They turned a swamp into a destination

Summary

The 1920s saw a massive real estate boom in South Florida, attracting wealthy individuals like Henry Ford and Jack Dempsey, as well as middle-class hopefuls lured by the promise of easy retirement and dream homes. Developers even installed sidewalks and streetlights in the Everglades to inflate property values and attract buyers. The key takeaway is the allure of Florida as a land of opportunity and a desirable place for retirement, fueled by aggressive marketing and speculation.