DeFuniak Springs, Florida is located 75 miles east of Pensacola, 120 miles west of Tallahassee and over a hundred years back in time. A Chautauqua heritage and one of the two roundest lakes in the world create the backdrop for a rich collection of Victorian and Arts and Crafts homes and public buildings, ideal town planning, a respect for life long learning and abundant natural beauty.

The village of Lake DeFuniak began as a way station for the railroad within a primeval forest of pine and oak. Its earliest citizens, overwhelmed by the natural beauty of this island of summer , were instilled with the dream of a winter resort, an educational center and a logical choice for a county capitol. It was a natural consequence that when a party from the Chautauqua Assembly of New York were touring Florida looking for a suitable locality for a winter Chautauqua site, Lake DeFuniak was the logical choice.

Chautauqua is an idea, a movement and a place which began on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York. Begun as a Sunday School Camp Meeting Assembly, this movement quickly grew to meet the demand for quality education and religious instruction. The movement grew to include the arts and recreation to round out a balanced view of life.

The Florida Chautauqua Winter Assembly began in February of 1885 in Lake DeFuniak and continued every winter for 35 years. It included a book club, lectures by prominent speakers, musical concerts, opera, theater, instruction in almost any worthwhile subject and recreation around the lake.

Commerce sprang up quickly to meet the public demand as excursion trains would bring thousands to town for Chautauqua. Hotel DeFuniak arises out of a tradition which met these distinguished visitors needs.

The Florida Chautauqua Winter Assembly was revived in 1996 and currently lasts for four days around the last weekend in February and is included in a month long elderhostel program. Each year the Assembly grows in days and content and will continue to restore the Chautauqua tradition in DeFuniak Springs.

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