Blue Hole: A Florida Spring
The Blue Hole is a natural
Florida spring. The water
rises from underground.
The Blue Hole is a natural
Florida spring. The water
rises from underground.
Beautiful Setting
This pretty little bridge
crosses Carter's Mill Branch,
which flows from Blue Hole to
the nearby Chipola River.
This pretty little bridge
crosses Carter's Mill Branch,
which flows from Blue Hole to
the nearby Chipola River.
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Florida Caverns State Park
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The Blue Hole at Florida Caverns State Park
| The Blue Hole at Florida Caverns The Blue Hole, seen here on a cool, quiet day, is popular for swimming and picnicking. |
Water that will turn you blue!
According to local folklore, the Blue Hole at
Florida Caverns State Park received its name
because it is a "hole filled with water so cold
it will turn you blue!" The name also could
have originated from the beautiful blue
appearance of the water on some sunny
days.
Either way, Blue Hole is a natural Florida
spring and an important tributary of the
pristine Chipola River. It also provides major
recreational opportunities for visitors to
Florida Caverns, who come here to enjoy
swimming, sunbathing, picnicking and the
beautiful view.
The spring is also an important landmark in
Florida history. Spanish missionaries and
soldiers crossed the Natural Bridge of the
Chipola and passed by Blue Hole in June of
1674 on their way to establish the missions
of San Nicolas and San Carlos at Chacato
Indian villages west of the park. The spring
also lay along the route of important Spanish
military and exploring expeditions that
passed through the region in 1676, 1686 and
1693.
Andrew Jackson's U.S. Army passed here in
1818 during the First Seminole War and
Jackson's topographer, Captain Hugh
Young, made note of the spring. Although he
incorrectly believed that the spring was the
rise of the Chipola River which he had
observed disappearing into the ground at the
Natural Bridge, Young provided the first
known written account of its existence.
The spring was an important landmark to
early settlers and a primary road leading
west through Jackson County passed by
Blue Hole until better routes were built both
north and south of the park.
During the Reconstruction era, a major
incident took place at Blue Hole when gunfire
erupted as some of Jackson County's African
American citizens were holding a picnic here.
Florida Caverns State Park received its name
because it is a "hole filled with water so cold
it will turn you blue!" The name also could
have originated from the beautiful blue
appearance of the water on some sunny
days.
Either way, Blue Hole is a natural Florida
spring and an important tributary of the
pristine Chipola River. It also provides major
recreational opportunities for visitors to
Florida Caverns, who come here to enjoy
swimming, sunbathing, picnicking and the
beautiful view.
The spring is also an important landmark in
Florida history. Spanish missionaries and
soldiers crossed the Natural Bridge of the
Chipola and passed by Blue Hole in June of
1674 on their way to establish the missions
of San Nicolas and San Carlos at Chacato
Indian villages west of the park. The spring
also lay along the route of important Spanish
military and exploring expeditions that
passed through the region in 1676, 1686 and
1693.
Andrew Jackson's U.S. Army passed here in
1818 during the First Seminole War and
Jackson's topographer, Captain Hugh
Young, made note of the spring. Although he
incorrectly believed that the spring was the
rise of the Chipola River which he had
observed disappearing into the ground at the
Natural Bridge, Young provided the first
known written account of its existence.
The spring was an important landmark to
early settlers and a primary road leading
west through Jackson County passed by
Blue Hole until better routes were built both
north and south of the park.
During the Reconstruction era, a major
incident took place at Blue Hole when gunfire
erupted as some of Jackson County's African
American citizens were holding a picnic here.
Swimming with the Alligators
This sign at Blue Hole
reminds visitors that they
share the spring with
Florida's wildlife, including
alligators.
This sign at Blue Hole
reminds visitors that they
share the spring with
Florida's wildlife, including
alligators.
Exactly what happened is not clear. Some
reported that a sniper opened fire on the
picnic, but others reported that panic led to a
"friendly fire" incident as people in the crowd
began opening fire. Either way, the incident
sparked a series of bloody reprisals and was
part of the important post-Civil War event
known today as the "Jackson County War."
Blue Hole today is an important part of
Florida Caverns State Park and is popular
with park visitors during the spring and
summer months.
According to a study prepared by the
Northwest Florida Water Management
District, the water emerges from the spring
with a temperature of 67.8 degrees (quite
warm in the winter and quite cold in the
summer). It comes from a natural vent that is
38.5 feet below the surface. (You can read
their report on Blue Hole by clicking here.)
Picnic areas and restroom facilities are
available at Blue Hole and although it is most
popular during the warmer months, it is
beautiful year round.
reported that a sniper opened fire on the
picnic, but others reported that panic led to a
"friendly fire" incident as people in the crowd
began opening fire. Either way, the incident
sparked a series of bloody reprisals and was
part of the important post-Civil War event
known today as the "Jackson County War."
Blue Hole today is an important part of
Florida Caverns State Park and is popular
with park visitors during the spring and
summer months.
According to a study prepared by the
Northwest Florida Water Management
District, the water emerges from the spring
with a temperature of 67.8 degrees (quite
warm in the winter and quite cold in the
summer). It comes from a natural vent that is
38.5 feet below the surface. (You can read
their report on Blue Hole by clicking here.)
Picnic areas and restroom facilities are
available at Blue Hole and although it is most
popular during the warmer months, it is
beautiful year round.
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| Copyright 2011 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |