Floridiana Magazine

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Florida Caverns State Park

If you’re looking for a unique old Florida adventure, you’ll want to add Florida Caverns State Park to your list. Located in Marianna, in the Florida panhandle, this park offers a stunning cave system that’s been attracting visitors for decades. And while the caverns are the main draw for the park, there are plenty of other things to do as well.

History of the Florida Caverns State Park

Imagine walking through a cave that formed millions of years ago when sea levels were much higher than they are today. As time progressed, the sea receded and the limestone rock that remained was slowly eroded by water. The result: a series of intricate underground caves that are now enjoyed by more than 100,000 visitors each year – Florida Caverns State Park.

CCC Worker Statue at Florida Caverns State Park

CCC Worker Statue, Florida Caverns State Park | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

In the 1930s, a government surveyor discovered the caves, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) went in and developed a walkable cave system for visitors. The CCC removed mud, widened the passages, and excavated – all by hand.  A rock still visible inside the caverns was used as a guide for the CCC workers. They tied a rope to the rock and around their waists.  When the lights went out, they could follow the rope back to the rock where they could see the light to the entrance. It is said that many of them also hit their heads on the stalactite hanging directly above it, a common occurrence even among cave visitors today!

Rock on ground in cavern

Rock used to guide CCC Workers, Florida Caverns State Park | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The CCC was hard at work for four years constructing trails, lighting in the caverns, a golf course (no longer in use), the Visitor Center, a picnic shelter, and roads and trails on the eastern side of the park. But their work ended abruptly with America’s entry into World War II. During the war, the park was used as a training site for the Army and the caves were used for storage.

The Florida Caverns Become a Park

Florida Caverns State Park

Entrance to Florida Caverns State Park | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Established in 1942, Florida Caverns State Park became the 7th state park in Florida.  It was also the first state park in Florida to offer tours of underground caves.  Expansions have taken place at the park over the years, new trails added, along with a camping area and public boat ramp.

The State was forced to close the park down for nine months however, for cleanup and repairs from Category 5 Hurricane Michael in 2018. Michael wiped out more than 90% of the Park’s forest and damaged many of the facilities.

The park is open again and continues to be a popular destination in the Florida panhandle.

Guided Tours of Florida Caverns

The main attraction at the park is the caverns where you can meander through a dozen or so cave “rooms.” Tours begin outside the gift shop where basic instructions are provided.  Visitors are then led down a path to the cave at the bottom of 35 steps. Led by knowledgeable guides, the tour lasts 45 minutes to an hour and includes walking through narrow passageways and areas where the ceilings only four and a half feet high.  Park literature says the tour is moderately strenuous, but I personally found it to be an easy walk.

Entering the cavern

35 Steps lead to the cave entrance, Florida Caverns State Park | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Tour Highlights

The Great Room is the largest cave chamber and features towering stalagmites and stalactites that have been growing for thousands of years.  This is where that old school lesson comes in handy.  Stalactites (with a c) grow from the ceiling. Stalagmites (with a g) grow from the ground.

There’s also a formation that looks like a layered Wedding Cake and is made up of multiple stalactites that have grown together.  The Soda Straw Room is filled with what looks like delicate soda straws, which are thin, hollow tubes of calcite that have formed over time. And then there’s the Drapery Room, filled with intricate drapery formations that look like curtains hanging from the ceiling.

Wedding Cake

The Wedding Cake, Florida Caverns State Park | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Growing together

More geologic formations, Florida Caverns State Park | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Stalactites

Stunning formations, Florida Caverns State Park | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Tips for Visiting Florida Caverns

If you are planning on visiting the park and touring the caverns, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your visit is a pleasant one.

  • Book your tour in advance. Tours can fill up quickly, so the best rule of thumb is to go to the gift shop as soon as you arrive and purchase your tickets for the tours. Tickets can be purchased in the Florida Caverns Gift Shop.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. The cave tour involved walking on uneven surfaces and includes navigating through some narrow and low passageways.
  • Pay attention to the park’s rules. One of the most important rules is to not touch anything while you’re inside the cave. It protects the cave system and ensures everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience.
  • Bring necessary gear. If you plan to explore the park’s hiking trails, don’t forget water, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a camera to capture the beauty of the park.

Other Things to Do and See at Florida Caverns State Park

While the caves steal the spotlight, the park offers a wide range of activities that cater to outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Water Activities – If you want to swim, you can take a dip in Blue Hole Spring, located near the equestrian/tent camping area.  Be advised though, the spring is 64° and 30 feet deep, and there are no lifeguards on duty.

