaint Thornton Park bungalows that were once left boarded and abandoned.

In the 1990s young people continued the gentrification of Thornton Park Village. Phil Rampy and Craig Ustler were responsible for flipping abandoned Thornton Park homes and reselling them at higher value. What was once the former site of Orlando’s first Publix in 1940 became Dexter’s restaurant, owned by restauranteur Dexter Richardson. The village was starting to thrive again.

Thornton Park area photos by Chris Colon

Today, the vision of Thornton Park has become a reality. Washington Avenue is lined with boutique stores, family-owned businesses, and high-end real estate along cobblestone streets. Most of East Church Street is occupied by the luxury apartment buildings in the most sought after part of town, including our own, Camden Thornton Park and Camden Lake Eola.

This now thriving town hosts events such as the Thornton Park Wine Walk, Holiday Celebration and Parties, as well as the Moon Mercado, which is a festival that takes place every full moon at The Veranda at Thornton Park.

Our charming village has been through quite a rich history and is a perfect place to call home in Downtown Orlando. Camden Thornton Park and Camden Lake Eola stand proudly in the Thornton Park District, occupying most of East Church Street. Our luxury buildings are a perfect place to call home, whether it is lounging in our amenities, stepping out for a coffee at a local coffee shop, or going for a jog around Lake Eola to take in some fresh air. Be part of what makes Thornton Park special and call Camden home today.