Today was a 2-fer day.  Actually, it was a Wednesday, but we got two things done in one trip.

Seminole Falls info.

Thing one was a trip to Rainbow Springs SP in Dunnellon, Florida.  Located on US-41 just north of Dunnellon, Rainbow Springs was privately owned and opened in 1937 as a major tourist attraction.  The natural springs were “enhanced” with a constructed landscape of streams and waterfalls surrounded by vast gardens.  There were walkways, buildings, a “submarine”, a surface ship, a zoo, a netted bird area, an aerial tram, and a horse arena.  There were also cabins that predated the 1937 attraction.

Seminole “Falls.”

The Rainbow Springs attraction changed ownership several times over the years and was owned by S&H Green Stamps and Holiday Inn along the way.  The opening of I-75 led to the demise of the attraction and it closed to the public in 1974.  (The opening of Walt Disney World probably didn’t help.)  It fell into serious disrepair until purchased in 1990 by the State of Florida and added to the Florida State Parks system.

Alligator warning (although none seen recently here).

All of the attractions are gone, of course, but much of the infrastructure remains, especially the water features and walkways.  The stables / horse arena is now a butterfly garden and the Park Service, along with the Friends of Rainbow Springs (FORS) is removing invasive plant species and replacing them with native pants.  There are actual (unpaved) hiking trails and a modern campground in a different part of the park.  We caught a brief glimpse of a Whitetail Deer while hiking the yellow trail.

Part of the Rainbow Springs headwaters area.

Thing two was a chance to visit with another couple from our FMCA Freethinkers Chapter.  I had been corresponding with various people in advance of our trip to Florida, and John Hagan had indicated back in October that lived reasonably close to where we would be staying.  I checked back through my information, and it turned out that “reasonably close” meant “in Dunnellon.”  In fact, they lived about one mile south of the entrance to Rainbow Springs SP.  We called, they were home, and we stopped by to visit.

An Egret on the hunt at Rainbow Springs SP (FL).

John and Marian had only moved in to this house this past April after six years as full-time RVers and are selling their motorhome.  They are still new enough to this part of Florida that they have not had a chance to explore much of it.  We agreed to make plans to take them along on some “explores” such as the Crystal River and Homosassa Springs areas which lie just to the SW of Dunnellon.  We also invited them to drive up to Williston to see the bus and the resort and have dinner.