The Shields Painting Difference: Perfection with Every Brush Stroke
Many painting companies in Florida rely on flashy marketing and big promises to try and attract new clients. But when it comes time to work, they fall short of their promises. This is often due to a lack of experience, qualified painters, and a drive to overachieve. At Shields Painting, we do things a little differently than other painting companies in Citrus County. We believe that a professional paint job should be as close to perfect as possible. Our goal is to leave you 100% satisfied, whether we're touching up an old residential paint job or performing a complex commercial project. It might sound simple, but we achieve that goal through honesty, hard work, beautiful results, and reasonable pricing.
As a family-owned and operated painting company in Silver Springs, FL, we strive to provide personalized, professional, and friendly service. Shields Painting has been in business since 1968 for a good reason. Whenever possible, we go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Unlike some of our competition, we want to know all about your house or business painting project: your vision, your preferences, your challenges, and your goals. When we understand your needs, we can present you with a fantastic final product - one that you're proud to show off to friends and neighbors.
At Shields Painting, we combine our extensive experience with time-tested, meticulous painting processes, resulting in the highest quality painting results around. As a painting contractor in Citrus County, we can take on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in Florida.
A few of our most popular painting services include:
- Interior Painting
- Exterior Painting
- Residential Painting
- Commercial Painting
- Cabinet Painting
- Ceiling Painting
- Fence Painting
- Sign Painting
- MUCH More!
Our commercial, industrial, and residential painting contractors take the proper steps to protect your property and belongings while we work. Our team will clean up after ourselves, so your property is left clean and free of debris when we're done. After all, we think there's only one way to do a job, and that's the right way.
Painting Services
Eco-friendly & clean work area.
PDCA Certified Member.
Your Go-To House Painting Company in Silver Springs, FL
Your home is a haven of relaxation and solitude. It is uniquely you - a place where you can express who you are through style and design. Whether you need interior touch-ups for your crown molding or a new exterior coat of paint, hiring a reliable painting contractor is the best way to get quality results.
At Shields Painting, we know how important it is to have a home that highlights your tastes and personality. That's why we offer an extensive array of residential painting services in Citrus County. As tempting as it might be to try a DIY paint job, without the proper skills and experience, there is a good chance that the results will turn out less than satisfactory.
High-quality painting requires skill, experience, and patience. If you're a homeowner who needs residential painting services but doesn't have the time, patience, or skills to handle the job, look no further than Shields Painting. We offer accuracy, precision, and longevity with each paint job we perform. Our customers choose Shields Painting for their home because they receive:
- Free Quotes with Detailed Project Breakdowns
- Affordable Pricing
- Expert Painting Contractors
- High-Quality Paint Products
- Combo of Traditional and Modern Techniques
- Well-Maintained Tools
- Unmatched Craftsmanship
- Friendly, Personalized Service
- Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work!
The majority of our house painting services come in two forms: interior and exterior.
Interior Residential Painting
As an interior painting contractor with decades of experience, our expert technicians have developed an interior painting process that maximizes quality and emphasizes customer satisfaction. We understand that interior painting goes beyond aesthetics. It protects your ceilings and walls and helps you sustain a healthier place to live for your family. When only the finest craftsmanship will do inside your home, Shields Painting is here for you.
Our seasoned team of painting experts and craftsmen is dedicated to respecting your space and providing you with the look and feel you're craving inside your home. Whether you bought a new house and want to make it your own or need minor touch-ups but have no time, Shields Painting is ready to tackle the job, no matter how small or large.
Unlike some painting companies, our interior house painters take the time to get the details right, every time. For instance, color is only one aspect of your interior paint job. The paint sheen or finish is just as important. Certain finishes are better for living rooms and bedrooms than in kitchens and bathrooms. We'll help you find the right finish and paint colors for your home, so you don't have to worry about touch-ups or repainting.
Some of our most popular interior house painting services include:
- Ceiling Painting
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Living Room Painting
- Bathroom Painting
- Basement Painting
- Color Consultations
- More
Cabinet Painting
Citrus County cabinet painting deserves its own section on this page because it requires more time, skill, and quality paint than most sections of your home. If your home's cabinets are built into its woodwork, replacing them can be obnoxiously expensive. Compared to the cost of installing new cabinets, painting your kitchen cabinets is much more affordable.
At Shields Painting, we specialize in transforming old cabinets into new, gorgeous features that are just as usable as they are beautiful. Each step of our cabinet painting process is meticulous and thorough. And we'll take care of the entire job, from cleaning, prep, and sanding to priming, painting, and reassembly. This unique service lets you enjoy a brand-new look in your kitchen without having to go into debt by replacing your cabinets.
