FORT MEADE, Fla. — Originally an Indiana boy, Virgil Butler grew up on a farm in Liberty.

“I started farming after I got married in 1927,” he shared. “While farming, I did lots of carpentry and general contracting. I moved down here to Florida and built houses in 1957. I have a brother still farming in Liberty.”

Butler built more than 3,000 houses in Lee and Collier counties, and then, “I retired in 1994 and started making toys.” The term “toy” is really an understatement when seeing the beautiful wooden creations he had on display in his building at the Florida Flywheelers this spring.

The building Butler’s models are located in has Indiana roots, too: “I tore an Indiana bank barn down and hauled it on a big tractor-trailer,” he said.

The barn works wonderfully to hold the wooden toys that were originally built for his 17 grandchildren. “I started making toys for them and when they outgrew them, I stated making toys for myself and my neighbors,” he explained.

As his talent progressed, so did the complexity of his creations. Butler’s next step was to create more detailed models – “Then, I went onto executive toys with more details.”

These days he spends part of his time fixing toys. “The kids bring me toys that have broken,” he said. “When I make something, I give a lifetime repair guarantee.”

The 83-year-old and his wife, Ruth, still keep busy. He works part-time for Meals on Wheels and at the church, and she volunteers wherever they need her. “She has been a good mother and a good wife,” Butler added.

When he looks over his vast numbers of models and takes stock, he said the most challenging one he created was a rollercoaster. “I spent a lot of time,” he said and laughed, adding, “I threatened to burn it. It was my own fault; I didn’t research it enough.”

Starting on a new project takes much preparation: “I go take pictures and make my plans. I spend most of the time measuring.” One unusual thing about this modeler is that once is enough for any project.

The bank barn building is filled with trucks, threshing machines, a sawmill and even the snow machine engine that is on the grounds of the Flywheelers. The snow machine is housed in its own building and once was used to pump natural gas.

The Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club is a nonprofit organization founded in 1972 “to promote interest in restoring, preserving and exhibiting antique internal combustion engines, steam engines, antique tractors and autos and other labor-saving devices from the bygone years.”

This was done by members hosting shows at their homes and farms around the state. As interest grew, some of these shows were held at rental facilities that could handle larger public attendance. In 1997 it was decided to purchase property in a central location in south Polk County, where members could have a show to display their collections to the public without the need to rent facilities.

Flywheeler Park has now grown to almost 240 acres and includes a tractor pull track, club and member buildings that house displays, collections and many large engines and a membership of more than 1,500. The club hosts three shows per year and the next one will be Nov. 7. For more information, visit www.floridaflywheelers.org