Tour Boats at Wakulla
The state park service offers
both glass-bottomed boat
and river tours a Wakulla.
Trees frame Wakulla Springs
The beautiful spring pours out
more than 250 million gallons
of clear cold water each day
from miles of caves.
Wakulla Springs State Park - Wakulla Springs, Florida
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Wakulla Springs State Park, Florida
Wakulla Springs
The beautiful spring, seen here on a rainy day, is
one of the deepest and largest freshwater springs in
the world. It feeds Florida's scenic Wakulla River.
Strange and Mysterious Waters
Wakulla Springs State Park, located just
south of Tallahassee, Florida, preserves
thousands of acres of pristine wilderness
surrounding one of the largest and deepest
freshwater springs in the world.

The name "Wakulla" supposedly comes from
a Native American language and is said to
mean "strange and mysterious waters." It is
an appropriate title for this beautiful place
where more than 250 million gallons of water
pour up from miles of deep caves each day.

The spring is considered one of the most
remarkable geological features in the world.
Specially equipped divers have explored it up
to depths of 300 feet and through miles of
twisting, dark passages. From the glass-
bottom boats operated by the park, visitors
can even see the bones of mastodons and
other prehistoric animals on the floor more
than 80 feet down.

Wakulla Springs is the source of the nine
mile long Wakulla River, one of the most
beautiful natural streams in Florida. The river
was used as a waterway by the prehistoric
inhabitants of the area and then by the
Apalachee Indians who lived here when the
Spanish arrived in Florida. Canoes were
paddled up the river and through connecting
sloughs almost all the way to Mission San
Luis in today's Tallahassee.

By 1817, the Wakulla River was the home of
the Creek Prophet Josiah Francis, one of the
leaders of the Red Stick movement during
the Creek War of 1813-1814.  The famed
"Creek Pocahontas" Milly Francis lived with
her father on the Wakulla River and it was
downstream from the springs that she saved
the life of Private Duncan McKrimmon in
1818.

During antebellum times Wakulla Springs
became a popular spot for outings and
picnics. Numerous writers of the era visited
and described the springs and it has been
regarded as one of the wonders of Florida
from the time the old Spanish colony became
a U.S. possession.

The park exists today thanks to the efforts of
a 20th century industrialist, Edward Ball. He
purchased Wakulla Springs in 1934 and built
the beautiful lodge on the grounds in 1937. It
remains open for dining and overnight stays,
but be advised that reservations are a good
idea if you hope to stay the night.
The park also offers both river and glass-
bottomed boat tours of the spring and river.
The river tours provide an outstanding and
safe way to view an amazing variety of Florida
wildlife including large numbers of alligators.
The glass-bottom boat tours take visitors out
over the deep spring for astounding views of
the unique geological feature and its famed
"pole-jumping fish."

Please click here to visit the park's official
website and be sure to click here for an
outstanding interactive presentation on
Wakulla Springs.

The daily entrance fee at Wakulla Springs is
$6. The cost of either boat tour is $6 for
adults and $4 for kids. To reach the park from
Capital Circle in Tallahassee, exit south onto
U.S. 319/S.R. 61 (Crawfordville Road). At two
miles, veer left onto S.R. 61 and follow it for 6
miles to a flashing red light. The entrance is
just off to your left.
Copyright 2009 by Dale Cox
All rights reserved.
Alligator on Wakulla River
The river tours provide visitors
a safe way to see Florida
wildlife up close and personal.
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Wakulla Springs Lodge
The historic lodge was built in
1937 and features dining and
accommodations overlooking
the spring.