When it first opened, the mall featured anchor stores such as Mervyn's, Sears, and Belk, followed shortly by the addition of Maison Blanche. In 1990, J. C. Penney joined the mall, and in 1994, Burdines also became part of the lineup, relocating from downtown Lakeland.

Lakeland, the largest city in Polk County, is home to the largest one-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world at Florida Southern College, Circle B Bar Reserve, Detroit Tigers Spring Training, and Safari Wilderness.