Swimming dock at Blue Hole Spring, Florida Caverns State Park | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

View of Blue Hole Spring | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

For those wanting to stay above water, canoes and kayaks can be rented in the gift shop then picked up at the canoe/kayak launch along the Chipola River.  A side note on the Chipola River.  At the launch area, the river flows underground through a cavern and reappears a quarter mile away.  During some times of the year when the water is high, part of the river continues to flow above the ground in a man-made ditch.

Canoes and Kayaks | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Canoe and Kayak launch along the Chipola River | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The story of the disappearing river | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Hiking and Nature Trails – The park features several well-maintained trails for bicyclists, hikers, and horseback riders. Trails offer a variety of routes for different skill levels and interests and provide scenic views of the woodlands and the Chipola River.

Picnicking and Camping – Whether you go for a day or a few days, there are plenty of places to camp and picnic.  There are 38 campsites including both RV and primitive tent sites.  The park also provides five picnic areas.

Campgrounds | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Picnic pavilions offer space and shade | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

History – A visit to the museum provides an historic overview of the cave formations along with the significant contributions and conservation efforts made by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during World War II.

Museum exterior | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Welcome to the Caverns | Photo by Doris Collins Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Hours of Operation and Admission Fees

Florida Caverns State Park Guided caverns tours are offered seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day. From Labor Day (September) to Memorial Day (end of May) there are tours only offered five days a week – Thursday through Monday.  The tours are also not offered  Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The gates open at 8:00 a.m. and close at sunset.  Upon arrival, you will be charged a $5.00 per car entrance fee to the park.  Cave tours are $15.00 per person for individuals ages 13 and up, and $8.00 per person for children ages 3 to 12.  Children under 2 and under are free.

How to Get to the Florida Caverns State Park

Florida Caverns State Park is located three miles north of Marianna off of U.S. 90 on State Road 166.  Depending on which way you’re headed on Interstate 10, there are two ways to get there.  If you’re traveling from Pensacola, get off on exit 136, turn left on Highway 276 North and then right on Highway 90 and follow the signs. If you’re traveling from the east, take exit 142, turn right on Highway 71 North, then left on Highway 90.  Follow the signs.

Address: 3345 Caverns Road, Marianna

Phone: 850-482-1228

Plan your visit to Florida Caverns State Park and prepare to be amazed by the wonders that lie beneath the surface and above it.

And if you’re looking for something else to do in the area, just 30 minutes south of the caverns is Falling Waters State Park.

Enjoy the slideshow below on additional photos taken at Florida Caverns State Park.

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Falling Waters State Park | Home of Florida’s Tallest Waterfall

A visit to any of Florida’s 175 state parks is a good day in and of itself. Whether it’s Blue Spring State Park in Orange City to view the manatees, or the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park in Cross Creek to see where the famed author spent her time writing, our state parks offer a variety of experiences.

Did you know there is a Florida State Park that boasts the state’s tallest waterfall? Falling Waters State Park can make that claim and is definitely one park to put on your to-do list.

Falling Waters State Park

THE PARK

Falling Waters State Park is located just south of Chipley in the Florida Panhandle and is comprised of 173 acres and offers a glimpse of what Florida looked like when Spanish explorers first arrived about 500 years ago. Park literature says the land shows evidence of habitation as early as 5,000 years ago and that Native Americans were still living in the area during the British occupation of Florida in 1778. Fast forward more than 240 years and even more is known about the area. In some places, the trail system actually crosses over an “underlying cave system where trained divers using specialized equipment have mapped more than 400 feet of passage beneath the park. These caves and sinkholes play a crucial role in recharging underground supplies of Florida’s drinking water.”

THE WATERFALL

Let’s be honest, when you think of waterfalls, you probably think of the mountains in North Carolina or Georgia, but Florida has its fair share of them as well. They just aren’t as tall and although the highest in Florida is just under 75 feet, it is impressive.

A wooden stairway leads down into the mouth of a 100-foot-deep sinkhole. It’s the closest point to observe the waterfall as the water cascades from a creek into the bottom of the sink then disappears into a cave. On the day of our visit, the sign at the park entrance said the waterfall flow was moderate. Standing close to it, it felt more powerful than that. You could hear the roar and feel the strength of the water as it crashed over the edge.

Fortunately, recent rains had created a stronger flow, which in turn provided a better viewing experience. Summer thunderstorms could result in a raging torrent, or a drought could slow the water to a trickle. Two other observation decks provide picturesque views of the waterfall – with the upper overlook offering the best look at the entire waterfall system. Photos aren’t bad from this location either.

Getting to the waterfall was not as difficult as I expected. A concrete walkway and wooden boardwalks made the hike easier. Steps leading down to them could be tricky if they were wet, but handrails make the descent safer.

