Croom, also known by its previous name of Pemberton Ferry,[1][2] is a ghost town in Central Florida near Brooksville, Florida, and Ridge Manor, Florida. A rail line came to Pemberton Ferry in 1884.[1] It was a rail stop by the Withlacoochee River just north of where the I-75 bridge over Croom-Rital Road and Withlacoochee State Trail is today.
The Croom Tract is part of the Withlacoochee State Forest, and is located just north of another ghost town called Oriole.[3] There is also a 20,000 acre Croom Wildlife Management Area.[4] Ruins in the area include 1900 Thomas House, old foundations, a brick vat, the remains of an iron railroad bridge, family cemeteries and pits from phosphate mining. The area once included a turpentine still, sawmill, sugar mill, railroad switch out, railroad bridge and ferry. The area is now popular for turkey hunting and single track mountain biking.[5] Another settlement in the area south of the community was known as Oriole and an abandoned Oriole cemetery remains in existence.
- ^ a b A Short History of Florida Railroads by Gregg Turner pages 59, 62
- ^ American Narrow Gauge Railroads by George Woodman Hilton page 367 (Includes map of rail lines)
- ^ Independent Florida-based explorer has documented his exploration of the ghost town of Oriole within Withlacoochee State Park
- ^ Croom Wildlife Management Area (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
- ^ "Biking the Croom trails in Withlacoochee State Forest, FL" by Saundra Amrhein (Visit Florida.com)