Gordon J. Barnett, originally from New York, came to Altamonte Springs in 1925 to delve into the local fern industry. After familiarizing himself with all aspects of fern cultivation, he established his own fernery and subsequently embarked on a housing development project west of Lake Concord called Fern Park Estates. This development featured small, individual lots, each equipped with a fernery.

The ferneries within Fern Park Estates thrived, producing Asparagus Plumosus ferns widely used in floral arrangements across the United States and Canada. Consequently, the region’s ferneries gained recognition as one of the world’s foremost producers of ferns. Notably, these ferneries primarily employed African-Americans who resided in shotgun houses within the Evergreen Cemetery and surrounding neighborhoods.

Following the success of Fern Park Estates, Barnett continued his development endeavors by creating Pine Hills, another housing community located west of Orlando. Gordon Barnett Park near there on Highway 50 is named in his honor.