Suwannee Springs has been a place for recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation for over 130 years. Back in 1883 it was called Suwannee Sulphur Springs and it's mineral waters were hailed as healing waters that could, in effect, cure everything from indigestion to Malaria and all things inbetween. Many famous and wealthy 'believers' flocked to the springs for healing and to enjoy the plush hotel built in 1883 with it's comfortable accomodations.
One of the first and finest tourist destinations in Florida, it has been called the Disney World of it's time. The Suwannee Springs Resort Hotel was the first of three hotels built there. One year after the completion of the original hotel, it burned to the ground and a new hotel was erected almost immediately. Completed in 1885, the new hotel had 25 sleeping rooms and a horse-drawn trolley for transporting pasengers to and from.
Over the next five years several new buildings were added to the grounds including a bathouse which remained until the 1970s, eighteen cottages, an annex, a boiler room and a stable. The second hotel burned down in 1905 but a third and final hotel was built and it too eventually burned in 1925. While remains are still standing from the third hotel, there is nothing left of the first two.
The spring where people swam for fun and in hopes of curing any ailments they might have is still in use today. Thousands have enjoyed it's cool waters over the years, but the walls that enclose the spring were once structurally stressed. According to locals, up until about 40 years ago they used to have what they called a 'bucket brigade' each year. Several residents would get together and empty much of the sand that had accumulated the year before. Today the springs are managed by the Suwannee River Water Management District so the sand problem has been mitigated.
It's only a short 7.5 mile drive northeast from Live Oak. The springs are open year round and maintain a constant temperature between 70 to 76 degrees.
Be sure to catch every 'Out There with Glen Pla' and 'Average Angler' segment near the :20s and :50s each hour, exclusively on BHSN!