Tamarac Historical Society

Tamarac (Images of America Series) Tamarac Historical Society

Kenneth E. Behring created Tamarac in 1963 and, through his vision, built a city with all the maintenance and recreational facilities included. The promise of the best weather, affordable single-family homes, and the opportunity to be part of a growing area was exciting to all. The first development, Tamarac Lakes, consisting of 250 homes and a clubhouse, became the model of what was to come. ""Go west, young man,"" quoting American author Horace Greely, can be aptly applied to Behring's drive to expand westward. Stymied because the only direct access west was through a stock tunnel, Behring convinced the State of Florida to build an overpass crossing the Sunshine State Parkway for access. The next project was to create the Vista Villas (the Woodlands), an upscale private golf club community. It offered larger houses built with the more affluent in mind, which included Behring's own home. Tamarac continued to grow west with the purchase of 5,000 acres, more than doubling the city's acreage. With growth came roads, businesses, and political infrastructure that continues to attract cultural diversity, making Tamarac the ""City For Your Life.