Be sure to also view the spring from the other side and read the information sign over there as well as the one at the coordinates . And… keep your eyes open for critters in the woods and for the local non-poisoneous snake that lives in the tree on this side of the spring. And notice all of the tiny minnows in the spring! Years ago when I first visited this area (before it became a park) there was a resident alligator. Haven’t seen it in a long, long time.
Green Springs Park is a free public park in Enterprise, Florida featuring a green-hued sulfur spring. It is one of more than 900 freshwater springs in the state of Florida. Green Spring was once part of a 19th-century health resort and the surrounding area is a notable archeological site. A huge shell midden existed near the spring run before being depleted for road building and fertilizer prior to 1885. The few remaining deposits contain primitive tools, pottery sherds, as well as remains of humans and animals. After more than 20 years of effort to acquire and develop the site, the park finally opened in September 2008.
A 'spring' is a point where groundwater flows out of the ground, and is where the aquifer surface meets the surface of the earth. With more than 900 freshwater springs, Florida has one of the largest concentrations of springs on Earth. Most of the springs are located in northern and central Florida. Green Spring supplies fresh water to Lake Monroe from the Florida aquifer. The spring basin is about 70 feet (21 m) wide by about _______ ft. deep. The water varies in color depending on the time of year, changing from green in the spring to more of a turquoise color in summer, back to green in the fall and finally to jade in the winter. The park's ecosystem is primarily a hardwood hammock. A 12-foot-wide paved path and numerous primitive paths cross and loop though the park, under cover of Live Oak, Magnolia, Cedar and Pine trees.
The park is also a trail head for two bicycle routes: the East Central Regional Rail trail and the Spring-to-Spring trail.
Green Springs has been an important landmark throughout the history of Volusia County from the time of early Native American settlements to the steamboat era when Enterprise was the final destination on the St. Johns River. Native Americans, including the Mayaca and Seminoles, considered the land sacred because they thought the sulfur water in the springs was healing.
In the 1880's Green Springs was part of the large estate of wine importer and steamboat baron Frederick DeBary, who used it to entertain guests from DeBary Hall. Well into the 20th century, the site still attracted tourists who were struck by what one observer called the spring’s “delicate green waters.”
Send an email or message to FiddleKate with the answers to these questions.
- Green Spring has a widening shaft that goes down how many feet?
- What is on the floor of the spring?
- A combination of several things affect the spring’s color. Name two?
- What shade of green would you use to describe the color of the water today?
- There are several trees hanging over the water that were used for jumping trees for local children over the years. Now there are NO Swimming signs. But in the past… when someone jumped from the low tree on the other side of the spring… how high do you estimate they jumped from? And…. if they were to have climbed out onto the tree on this side of the spring…how high would you estimate they would have been jumping from?
Optional: Write about your experience today and post photos of your visit to the park! We love photos!
Congratulations to Parkhoppers for being the First To Find!!!
Enjoy the park... and please help keep it clean! Every caching day is a CITO (Cache In Trash Out) opportunity!