OTHER THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Although the waterfall is the centerpiece of the park, there is more to see and do. From the lake to the trails to the camping areas, there is something for everyone.

Turtle Lake

Turtle Lake was created to provide a consistent water supply to the waterfall. The overflow from the two-acre lake actually leads to one of the original creeks that feed the waterfall.

Swimming is also a favorite pastime at the lake. Whether you want to sunbathe on the white sandy beach or take a dip in the water to cool off on a hot Florida day, the lake is one of the draws to the park. And there are good fishing spots, too. You just need to have a state freshwater fishing license.

Hiking Trails and History

Three hiking trails provide ample opportunities to see the lush landscape and or any of the twelve sinkholes within the park. Whether it’s the upland pine forest, a hardwood hammock, or the ferns growing along the trail, there is plenty of natural beauty to behold.

The trails also provide a walking history of the park. During the Civil War, the waterfall powered a grist mill for making corn within the park’s boundaries. A legal whiskey distillery was also operated near the falls in the late 1800s and the spirits were sold at a site that would later become Chipley. Farther along the trail, the remnants of an oil well can be seen. The first oil well was drilled in 1919 but was capped off two years later when it failed to produce commercial quantities of oil.

ADDITIONAL SITES TO SEE

If visiting the waterfall, hiking or swimming isn’t enough, you can also get a glimpse of butterflies in the butterfly garden, let your children play on the playground, or spend a weekend camping at one of the sites. Besides boasting the tallest waterfall, Falling Waters State Park can also claim the highest elevated campground in Florida. Pine Ridge Campground has 24 campsites equipped with water, electricity, picnic tables and ground grills.

How to Get There

If you are on Interstate 10 in the panhandle, exit south on State Road 77 (exit 120). Follow SR 77 about a mile to State Park Road, then go east and follow the signs to the park entrance.

The park is open 8:00 a.m. until sunset 365 days a year, unless there are extenuating circumstances. An entrance fee is also required. At the time of this post, that fee was $5.00 per car.

Watch the slideshow below for more photographs of Falling Waters State Park.

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Wakulla Springs State Park

Even when exploring isn’t the main goal for a weekend, there is always a desire to find someplace nearby to visit for the day.  I recently traveled to Tallahassee to see my granddaughter perform in her school’s spring program.  The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for the weekend, and we knew our Saturday plans should include someplace outside.  Our final choice:  Wakulla Springs Lodge and State Park, about 16 miles south of Tallahassee, truly a slice of “old Florida.”

What made this excursion more enjoyable was seeing it through the eyes of my grandkids.

Wakulla Springs State Park | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

First, a little about the park.  Wakulla Springs State Park incorporates 6,000 acres and was developed as a wildlife sanctuary by Edward Ball who purchased the property in 1934.  There is a lodge on the property, one of the largest springs in the world, a nature trail, and a river tour that offers an up-close look at the wildlife along the Wakulla River.

Wakulla Lodge | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The Lodge

The lodge was completed in 1937 and is still operational today.  Walking inside you can’t help but notice its grandeur.  Everything from the grand piano, to the furnishings, to the 10-foot ceilings.

The ceiling at Wakulla Lodge | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Also in the lodge, a bit of its history is on display, including a photograph of some of the original groundskeepers of the park.  It’s funny what kids pick up on, because later in the day when my four-year-old granddaughter was looking through the photos on my phone, she saw that picture and said, “My great-granddaddy is in that picture.”  Her paternal grandmother, along on our trip, says “It was nothing but swamp land, and he and all those men cleared it out and kept the grounds.”

While inside, you don’t want to miss “Old Joe,” an 11-foot 2-inch stuffed alligator. He was once a famous resident along the river, but met with a tragic death in 1966.  Needless to say, he is still a hit – and kids and grandkids are amazed by just how big he was.

Checking out “Old Joe” | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Wakulla Springs was also home to some famous movies.  Tarzan’s Secret Treasure was filmed here in 1941.  Then there was The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1950s) that used Wakulla Springs for most of its underwater scenes.  An FSU student and part-time lifeguard at the springs played the part of the creature in those scenes.  (Both of these movies are talked about more in the River Boat Tour.)

Movie Memorabilia, Wakulla Springs | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Also, a hit of the lodge, the Soda Fountain which offers some delicious sweet treats and is home to the longest marble counter ever built:  70 feet six inches long.

