Rainbow Springs Florida
We went here to see the spring-fed pool that may contain manatee and to see the abandoned zoo and old attraction park. The foliage and waterfalls made it feel like we were in Jurassic Park! It was all really cool! (Note: A few short videos follow because pictures just couldn’t do it justice.)
Rainbow Springs, first known as Wekiwa Creek, was renamed in the 1930’s, to sound more interesting for tourists. The privately owned attraction, close to one of the 2 major highways in the state, had beautiful gardens, waterfalls, a small zoo, a monorail with leaf shaped gondolas, a rodeo, and glass bottom submarine boats!
Today, as a state park, there is a swimming beach in the headwaters of the spring and volunteers have restored the beautiful gardens and waterfalls. The spring was bubbling with colors and the waterfalls were magical!
On to the abadonded part…The sign read: ZOO COMPLEX – These animal cages were part of a zoo maintained during the days of Rainbow Springs Attractions. There were fox, bobcat, raccoons, birds, goats and deer in captivity for visitors to see.
We could see where the cages were and the stalls for the horses for the rodeo.
You can’t tell by the video, but at a couple points in our exploring, we were surrounded by a LOT of deer! If you’ve seen “Leave the World Behind”, you’ll understand the anxiety I may have felt.
Cece was pleasantly surprised it was fresh water and not salt water!
