Don’t forget! Lake Rose in Winter Park used to be a famous sinkhole

A sinkhole that opened up in Pasco County is still making headlines in Florida a few days later.  It’s worth a reminder one of the many lakes in the Orlando-area began as a famous sinkhole.

In May 1981, a giant crater opened up in Winter Park at the intersection of Fairbanks Ave and Denning Dr.  It eventually grew to a width of 350 ft and a depth of 75 ft, making it "the largest sinkhole event witnessed by man as a result of natural geological reasons or conditions," according to geologist Jim Jammal, then Florida's foremost expert on sinkholes according to The Guardian.

The sinkhole destroyed a car dealership and five Porsches, parts of two streets, an Olympic-dized swimming pool, and one three-bedroom house belonging to Mae Rose Owens.

TV crews came from across the nation to film the sinkhole, which became a short-lived tourist attraction according to The Guardian.  People even sold "Sinkhole '81" T-shirts.

Once the sinkhole stabilized it became a giant pond.  In 2005 it was named Lake Rose in honor of Owens who passed away.