Soda Fountain at Wakulla Lodge | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The Springs and Boat Tour

Of course the draw to the park is the spring itself.  Wakulla Springs is one of the largest in the world.  It measures 315 feet in diameter, is almost 185 feet deep, and pumps 250 – 300 million gallons of water a day.  A beach and three-story dive tower are favorites among park visitors.

Dive Tower at Wakulla Springs | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

When the water is clear, a glass bottom boat tour can provide beautiful glimpses into the bowl of the spring.  Unfortunately, the boats don’t run as much as they used to and you can no longer see some of the Springs’ treasures:  a mastodon, schools of fish, or Henry-the-Pole-Vaulting Fish.

The River Boat Tour may not offer all of the beauty below the surface, but there is still plenty to see.  A 40-minute leisurely ride around a two-mile loop is a must for visitors.  Our tour guide was friendly, provided answers to questions, and allowed us to drift around points of interest, which included close up views of birds…

alligators…

and amazing views of the river.

Cameras are a must to capture the beauty of this state park.  Binoculars are a good idea, too, even for the youngest of passengers.  As my grandson said, “I can’t see anything without them!”

This is definitely one of those places for the whole family to enjoy.  Plan for a whole day for picnicking, swimming, playing on the playground or visiting inside the lodge.  Just make sure you get your boat tickets early.  They do sell out.

 Floridiana Magazine (FM) Footnote:  Wakulla Springs State Park is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a National Natural Landmark.  It’s believed that Wakulla means “river of the crying bird” or “strange and mysterious waters.”

De Leon Springs State Park

With more than 160 state parks in Florida, it would take a little over three years to visit them all, if you only visited one each weekend.  Those parks are some of the best places to experience the “old” Florida and chances are, no matter where you live in the state, you are within a short driving distance of one of them.

If you live in or near Volusia County, you have a gem in your own backyard – De Leon Springs State Park. The park covers 625 acres and includes a spring that pumps 19 million gallons of water a day and offers something for everyone: water activities, hiking, learning history, picnicking and even pancakes!

Water Activities 

With a spring boasting year round temperatures of 72 degrees, it is a popular location for swimming and snorkeling.  Besides swimming, you can rent canoes, kayaks or paddleboats and explore the paddling trail that provides access to the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge.  There’s also a free boat ramp if you choose to launch your own boat.  And of course, what would water activities be if fishing weren’t included?  Fish in the St. John’s River or the spring run.  Just be sure you have a freshwater fishing license if you plan on casting a line.

Great place for a swim! De Leon Springs State Park | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Rent a canoe to explore the waterways.

Hiking and Birding

De Leon Springs offers up three trails, perfect for both the casual walker and the more serious hiker. One of the trails – The Nature Trail – is a half-mile paved trail and boardwalk that winds through a cypress swamp and leads you to Old Methuselah – a cypress tree that’s more than 500 years old. There are also two other trails – Monkey Island Trail and the Wild Persimmon Hiking Trail.  Wild Persimmon is four miles long and is not for the casual walker.  The park is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, so take along your binoculars and keep an eye to the sky (or the trees).

The Nature Trail to Old Methuselah

 

History

If you are a history buff, there is plenty of history to learn about at De Leon Springs. Nearly 30 years ago a dugout canoe – said to be 6,000 years old – was found in the spring.  Other historical notes include the arrival of the first Spanish friars in the 1590s, the only water-powered sugar mill in Florida, a tourist resort, hotel and casino, a roadside attraction with a jungle cruise, and its current use as the De Leon Springs State Park.  There are plenty of artifacts left over from the time as a sugar mill and most of them are located near the Sugar Mill Restaurant.

One of many historic structures in the park.

Pancakes

Yes! Pancakes!  The Sugar Mill Restaurant at the park is a favorite among guests. Located inside the replica of the old sugar mill, what makes this restaurant unique is that each table has its own griddle.  Visitors are provided  homemade batter and actually pour and flip their own pancakes.  Additional items, like chocolate chips, bananas and blueberries can be ordered to customize your pancakes.  Plan on a wait time, as this is one of the hot spots at the park.

Picnicking

No matter what your reason for visiting the park, make sure you pack a picnic lunch and enjoy eating at one of the picnic tables.  Two pavilions are available for free on a first come, first serve basis, or you can rent one of four other pavilions.  Kids will love the playground!

If you’re looking for a little day trip, pack up the car.  The park is located off Highway 17 in De Leon Springs, about an hour north of Orlando.

Blue Spring State Park

Away from the crowded beaches and major theme parks that attract millions of visitors from around the globe, is the natural Florida. Places where nature is left intact and is preserved.  Places where you can witness the beauty of the “old” Florida.  The Springs.  And there are a lot of them.  In fact, geologists have estimated there to be more than 900 springs in the state, including Blue Spring State Park.

