Silver Springs, Florida

History

Silver Springs was founded in 1852.

Since the mid-19th century, the natural environment of Silver Springs has attracted visitors from throughout the United States. The glass-bottom boat was invented and tours of the springs began in the late 1870s. In the 1920s, W. Carl Ray and W.M. "Shorty" Davidson, after leasing the land from Ed Carmichael (upon whose death the springs were left to the University of Florida), developed the land around the headwaters of the Silver River into an attraction that eventually became known as Silver Springs Nature Theme Park. The attraction featured native animal exhibits, amusement rides, and 30 or 90-minute glass-bottom boat tours of the springs. The 1934 'Princess Donna' is the oldest and only remaining operational boat from this bygone era. The "Princess Donna' currently operates on the Rainbow River in Dunnellon, Florida. In 2013, the State of Florida took over operations of Silver Springs and combined it with the adjacent Silver River State Park to form the new Silver Springs State Park. The T. W. Randall House on the National Register of Historic Places is located to the northeast.

Several defunct tourist attractions were once located near Silver Springs. The Western-themed Six Gun Territory theme park, which included several attractions such as the Southern Railway and Six Gun narrow-gauge (3 ft or 914 mm) railroad, operated from 1963 to 1984. The Wild Waters park, also in Silver Springs, operated from 1978 to 2016.

Silver Springs was "whites only" until 1967. From 1949 to 1969, African Americans were served by nearby Paradise Park, Florida, which closed when Silver Springs integrated racially.

Cattle ranch development

Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach has been building the Adena Springs Ranch for cattle, an abattoir, residential property development, and a Thoroughbred horse farm in the area, stirring concern over plans for water use and how groundwater draw will affect the springs.

Geography

Silver Springs is in central Marion County and is bordered to the southwest by the city of Ocala, the county seat. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Silver Springs CDP has a total area of 6.2 sqmi, of which 0.03 sqmi, or 0.50%, are water. The springs, in the center of the community, flow out to form the Silver River, which runs 4 mi east to the Ocklawaha River.

Transportation

The main road through Silver Springs is State Road 40, which runs east and west from Rainbow Lakes Estates to Ormond Beach in Volusia County. State Road 326 terminates at SR 40, as does State Road 35, which becomes County Road 35 north of SR 40 before terminating at SR 326. County Roads 314 and 314A are also important north-south county roads that run west and into the Ocala National Forest.

Notable people

• Ross Allen, herpetologist
• Bruce Mozert, photographer
• Ted Potter Jr., PGA Tour professional golfer

Gallery

File:Silver Springs State Park - Silver River Museum Entrance Sign.jpg|Silver Springs State Park File:RandallHouseSilverSprings.JPG|T. W. Randall House File:princess%20donna.jpg|The Princess Donna File:1934 glass bottom boat.jpg|The oldest operational glass-bottom boat in Florida

References

References

1. "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Florida". United States Census Bureau.
2. "P1. Race – Silver Springs CDP, Florida: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau.
3. {{GNIS. 2805193
4. "Marion County". Jim Forte Postal History.
5. (2 September 2013). "Glass-bottom boats, history and monkeys in Silver Springs".
6. "Surviving Steam Locomotive Search".
7. Bevil, Dewayne. "Silver Springs looks back at its 'Sea Hunt' days".
8. VANHOOSE, JOE. (2008-05-23). "Silver Springs marks 'Sea Hunt' anniversary - underwater - STAR-BANNER".
9. Alec Peirce Scuba. (27 April 2017). "Sea Hunt Remembered: Silver Springs, Florida - S02E11".
10. "Sea Hunt (TV Series 1958–1961)".
11. "Now Endangered, Florida's Silver Springs Once Lured Tourists".
12. Florida, State Library and Archives of. "Shipwreck used during filming of the TV show "Seahunt" - Silver Springs, Florida".
13. Joe Callahan [http://www.ocala.com/article/20110928/ARTICLES/110929656?tc=ar Billionaire makes big donation to Fort McCoy School] September 28, 2011 Ocala.com
14. Nathan Crabbe [http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20120515/ARTICLES/120519743/0/APS?p=2&tc=pg Water-issue protesters greet UF's Stronach center dedication] May 15, 2012 Gainesville Sun
15. Cook, David. (February 14, 2015). "Ed Carmichael plans a trailer park at Silver Springs". Ocala StarBanner.