Do you like Manatees, historic homes, hiking, water sports, or camping? If you do then Blue Springs State Park in Orange City Florida is the place for you. It is also near Disney World.
Manatees
More than four-hundred manatees frequent the spring during winter.
They don’t like water that is cooler than the high sixties. So they come to the creek to warm up in the spring-water which is in the seventies year-round.
There are many platforms for watching the gentle giants along the spring and run.
The Thursby House
The Thursby House is a beautifully preserved example of a nineteenth-century home. It is open for self-guided tours and there are guided tours as well.
It was built in eighteen-seventy-two by Louis Thursby who owned the spring at the time.
Thursby was the owner of Blue Spring Landing which was a major port on the St Johns River before the railroad came to the area.
Water Sports
During the warm months, there are many ways to enjoy the cool spring-water. The park also rents equipment. Here are some of the water activities:
- Paddling
- Snorkeling
- Scuba Diving
- Swimming
- Tubing
Activities
There is something for the whole family in the park all year:
- Boat Tours
- Rental Cabins
- Camping
- Fishing
- Birding
- Picnicking
We hope to come back and camp with the Manatees in the winter.