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Belle Isle, Florida is a friendly retirement community located near Orlando.

Belle Isle FL History

In the southern portion of what is now known as Orange County, there was a chain of lakes that now form present-day Lake Conway. Native Indians lived along the shores of Lake Conway around 800 A.D. These native people were probably ancestors of the Timucuan. Belle Isle children often found spear points and pottery shards just beneath the sandy soil along the lakeshore, remnants of these early Native Indians.

William Wallace Harney was among the early residents. His homestead was made of native pinewood and resembled a castle with turrets. It came to be known as the "Pine Castle", which is how the area of Pine Castle came to be named.

In 1924, a small group of area residents met on Pleasure Island and decided to form their own community. "Belle Isle", which means beautiful island, was chosen as the name of the newly formed community. The City of Belle Isle had an active city government from 1924 until about 1938. In 1954, a group of residents was concerned about an Orange County plan to drain storm water runoff from outside the immediate area and into the lakes. The group discovered that there had been a city government previously, so they took the necessary steps to reactivate the city of Belle Isle.

Belle Isle Florida – A Thriving Retirement Community

Today, Belle Isle Florida is a friendly, thriving retirement community and popular senior vacation area.