Blue Spring State Park in Orange City is home to the largest spring on the St. John’s River.  With more than 2,600 acres, the park offers something for just about any nature lover. Or manatee lover.

Blue Spring State Park

Manatee Season

Blue Spring is a designated manatee refuge and is the winter home to hundreds of West Indies manatees. Manatee season here runs from mid-November through March and is one of the biggest draws to the park.  The water is a constant 72 degrees, so when the mercury drops, the manatees find their way into the spring run and the spring itself.  On a cold winter morning, with steam rising from the spring, manatees can be easily spotted.  Manatee watchers count them daily and record  their numbers. Since guests are  not allowed to get into the water, several lookouts are strategically located and allow you to stand above the spring to view these gentle giants.

On the day of our visit, with temperatures of 35 degrees and wind chills much colder, 270 manatees were counted.  The following day, that number jumped to 377.


Historical Site

The park is also an historical site. The Thursby House, a two-story frame structure, was built in 1873, at the height of the steamboat era, by Louis Thursby.  It was the hub of activity along the St. John’s River and hosted steamboat passengers as they traveled up and down the river.

Other Amenities

For water lovers, there is canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming, snorkeling and certified scuba diving (with a partner).  Just be advised, no water activities are allowed in the spring or the spring run during manatee season.

For campers, there are six cabins, each with two bedrooms, and 51 campsites.  For those just wanting to get away for a day and enjoy a nice picnic in the park, there are plenty pavilions to help you do just that.

Make sure also you take the boardwalk (1/3 of a mile) through the hammock to the spring.

Orange City is located on Highway 17 between DeBary and DeLand.  The park is four miles off 17 on West French Avenue.  The gates open at 8:00 a.m., but will close temporarily when the parking lot is full.  Admission to the park is $6.00 per car.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park

“I do not understand how anyone can live without some small place of enchantment to turn to.”                          Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Cross Creek

Florida History-1

Front of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlling house

Two hours away from the hustle and bustle of Orlando city life, lays that “small place of enchantment.”  The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park sits between Orange Lake and Lochloosa Lake in Hawthorne, Florida about 19 miles southeast of Gainesville.  Nestled along Cross Creek, it was the homestead of Rawlings, the Pulitzer prize-winning author of The Yearling and author of many other books depicting cracker life.

A small county road leads into the park.  The unpaved parking lot sits off to the side, where you are directed to place your $3.00 park admission into the provided envelope and insert into a small wooden box.  From there, you are free to wander the grounds of the Rawlings homestead, a 72-acre home site featuring nature trails, citrus trees, a barn, garden, tenant house and the main farmhouse.  Not all of the buildings are the originals, but rather true-to-life replicas.

On the morning of our visit, we were the first ones to arrive and the only ones on the first guided tour of the morning.  A gray bearded park ranger, dressed in denim overalls, a plaid shirt and hat provided a very in-depth history of the grounds.  We began at the barn for an introduction to the history of the park before moving to the house itself.  Stepping inside the old cracker house was like stepping back in time.  Through the arrangement of the furnishings and the tales of the old homestead, it was easy to envision Rawlings living at Cross Creek.  A typewriter, pack of cigarettes, and other personal items sat on a handmade table on the screened-in front porch – a favorite place for Rawlings to sit and work.  If you let your mind wander, you can almost hear the clackety-clack of the old typewriter as she worked on her stories….

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“Who owns Cross Creek? The red-birds, I think, more than I, for they will have their nests even in the face of delinquent mortgages.. It seems to me that the earth may be borrowed, but not bought.  It may be used, but not owned.  It gives itself in response to love and tending, offers its sesonal flowering and fruiting.  But we are tenants and not possessors, lovers, and not masters.  Cross Creek belongs to the wind and the rain, to the sun and the seasons, to the cosmic secrecy of seed, and beyond all, to time…”

 ~from Cross Creek

The guided tour through the house lasted about an hour.  With each new room came new insight into the life of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. If you have read any of her books, it is easy to connect to many of the sights of the homestead. If you haven’t, or if it’s been awhile since you have, pick up The Yearling or Cross Creek, read them, then head on over to the park. Some of the scenes in those books come alive inside the walls of this old house.

There are too many stories to tell about the house and the life of its famous occupant.  It is a piece of history you need to experience for yourself.  There is a $3.00 per person charge at the end, but if you’re a Florida history buff or an avid reader, it’s worth it.

The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. October through July (closed August and September).  The house tours are offered Thursday through Sunday.

Florida History_3

Find out more at: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Marjorie-Kinnan-Rawlings