Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park

Located just south of Tallahassee, Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is the only Florida State Park with a lodge. The popular Wakulla Lodge, built in 1937, is a historic hotel from the days when timber magnate Ed Ball owned and developed this property around Wakulla Springs, one of the world’s largest and deepest springs. True to its roots, the lodge is dressed in its antique finery, with no intrusion of television to disturb guest rooms. Instead, the lobby, bedecked in fine woodwork and boasting a panoramic view of the springs swimming area, is the gathering place, where families can snuggle together and watch "Creature from the Black ...

Located just south of Tallahassee, Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is the only Florida State Park with a lodge. The popular Wakulla Lodge, built in 1937, is a historic hotel from the days when timber magnate Ed Ball owned and developed this property around Wakulla Springs, one of the world’s largest and deepest springs. True to its roots, the lodge is dressed in its antique finery, with no intrusion of television to disturb guest rooms. Instead, the lobby, bedecked in fine woodwork and boasting a panoramic view of the springs swimming area, is the gathering place, where families can snuggle together and watch "Creature from the Black Lagoon" in the very place it was made. Wakulla Springs has been the star of many movies over the decades, from Tarzan swinging through the trees to Jack Lemmon surfacing from a crashed airplane in "Airport 77." The expansive park surrounds the spring, protecting ancient trees and a bevy of smaller springs including Cherokee Sink, a nearby swimming hole. Most visitors come to swim at the beach, jump off the diving board into the depths, and enjoy the park’s River Boat Tours, which get you up close to native wildlife perched and floating along the river’s banks and islands.

About the Expert

Sandra Friend has written 12 books about Florida, including the Explorer's Guide (Countryman Press) series to Florida.