Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area | |
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IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
Location | Marion, Florida, United States |
Coordinates | 29°14′48″N 81°38′37″W / 29.2468°N 81.6435°W |
Area | 22 acres (8.9 ha) |
Governing body | Ocala National Forest – Lake George Ranger District |
Silver Glen Springs is a first-magnitude spring and the main attraction of the Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area of Ocala National Forest. [1] [2] It lies at the east edge of the national forest. [3] It is about 2 miles north of the entrance of Juniper Creek, [4] and it is along the edge of the Big Scrub. [1] There is a short spring run that is about 0.75 miles long and goes to Lake George. [1] [2] [3]
The site is managed by Ocala National Forest – Lake George Ranger District and run by a private concessioner. [3] It is a popular day use area as well as an archaeological site. [1]
Native Americans inhabited the St. Johns River around 5000 years ago, evidenced by radiocarbon dating of shell mounds along the river. [5] Artifacts such as Stone Age tools, pottery, and other relics have been uncovered at Silver Glen Springs. [5]
Silver Glen was previously a large private campground. [4] Later, it gradually transformed into a wilderness setting. [4]
Sixty-five million gallons of water a day come out from two spring vents. [3] At the southwest corner of the spring pool is a small spring vent called “Natural Well” which contains fish and the occasional manatee. [3] It is not accessible by water to protect the natural habitat, but can be seen from land. [3] Natural Well is 12–15 feet in diameter and 40 feet in depth. [5] The spring vent at the eastern part of the pool is 18 feet deep. [5] The spring pool is large and semicircular, measuring 200 feet north to south and 175 feet east to west. [5] The pool bottom is composed of sand and limestone with some aquatic grass. [5] The water is clear and cool at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. [4]
Sometimes large schools of striped bass travel from the lake to the headspring. [2] Also, tilapia can be seen going to the spring and building nests. [2] Mullet can be seen as well. [4] There is an immense cave system under the picnic area adjacent to the spring. [2]
The park has the Spring Boils Trail that goes through the woods and leads to a boardwalk that goes to several sand boils, where water bubbles up through the sand. [4] There is an old Native American mound east of the springhead, where Native American groups sometimes have ceremonies. [4]
The area around the springs are relatively isolated with some private hunt camps. [3] The Juniper Club is at the eastern entrance to the springs. [4] This all-male club owns three thousand acres of land in the area. [4]
Silver Glen Springs is a very popular site with large crowds of visitors, especially on the weekends. [3] There is a fee to access the site. [3]
Snorkelers can see saltwater and freshwater fish in the same headspring pool. [2] No lifeguards are on duty. [3] Scuba diving and fishing in some areas are prohibited. [4] Canoe rentals are available. [3]
There is a picnic area with tables, charcoal grills, and a volleyball net. [3] A small general store provides some goods such as ice and volleyball rentals for the nearby volleyball area. [3] Restrooms are on site. [3]
The park does not permit overnight camping, only day use. [4]
In 1941, the movie company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer arranged with the Juniper Club to film some scenes of The Yearling at their property. During the filming, a barge sank in Silver Glen and it can still be seen today. [4]
Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area | |
---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
Location | Marion, Florida, United States |
Coordinates | 29°14′48″N 81°38′37″W / 29.2468°N 81.6435°W |
Area | 22 acres (8.9 ha) |
Governing body | Ocala National Forest – Lake George Ranger District |
Silver Glen Springs is a first-magnitude spring and the main attraction of the Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area of Ocala National Forest. [1] [2] It lies at the east edge of the national forest. [3] It is about 2 miles north of the entrance of Juniper Creek, [4] and it is along the edge of the Big Scrub. [1] There is a short spring run that is about 0.75 miles long and goes to Lake George. [1] [2] [3]
The site is managed by Ocala National Forest – Lake George Ranger District and run by a private concessioner. [3] It is a popular day use area as well as an archaeological site. [1]
Native Americans inhabited the St. Johns River around 5000 years ago, evidenced by radiocarbon dating of shell mounds along the river. [5] Artifacts such as Stone Age tools, pottery, and other relics have been uncovered at Silver Glen Springs. [5]
Silver Glen was previously a large private campground. [4] Later, it gradually transformed into a wilderness setting. [4]
Sixty-five million gallons of water a day come out from two spring vents. [3] At the southwest corner of the spring pool is a small spring vent called “Natural Well” which contains fish and the occasional manatee. [3] It is not accessible by water to protect the natural habitat, but can be seen from land. [3] Natural Well is 12–15 feet in diameter and 40 feet in depth. [5] The spring vent at the eastern part of the pool is 18 feet deep. [5] The spring pool is large and semicircular, measuring 200 feet north to south and 175 feet east to west. [5] The pool bottom is composed of sand and limestone with some aquatic grass. [5] The water is clear and cool at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. [4]
Sometimes large schools of striped bass travel from the lake to the headspring. [2] Also, tilapia can be seen going to the spring and building nests. [2] Mullet can be seen as well. [4] There is an immense cave system under the picnic area adjacent to the spring. [2]
The park has the Spring Boils Trail that goes through the woods and leads to a boardwalk that goes to several sand boils, where water bubbles up through the sand. [4] There is an old Native American mound east of the springhead, where Native American groups sometimes have ceremonies. [4]
The area around the springs are relatively isolated with some private hunt camps. [3] The Juniper Club is at the eastern entrance to the springs. [4] This all-male club owns three thousand acres of land in the area. [4]
Silver Glen Springs is a very popular site with large crowds of visitors, especially on the weekends. [3] There is a fee to access the site. [3]
Snorkelers can see saltwater and freshwater fish in the same headspring pool. [2] No lifeguards are on duty. [3] Scuba diving and fishing in some areas are prohibited. [4] Canoe rentals are available. [3]
There is a picnic area with tables, charcoal grills, and a volleyball net. [3] A small general store provides some goods such as ice and volleyball rentals for the nearby volleyball area. [3] Restrooms are on site. [3]
The park does not permit overnight camping, only day use. [4]
In 1941, the movie company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer arranged with the Juniper Club to film some scenes of The Yearling at their property. During the filming, a barge sank in Silver Glen and it can still be seen today. [4]