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The above photo shows the first look at the Rainbow River one sees when they enter the park. All this
water, averaging about 450 Million Gallons per day, comes from springs here. The water temperature stays very close
to 72 F all year.
Above is a photo in the newly completed interpretive room that is in the visitor center/gift shop building
at the park entrance. This is open Noon to 4:00 PM most days. Much information about the park, wildlife, and the
history of the site can be found in this room. The alligator [not real] shown adds to the experience.
This is one of three man-made waterfalls inside the park. These waterfalls were built in 1937, when
this site was a commercial attraction. This ceased to be a commercial attraction in 1974, and it laid basically abandoned
until 1990.
Too pretty to remove, these waterfalls are carefully maintained. They are
part of the history of the park. The water in the falls is recirculated from the Rainbow River. All waterfalls
in the park are man-made.
A gazebo now sits on the foundation of a long-gone part of the old attraction. This gazebo overlooks
some trails, two waterfalls, and provides a look at part of the river. There are benches to sit on here, and some couples
get married here.
This sign is for real. But nobody has been harmed by an alligator here. As a safety precaution,
the swimming area closes one hour before sunset. Alligators do most of their feeding from dusk to dawn. Notice
the girls swimming in the water.
When using the swimming area, please stay inside the roped area. The rest is an aquatic preserve.
The swimming area was once larger, but had to be made smaller to keep people from destroying the springs while getting rocks
to make rock piles to stand on. This is a VERY FRAGILE ecosystem. Please treat it carefully.
People swimming the afternoon of December 28, 2007.
People swimming on January 6, 2007.
The second, and tallest of the three waterfalls in the park. This one is
close to 60 feet tall.
The third, and most recently restored waterfall in the park. Notice there is a trail that allows one
a closer look. Above is how it looked shortly after being restored. Below is how it now looks after the plants
put in place have grown. Both photos were taken from the same site. The missing tree... ...fell
victim to Hurricane Frances in 2004.
Above and below are a couple looks at some of the springs that feed the Rainbow River. These are very
fragile, and messing with the springs is a big no-no.
The above three photos offer a look at some of the nice walkways to be found in the park. Park visitors
who intend to swim need to remember that the walkways remain open one hour after the swimming area closes.
Above is a look at part of the longer nature trail. This is over 2 miles long, so if you wish to hike
it, plan accordingly. It is very much worth the walk.
Besides the swimming area, other activites in the park are nature trails, bird watching, picnicking, and
canoeing. The park no longer operates the canoe rentals. It is now done through Dragonfly Watersports. For
information on rental fees and hours available, contact Dragonfly Watersports.
When renting the boats, please follow all river rules which are posted at the canoe
concession building. Also, since the Rainbow River is a fragile environment, please stay out of the vegetation.
Also, if you see an alligator, feel free to observe it, but do not harass it in any way. I have on occasion seen people
poking alligators with their paddles. This is not recommended. Not only does it make alligators aggressive, which
means they must be destroyed, but it could also result in a flipped canoe and a spill into the water next to an angry alligator.
Also, due to the current, it is best to assume the return trip will take twice
as long as the trip down the river. To save disk space for my site, I am referring people to the "Alligator Information"
link below the alligator photo. The photo, taken in May 2007, was at a site about 100 feet downriver from the State
Park boundary.
Alligator Information
Dragonfly Watersports
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