Located on Highway 27 at West County Line Road, the new structure contains the Tourist Development Commission’s “Visit Sebring” Logo, and announces the county as the Home of the Sebring International Raceway.
Underneath are the names of the two other communities in the county, Avon Park and Lake Placid.
Officials of the TDC say the logo is designed to highlight Highlands County’s major attraction – the Sebring International Raceway. The monument was paid for by tourist tax dollars and was part of a trio of expenditures. Those included a strategic plan update for the TDC and a sports audit and facilities update as well as the monument.
Local sign makers Souther Signs did the work. They got the job after winning the bid. Company owner Mike Souther designed the monument. He based it on criteria given to him by the county’s Tourist Development Commission.
Souther’s work is seen throughout the county. He worked on the Turn2 Brewery sign, the Circle Theater sign in downtown Sebring as well as the historic directional signs in the City on the Circle.
However, Souther may best be known as the guy who saved “The Diving Girl” from the iconic Reed’s Motel, after the facility was sold. It has been on display a few times in Avon Park. But right now it’s in safe keeping. Souther has said he would love to have a secure location the giant logo could be placed on permanent display,
However wonderful the construction has been, some local residents of Avon Park are not pleased with the message. Shortly after its completion, social media was filled with chatter about the message. Many were unhappy that the major message was about Sebring. They complained that neither Avon Park nor Lake Placid got much billing.
County officials have been quick to jump in and defend the sign. A similar monument is slated to go up on the South end of the county as well.
