- July 20, 2026
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Just beyond the playground at Mixon Farms, there’s a wind turbine towering over what’s now an event lawn.
Manatee County purchased the farm for $13.5 million in July 2025. While staff members are making upgrades to the property, they’re also preserving the farm’s agricultural history.
The wind turbine doesn’t work anymore. The display is an amalgamation of several old wind turbines that were left over from the former farm operation.
Parks Maintenance Supervisor Joel Thomas said the turbines were used to keep frost off the plants.
A more immediately recognizable piece of Mixon memorabilia sits behind a fence in the warehouse: a tramcar from “Mixon’s Orange Blossom Express.”
Thomas called the rusted tramcar a “rainy day project.” The staff isn’t trying to restore tram service, they’re salvaging the car to create a display.
Once the tramcar is sanded and painted, signage will be added and it will become another piece of history embedded into Mixon Farms' landscape.
The former Mixon Fruit Farms served the community for 84 years. County staff members are well aware that the farm's history will be part of the new park and event center’s appeal.
“I remember visiting with my mom and going into the shop to buy fudge and oranges,” said Rachel Desorosier, the Mixon events supervisor. “People identify with that, or some of them say, “My aunt was married (at Mixon Farms), so I want to get married there, too.”
Manatee County is picking up where Dean and Janet Mixon left off.
Citrus canker infected the orange groves during the 1990s, so the Mixons turned the farm into a destination to shop, tour and host private events.
The county has no plans for tram tours, but it does have several private events booked, including three upcoming weddings. Visit MyManatee.org/mixon-farms#rental for booking information.
Manatee County also launched an outdoor movie series in November and the Mixon Farms Market in March.
The market is paused for the summer months, but will return Sept. 27 for its first full season. Desrosier said thousands of people strolled through the market during its three-month inaugural run to see what the array of “makers and bakers” had to offer.
July 16 marked the launch of Crafty Critters, a children’s program designed for ages 4-10. For $10 a session, kids learn about nature, do crafts and feed turtles. The classes are held on Thursdays through Aug. 6.
Desorosier said Crafty Critters is a trial run for now to see how many people enroll.
Upcoming adult programming includes a fruit tree tour Aug. 15. The goal is to tie programming to the theme of agriculture.
The original elements of Mixon Fruit Farms remain — the store, warehouse, gazebo and grand pavilion — but the property has been noticeably spruced.
Smaller touchups include a freshly turfed putting green and strands of lights in the tunnel of vines leading to the grand pavilion, which is also twinkling with new lights overhead.
More practical touchups include renovated bathrooms and sidewalks that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The major addition is the farm-themed playground, which is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Janet Mixon said she wishes they could have added something like it when they owned the farm.
The playground is ADA compliant with all the accouterments — slides, swings, benches and picnic tables. Shade structures are also being installed.
The original vision when purchasing the farm was to transform the store and warehouse space into a library.
“The county continues to evaluate the addition of a library location at Mixon Farms to determine the most effective path forward,” Communications Manager Casey Zempel said by email. “The project would require inclusion in the capital improvement plan and is contingent upon public input, board approval and the availability of future funding.”
In the meantime, library services are being added to the location. A book drop-off is currently available. And once the county’s bookmobile is up and running, Mixon Farms will become a regular stop.
