Wakulla Springs?

[Rudyjohn]

Not many people mention it on the board. Wondered if many have visited, or taken a river boat tour? While we're in Tallahassee we plan on driving down to see the wildlife, cypress, gators, etc. Any info you would like to share?

 

[jensieblue]

I love Wakulla...My husband and I are retired scuba divers and frequently went to the spring. The resort itself is like an old resort hotel. High ceilings. ornate. Some of the old Tarzan films were done there. The boat ride was great and the birding is fabulous. The spring itself is out of this world. There is a diving tower for the bravest and a wading swimming area for the rest of us. At the bottom of the spring rests and old indian dugout canoe. Fabulous. FSU is in charge of managing the facility or used to be. It is used as a part of their hotel resort management program. I remember the food was excellent. There is nothing like falling asleep to the sounds of a Florida forst spring just outside. I loved it and hightly recommend it. My traveling days are now restricted to rolling in a chair so tell the Spring I said hello.

 

[Rudyjohn]

wow! Wonderful review. Thank you.

 

[Grayton Girl]

Greetings, again, Johnrudy! Yes, you MUST go to Wakulla springs when you take your son to Tallahassee for the FSU visit. If there hasn't been too much rain, the spring will be crystal clear and beautiful.

The best thing you can do while at Wakulla springs is to go on the riverboat tour. It is so old-timey. The last time I went (a couple of years ago), our tour guide had such a thick drawling southern accent that some people on the boat from New Jersey confessed that they didn't understand a word he said. Ha! You will see alligators and cormorants and ducks and snakes and baby birds in the nest and fish and deer and maybe manatees and all sorts of wonderful spontaneous wildlife.

If you are adventurous, you can put on your bathing suit and jump (or dive) from the tall diving platform. The water is really chilly though.

As jensieblue stated, the old lodge is something to see. It was built Ed Ball, who was the founder of the St. Joe Paper Company, in the 1930s I think. It is simple, but beautiful, and Spanish in style.

Here is a really cool site about the Spring itself, with additional local lore information: http://www.tfn.net/springs/WakullaSprings.htm

I am obsessed with springs in Florida, and I LOVE Wakulla Springs!

 

[Rudyjohn]

I cannot wait!

Thank you so much for your great review & for all your previous help too!

I'm looking forward to anything old-timey. It will be an eye opening experience for my son to witness some Southernisms. He'll think he's on a movie set.

Great website too!

 

[Biff]

JR, dont forget........GET LOTS of PICS!!!! Sounds like Grayte Funn!!!

I cannot wait!

Thank you so much for your great review & for all your previous help too!

I'm looking forward to anything old-timey. It will be an eye opening experience for my son to witness some Southernisms. He'll think he's on a movie set.

Great website too!

 

[Matt J]

Ahem...

Wakulla Springs was built as an eco-tourism resort by Edward Ball. He didn't have the term at the time, but he was way ahead of the curve. He actually bought the land and built a fence around it to preserve it. Both Tarzan and Creature from the black lagoon had scenes filmed at the Park. Take the cruise, try to get on a glass bottom boat if possible. They will take you past the spots where Tarzan stood on the tree and yelled and the actual spot that the creature emerged.

The Hotel has been in operation since it was built and the restaurant is actually really good. Say hello to the gator too, you'll get that reference when you see it.

If you have ever been to the Florida Museum in Tallahassee, and seen the Mastodon; he was found in the Spring.

Unfortunately you can no longer see the bottom of the spring. This started about 10 years ago and is due to run off.

 

[Lady D]

Greetings, again, Johnrudy! Yes, you MUST go to Wakulla springs when you take your son to Tallahassee for the FSU visit. If there hasn't been too much rain, the spring will be crystal clear and beautiful.

The best thing you can do while at Wakulla springs is to go on the riverboat tour. It is so old-timey. The last time I went (a couple of years ago), our tour guide had such a thick drawling southern accent that some people on the boat from New Jersey confessed that they didn't understand a word he said. Ha! You will see alligators and cormorants and ducks and snakes and baby birds in the nest and fish and deer and maybe manatees and all sorts of wonderful spontaneous wildlife.

If you are adventurous, you can put on your bathing suit and jump (or dive) from the tall diving platform. The water is really chilly though.

As jensieblue stated, the old lodge is something to see. It was built Ed Ball, who was the founder of the St. Joe Paper Company, in the 1930s I think. It is simple, but beautiful, and Spanish in style.

Here is a really cool site about the Spring itself, with additional local lore information: http://www.tfn.net/springs/WakullaSprings.htm

I am obsessed with springs in Florida, and I LOVE Wakulla Springs!

This isn't the springs that has the 325 foot deep sink hole is it? One of the springs down there does.

 

[Matt J]

This isn't the springs that has the 325 foot deep sink hole is it? One of the springs down there does.

Nope, it's only 185 feet at it's deepest, that's about half way up the capital.

 

[Reliford]

My husband and I visited Wakulla and stayed at the Lodge. Such a beautiful place. The boat ride is fantastic-the animals have grown up with these boats touring their home so I guess they assume the boats are just normal everyday members of the spring and barely flinch when you cruise by. The food was outstanding and reasonaly priced. Have fun!