Driving down Jupiter Farms Road might make you think about how much of Florida’s wilderness has been turned into suburbs. But in this Florida suburb lies a secret linked to the famous Chicago mobster Al Capone and as well as movie star Burt Reynolds.
In 1923, Al Capone purchased a property in what is now known as Jupiter Farms. As the Palm Beach Post reported, when he bought the property, Jupiter Farms Road didn’t even have a stop light and was known as “Italian Farms Road.” The area was known as a prime location for tomato growing due to the location and fertile soil. With this blossoming industry came immigrants from Italy who helped tend the tomatoes.
As many know, Al Capone was of Italian descent and had many “associates” who were also Italian. You may have guessed that Capone himself never tended any tomato crops during this time, but rather used the location as a stash house and a place to hide his goons and their families, providing them with housing and work.
Fast forward to the 1960s and this property was bought by none other than Burt Reynolds. He turned the property into a luxurious compound where he wed his wife Loni Anderson, built a farm and petting zoo and filmed portions of the film Smokey and the Bandit on the property.
Now you can visit the Feed and Supply store which is built on top of the former Al Capone structure’s place. Next door you can see a newer development named Triple P Farms where you can see Burt Reynolds’s old ranch. Be sure to check out the many parks in the area including Riverbend Park, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, Pine Glades, Cypress Creek Natural Area, and Grassy Waters Preserve.
