Longwood, Florida: Cypress Methuselah - Burned!
Also known as "The Senator." The biblical Methuselah lived to be 969, but the tree lasted way longer than that, an estimated 3,500 years. In January 2012 it was burned down by a drug addict. A sister tree "Lady Liberty," remains.
- Address:
- 761 General Hutchinson Parkway, Longwood, FL
- Directions:
- North of town. On the south side of General Hutchinson Parkway, between Hwy 427/Ronald Reagan Blvd and US 17/92.
- Hours:
- Daily 8 am - sunset. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 407-788-0405
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Visitor Tips and News About Cypress Methuselah - Burned!
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The tree that remains since the fire is a clone of The Senator.
[Laura Fernando, 10/10/2021]
Big Tree Park, The Senator burnt down today. His sister tree is still there though, Lady Liberty.
[Cassie, 01/16/2012]This tree will impress all. There is something diminishing about being near something so old and still living. 40 feet away is the "sister" tree known as Lady Liberty. This tree is only 2,000 years old but still quite impressive. The trees have an iron fence around them, which is just as well because someone decided to carve "fail" into the trunk.
[Slumlord, 10/18/2011]
This place is magical. Very easy to get to and a quiet walk to the big trees.
[Cris Swanlund, 12/03/2007]This Tree is referred to as "The Senator," originally 165 ft. tall before a 1925 hurricane whittled it down a bit.
Folks have been coming to see "Florida's Largest Cypress Tree" for generations. After all, he's 3,500 years old! I think that he used to be billed as the U.S.'s largest cypress, but he must have been dethroned, alas. I grew up in the area, and folks use the park as a navigational aid, as in, "Ya'll just drive a couple miles past the big tree." All the locals know where "the big tree" is! It's a pretty park, anyway, with picnic tables and restrooms and a nice place to chill out a bit while running around doing the "Disney thing." A glimpse of what Florida used to look like before we paved it all over.
[Carolyn Coppinger, 08/02/2004]While "The Senator" is an okay name for a big tree, we prefer the moniker used on old postcards to identify this one: "The Cypress Methuselah."
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Early on Jan. 16, 2012, firefighters arriving at Big Tree Park found the 3,500 year old cypress tree engulfed in flames -- from the inside. It then collapsed. The 118-ft. tall landmark was believed to be the world's oldest pond cypress tree.