REL Assignment 7: Wakulla Springs
Driving to
Wakulla Springs, I almost got lost since we my phone decided not to take me on
the highway but rather back roads. Even
though I was nervous at first, I began to appreciate the small towns and older
parts of Florida I would have missed if I were on the highway.
Wakulla
Springs as the first state park I visited that has a luxurious resort for people
to retreat to. Built in 1937, this
resort was envisioned to be “a most unique retreat” (according to a history
pamphlet). Ball “knew then that the area
had to be preserved” and his resort lasts till this very day. The military even found use in this resort in
World War II by allowing trainees to inhabit it. Interestingly enough, during this period, a
trainee set fire to the roof and it had to be replaced with a metal roof
(instead of the original wood). In the
next segment in history, Wakulla Springs was used to shoot some popular films,
such as “The Creature of the Black Lagoon” and “Tarzan” (just as Silver
Springs).
Predating
this resort was another interesting piece of history: the mastodon
remains. Even though I was unable to
find these remains, I found out they were found in the river where boat tours
are given. Not only does this make
Wakulla Springs more mysterious, but this also adds to the rich history this
park has to offer.
As I walked
around the hotel wearing my Gator T-Shirt (30 minutes away from Tallahassee), I
couldn’t help but notice that I felt out of place not only because this town is
practically the rival of UF, but also because everyone else was dressed very
nicely and proper. It was at this moment
when I realized that this hotel did not fade into history like some attractions
from the “Wish You Were Here” era, but rather this Lodge and these springs
remained a “unique retreat” as well as a historic landmark throughout time and
hopefully people in the future will still have the chance to stop by and see
what Wakulla Springs has to offer.
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