It was 1955 and prominent Ft. Lauderdale businessman Fred Schwarb was ready to see the completion of his brand new summer camp. He had a lot of himself invested in this camp but it never was about the money. Fred Schwarb had a heart for children and he wanted to provide a place where they could learn, play and grow; a place where they could build memories and build character to become strong citizens and strong Americans.

The property he built on was ideal; 114 acres of wooded rolling hills and valleys in scenic highlands county. The camp had 2000 feet of waterfront on Huckleberry Lake , spring fed and shared only with a couple of scouting campgrounds. It was just a few miles away from the sleepy central florida town of sebring and its location in the state perfectly situated the camp to see campers from both coasts as well as the growing areas of Lakeland and Orlando .
 
Camp Sparta saw many years of Florida children laughing, playing, and figuring out how and who to be. The program ran successfully for 20 years with small improvements made along the way, but it wasn't going to last. It's not clear what events led to the summer of 1980, but it appeared to be the end for Camp Sparta . The summer camp program was no longer offered. The program equipment was either sold or stored. All but 35 acres of the property was converted to orange groves. Camp Sparta was now Sparta Groves Inc.