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Blue Spring State Park

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Overview

Blue Spring is a state park that is west of Orange City, in Volusia County.

Wikivoyage guide · 14 sections

▸Introduction75 chars

Blue Spring is a state park that is west of Orange City, in Volusia County.

▸Understand209 chars

The park is open from 8AM until sundown, 365 days a year.

The park frequently reaches capacity during the week and on the weekends, during the winter and summer months. To avoid waiting, visit the park early.

▸History645 chars

The largest spring on the St. Johns River, Blue Spring is a designated Manatee Refuge and the winter home (mid-November through March) to a growing population of West Indian Manatees.

For centuries, the spring area was home for Native Americans. In 1766 it was visited by Colonial American botanist John Bartram, and was settled by Louis Thursby and his family in 1856. The Thursby house, built in 1872, remains standing. The spring's crystal clear, 73 degree water can be enjoyed by swimmers, snorkelers, and certified scuba divers with a partner. Canoes and kayaks can navigate the outlet's swift-flowing waters when manatees are not present.

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Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia711 words

Introduction

State park in Florida, United States For the similarly named state park in Alabama, see Blue Springs State Park. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Blue Spring State Park" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Blue Spring State ParkIUCN category III (natural monument or feature)Blue Spring RunShow map of FloridaShow map of the United StatesLocationVolusia County, Florida, United StatesNearest cityOrange City, FloridaCoordinates28°56′53″N 81°20′24″W / 28.94806°N 81.34000°W / 28.94806; -81.34000Governing bodyFlorida Department of Environmental Protection Blue Spring State Park is a state park located west of Orange City, Florida, in the United States. The park is a popular tourist destination; available activities include canoeing, scuba diving, kayaking, fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife watching, and swimming. The spring in the park (Volusia Blue Spring) is the largest on the St. Johns River. Due to its relatively warm temperature of 73 °F (23 °C), the spring attracts many Florida manatees during the winter. About 102 million US gallons (390,000 m3) of water flow out of Blue Spring into the St. Johns River every day.

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Typical for central Florida. A combination of pines, palmetto scrub, some hardwoods (especially along outlet and spring). A variety of birds (incl. endangered Scrub Jay), squirrels, fish live here. Manatees come in the winter.

▸Get in193 chars

Take US-17 from Deland or Sanford to Orange City, look for French Avenue and signs to Blue Spring State Park. There is a street called Blue Springs Avenue, but this doesn't lead to the spring.

▸Fees and permits210 chars

Admission (Feb 2018):

$6 for 2-8 people in a vehicle.

$4 for a single-occupant vehicle.

$2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.

▸Get around105 chars

The park is small and has several short walking trails and a boardwalk overlooking the spring and outlet.

▸See57 chars

The spring is pretty, and can be viewed from a boardwalk.

▸Do157 chars

1 St. Johns River Cruises, 2100 W French Ave, Orange City, ☏ +1 386 917-0724. 8:30AM–4:30PM. River boat tours.

Canoe rentals are available through the park.

▸Buy, eat, and drink254 chars

There is a small gift shop with manatee-themed items and snacks. There are three picnic pavilions and grills if you're bringing food to the park. The Park amenities page has more details.

For more options, there are restaurants in Orange City and DeLand.

▸Lodging70 chars

Various motels are available along US-17 in the Deland, Sanford areas.

▸Camping466 chars

Air-conditioned cabins, a full-facility campground, and primitive campsites are available in the State Park.

Camping (Feb 2018): $24 per night, plus tax, plus a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee. Includes water and electricity.

Cabins (Feb 2018): $95 per night, plus tax, plus a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee.

For campers who plan to arrive after sunset, call the park on the day of arrival at +1 386 775-3663 to get the gate combination and instructions.

▸Stay safe110 chars

You may not touch, feed or ride on a manatee. They are an endangered species, so messing with them is illegal.

▸Go next11 chars

Orange City

[edit] Thursby House The spring was visited by botanist John Bartram in 1766. The spring and surrounding land were acquired by the Weismore family in the mid-19th century and a large plantation-style home built upon a shell mound on the property. The area seemed to be excellent for the cultivation of citrus fruit, and a small railway was built linking Orange City to the dock at Blue Spring. Ultimately, the Florida East Coast Railway was constructed not far from the present-day park. A killing freeze occurred in the 1890s, wiping out area citrus groves and driving the industry south. The Thursbys switched to the tourist trade, taking advantage of the spring along with fishing and hunting opportunities along the St. Johns River. The park was acquired by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in 1972 to kick-start its manatee protection program.

Manatee research

[edit] Researchers have recorded the life history of individual manatees at Blue Spring since 1978, including births, deaths, and relationships. Manatees migrate to warmer spring water during the colder weather in Florida, and often return to the same spring every year. Manatees are identified by their scar patterns, which they acquire mainly from boat strikes, but also from fishing-line entanglements, cold lesions, and fungal infections. The research data collected, both in person and through live video streaming, comprises one of the world's longest-running and comprehensive manatee databases in existence. Several government agencies partner to maintain a Manatee Individual Photo-Identification System for the Florida manatee. Identifications by state park rangers and Save the Manatee Club researchers at Blue Spring have contributed a large number of sightings to this database. During manatee season (November–March), the live video streaming of the spring is made public.

Environmental concerns

[edit] The increasing number of human visitors and also manatees has increased the environmental load on the spring's ecosystem. Both humans and manatees are creating water pollution, and as a result, more filamentous algae grow in the spring area.[citation needed] Another environmental problem is the decrease in the natural water supply to the spring due to the groundwater pumping in the nearby cities. As a result, the output of Volusia Blue Spring has fallen over the last decades.

Recreation

[edit] Blue Spring State Park has 51 campsites and six cabins that can be rented. The camping area is pet friendly. The spring runs a few miles long and features a boardwalk that stretches 1/3 of a mile from the St. Johns River to the headspring. All water-related activities are prohibited during manatee season (mid November–March). Qualified scuba divers can descend into the spring cave in season. Picnicking is a popular pastime, with multiple pavilions available for groups and scattered picnic tables around the entire park. The park also features volleyball courts and a playground, as well as canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The old Thursby plantation house is being maintained and has historical displays that visitors can explore. Various wildlife besides manatees can be seen also, including alligators, bears, raccoons, and various species of birds. Hontoon Island State Park is a short paddle down the St. Johns River. Foodservice, stores, and a water-activity rental station are available for supplies.