Fort Basinger, Florida – Ghost Town on the Kissimmee River – Legends of America
Nestled in the heart of Highlands County, Florida, lies a place where history whispers through the tall grasses and rustling trees. Fort Basinger, once a bustling U.S. Army military post and a thriving town, now exists primarily in the realm of memory. Today, only a single historic homestead stands as a testament to its vibrant past.
The Genesis of Fort Basinger: A Military Outpost
The story of Fort Basinger begins in 1837 during the Second Seminole War, a conflict that saw the U.S. Army engaged in a protracted struggle with the Seminole Indians. Colonel Zachary Taylor, a name that would later resonate in American history as the 12th President of the United States, established a series of small, temporary supply posts along his route from Fort Brooke (Tampa) to Lake Okeechobee. These posts were vital for supplying troops and maintaining lines of communication in the rugged and often hostile Florida wilderness.
One of these posts, strategically located on the south bank of the Kissimmee River, was named Fort Basinger. The fort was a tribute to Lieutenant William E. Basinger, a young officer of the 2nd U.S. Artillery, who tragically lost his life in the Dade Massacre on December 28, 1835. This devastating ambush marked a turning point in the Second Seminole War and underscored the challenges faced by the U.S. Army in their efforts to subdue the Seminole people.
Fort Basinger itself was a relatively modest structure, consisting of a log palisade fortified with blockhouses at opposing angles. Its primary purpose was to serve as a supply depot for Taylor’s forces as they pressed on toward Lake Okeechobee. The objective was to round up Seminole Indians who resisted relocation to Indian Territory, now present-day Oklahoma.
The Battle of Lake Okeechobee: A Turning Point
On December 25, 1837, Colonel Taylor and his troops, numbering around 800, encountered a formidable challenge as they approached Lake Okeechobee. They were ambushed by approximately 400 Seminole warriors led by chiefs Alligator, Billy Bowlegs, and Abiaca. The Seminoles, masters of the Florida landscape, had strategically positioned themselves in a dense swamp bordering the lake.
As the U.S. soldiers advanced into the swamp, they found themselves under intense fire from Seminole warriors concealed in the treetops. The battle raged fiercely, with both sides suffering significant casualties. Ultimately, Colonel Taylor was forced to withdraw his troops to Fort Basinger. The U.S. forces suffered 26 killed and 112 wounded, while the Seminole had only 11 killed and 14 wounded.
The Battle of Lake Okeechobee, while a tactical victory for the Seminoles, had a strategic impact on the war. It demonstrated the ability of U.S. forces to penetrate Seminole territory with large numbers of troops. This, combined with improved tactics, would eventually lead to the U.S. Army prevailing in the removal effort.
From Military Post to Pioneer Town
Fort Basinger was officially abandoned in 1850, but it was briefly reactivated during the Third Seminole War (1855-1858). Following the end of the conflict, the surrounding area gradually began to attract pioneer families. Primarily cattle ranchers, farmers, and trappers, these hardy individuals sought new opportunities in the untamed Florida frontier.
In the 1870s, the town of Basinger began to take shape on the northeast side of the Kissimmee River, in what is now Okeechobee County. The establishment of the town marked a new chapter in the history of the area, transforming it from a military outpost to a civilian settlement.
One of the key figures in the development of Basinger was Captain John Mizell Pearce, a veteran of the Third Seminole War and the Civil War. In 1875, Pearce was granted 157 acres of land on the southwest side of the river, including the site of the old fort. The Pearce family became one of the first to settle in what would become Highlands County.
Pearce built a pine log home for his family and established a cattle business. He also operated a steamboat ferry across the Kissimmee River to Basinger, facilitating trade and transportation between the two communities. In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Pearce served as Deputy Sheriff, becoming the sole law enforcement officer in the lower Kissimmee River Valley for a time.
The Rise and Fall of Basinger
As the town of Basinger grew, it became a bustling hub of activity. By 1878, the town had a general store, and by 1880, it had a school. The town’s location on the Kissimmee River made it a natural center for commerce, with steamboats transporting crops and goods. The town was connected to the railroad system via steamboats going north to Kissimmee. In 1893, the first post office was founded under the name "Bassenger."
By the turn of the century, Basinger was a thriving cowboy town with two hotels, a general store, a clothing store, a schoolhouse, a church, and a vibrant social life. The 1900 Census recorded 338 people in Basinger on the Okeechobee County side and another 165 living on the Highlands County side at Fort Basinger.
However, Basinger’s prosperity was not to last. In 1915, the Florida East Coast Railroad bypassed Basinger in favor of Okeechobee, a town located about 20 miles to the southwest. This decision dealt a severe blow to Basinger’s economy, as the railroad provided a faster and more efficient means of transportation. The Bassenger post office closed in 1918.
A final blow came in the 1920s when steamships ceased operations due to the development of improved roadway networks. Without the railroad or steamboats, Basinger was effectively cut off from the outside world.
A Glimmer of Hope and a Final Decline
Despite these setbacks, Basinger experienced a brief resurgence during the Great Florida Land Boom of the early 1920s. Investors poured money into the area, hoping to capitalize on the region’s potential for development. Newspapers predicted that the "new" town would become a city with a population of 5,000 to 8,000 within five years. A new post office was established in 1925 on the fort side of the river and was called "Fort Basinger." At this point, the community had five stores, three blacksmith shops, two churches, a saddle shop, and the Fort Basinger three-room school with 150 students and three teachers.
However, the land boom soon came to an end, and a series of freezes and hurricanes plunged Florida into an economic depression. Fort Basinger dwindled during the Great Depression, its businesses closed, and most people moved away.
The Pearce Legacy
Amidst the decline of Fort Basinger, the Pearce family remained steadfast. They continued to operate their ranch and support the local school. After the death of Cliff Pearce in 1934, his wife Clara, along with Edna and Pearl Pearce, helped their father run the ranch when the school was closed.
Eventually, Edna Pearce became the sole owner of the ranch. She became a prominent figure in Florida history, serving as an officer in the Highlands County and Florida Cattleman’s Associations. She was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where she served three terms. She married James Lockett in 1953 and remained active in ranching, civic affairs, politics, and social activities.
Edna Pearce Lockett spent the rest of her life on the ranch until her death in 1991. Her estate specified that her home should be set aside as a historical site. The South Florida Water Management District acquired the Pearce-Lockett residence and other historical sites for the Kissimmee River Restoration project.
The Ghost Town Today
Today, little remains of the once-thriving towns of Basinger and Fort Basinger. The fort is gone, and the hotels and general store are long gone. The Pearce-Lockett Homestead, however, stands as a silent reminder of the area’s rich history.
In 2017, the Water District sold the historic homestead at auction. Its current status is unknown.
The site of Fort Basinger was located south of Fort Basinger at the Highway 98 bridge across the Kissimmee River. The Pearce-Lockett Homestead is located on Highway 98, just a short distance northeast of its junction with County Road 721. Basinger was located just across the Kissimmee River.
Fort Basinger, once a symbol of military might and pioneer spirit, now exists as a ghost town on the Kissimmee River. Its story serves as a reminder of the ebb and flow of history, the rise and fall of communities, and the enduring legacy of those who dared to settle the Florida frontier.