Ok here goes! Opatishawaukalocka is the original long form , a Seminole word "opilwa",swamp, and "Lako" means big. There's a cypress hammock nearby .The community was started by Glen Curtiss aviation pioneer and James Bright. Curtiss selected the name Opa Locka during the 20's land boom because the original buildings were very like a film he had seen called the Arabian Nights. And thats the truth!