1900s homestead located down the highway at the Wildwoods Campground and when the city made a major upgrade in 2001 .
“ We got city water . That ’ s one good thing that happened ,” said Gustafson .
While the Powell and Gustafson families have been among the long-term local families watching the area slowly grow , they aren ’ t the only ones .
Stop into Sparky ’ s Place , and 37-year-old Krystal Lightfoot , a fifth-generation Astorian , can tell you the history of the Trip Advisor-rated restaurant ’ s expanded footprint while at the same time wistfully reminiscing about the days when the road through town was still dirt and a ferry shuttled folks across the river .
“ It has grown a lot from the time I was a kid ,” said Lightfoot .
Now that SR 40 is a busy state road leading Krystal Lightfoot tourists into town and through the region , she ’ s hoping for modern amenities such as lights , possibly four-laning the highway and the addition of a multi-use trail for bicycle and pedestrian use to keep up with the influx of people discovering Astor .
The Florida Department of Transportation is currently conducting a 27-mile corridor planning study for the multi-use trail along SR 40 , including Astor and Astor Park .
“ I ’ m happy to see it growing , develop [ ing ] into something bigger ,” she said .
Black Bear crossing
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