Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park is a state park in Gilchrist County, Florida, along the Santa Fe River.[2] Operated as a private park for many years,[3] the park was purchased by the state of Florida for $5.2 million and opened as Florida's 175th state park on November 1, 2017.[1] It contains six natural springs.[3] In addition to Gilchrist Blue Spring, the park contains Little Blue Spring, Naked Spring, Kiefer Spring and Johnson Spring.[4]
| Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park | |
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| Location | Gilchrist County, Florida, United States |
| Nearest city | High Springs, Florida |
| Coordinates | 29°49′46″N 82°41′01″W / 29.829424°N 82.683636°W |
| Area | 407 acres[1] |
| Established | 2017 |
The park's full name is Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park. Ruby B. Kirby received the property that is now the state park as an engagement gift from Ed. C. Wright, her employer and fiancé, in 1958. While the couple never married, Kirby was the executor for Wright's estate after he died in 1969. Kirby and her family operated the property as a private park until it was sold to the State of Florida. In 2019, the park was renamed after Ruth B. Kirby in honor of her dedication to the springs.[5]
The springs produce about 44 million gallons of water each day and run into the Santa Fe River. Guests have the opportunity to hike, picnic, camp, snorkel, swim, and paddle throughout the park. There is one concession stand for food and drink at the park. There are various photo opportunities among the scenic view. Some wildlife among the springs include: turtles, sunfish, bass, and catfish.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b "Gilchrist Blue Springs becomes state's 175th park". The Gainesville Sun. November 2, 2017. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
- ^ "Welcome to Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park". Florida State Parks. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
- ^ a b Hoffman, David (November 2, 2017). "Blue Springs reopens as Florida state park". The Independent Florida Alligator. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ De Souza, Charity (July 9, 2019). "A Trip to Florida's Newest State Park is A Must This Summer". Trips To Discover. Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ "History of Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs". Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ "Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park".
External links
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