Whether your cabinets are new, but you want to change their color or you'd like to transition wood cabinets to a painted finish, Shields Painting has the expertise and experience to give you a new look you'll love.
Exterior Residential Painting
Your home - it's a place that not only keeps your belongings safe. It protects your family and loved ones, too. It's one of your largest investments, and like anything else of value, it should be protected. However, Florida weather can take a toll on your home's structure and paint, lowering your home's value and even putting your family at risk.
While it's true that a beautiful exterior affects your house's value, it shouldn't take thousands of remodeling dollars to make a positive change to your home. There's a fine line between reasonable pricing and top-quality painting, and that sweet spot is what Shields Painting aims for. If you want to transform how your friends and neighbors see your home, never underestimate the power of a professional paint job.
Our exterior residential painting services are designed to boost curb appeal, give your home a fresh look, and help it stand up to Florida's unique weather. But we provide more than that. When you hire Shields Painting for your outdoor painting project, you will enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your home is in truly capable hands. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and help bring out the best in your property, whether you need to re-stain your deck or remove old, peeling paint from your siding.
If you're on the hunt for the very best exterior painting contractor in Silver Springs, FL, look no further than Shields Painting.
Some of our most popular exterior house painting services include:
- Vinyl Siding Painting
- Deck Painting and Staining
- Stucco Exterior Painting
- Wood Exterior Painting
- Porch Painting and Staining
- Soffit Painting
- Fascia Painting
- Window Painting
- Front Door Painting
- Thorough Painting Prep
- More
The Premier Commercial Painting Company in Silver Springs, FL
When it comes to first impressions, your businesses' appearance plays an important role. Your commercial property's paint job factors into its overall aesthetics. A great-looking, well-maintained paint job can mean the difference between a customer walking in your storefront and passing by. Conversely, an old, worn-out commercial paint job can send the wrong message to prospective customers. If you can't take the time to keep up your property's appearance, why would a customer spend their hard-earned money on your products?
The same goes for your businesses' interior paint. Would you want to do business with a company that has peeling paint or unsightly crown molding? At Shield's Painting, our goal is to create a beautiful environment that your customers and employees will love inside and out. When you work with our business painters, you can rest easy knowing we treat your business like it were our own. We always clean up after ourselves and know that operations cannot come to a halt just because we're painting. As such, we'll work with your busy schedule to ensure the job gets done right the first time without disrupting your day-to-day commitments.
With decades of commercial painting experience, we know the demands of a commercial painting project necessitate a disciplined and focused approach from the start. Our team of business painters is committed to delivering quality, on-time results on every project, every time - no excuses
We offer professional business painting services to a variety of building types, including:
01
Industrial Painting
A high level of care and finesse are required to effectively paint an industrial property. At Shields Painting, we know that industrial paint jobs involve much more than aesthetics. That's why our industrial services are customized to your specifications, using industrial-grade materials that stand up to heavy-duty operations.
02
Retail Store Painting
Our commercial painters apply effective, yet appealing interior and exterior paint that stand up to the daily rigors of busy retail environments.
03
Small Business Painting
Do you own a restaurant franchise? Have a small "mom and pop" location that needs a fresh coat of paint? Shields Painting has the resources and reliability to efficiently get the job done the first time. That way, you can focus on serving your customers, not having your business repainted.
04
Healthcare Location Painting
From walk-in clinics to long-term care facilities, Shields Painting is sensitive to your patients' needs. We know you must protect your patient's privacy while maintaining productivity. Our approach to healthcare location painting centers around your schedule to avoid disruptions in care.
05
Apartment Complex Painting
Erase signs of wear and make your apartment complex or multi-family building a more desirable place to live with a stunning, professional paint job.
Florida's Most Trusted Painting Contractor
Shields Painting has been in the business since 1968. In a world where so much has changed, we are proud to uphold the ideals that make us successful: hard, honest work, getting the job done right, and excellent customer service. Providing you with trustworthy, quality work will always take priority over rushing through a project to serve the next customer. That is just not the way we choose to do business.
As professionals dedicated to perfection, we strive to provide a unique painting experience for every customer - one that focuses on their needs and desires instead of our own. Whether you need residential painting for your home or commercial painting for your business, we encourage you to reach out today to speak with our customer service team. Whether you have big ideas about a new paint project or need our expertise and guidance, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
352-212-1533Free Consultation
Latest News in Silver Springs, FL
Clearly a unique way to paddle through Old Florida
PATRICIA HORWELLhttps://palmbeach.floridaweekly.com/articles/clearly-a-unique-way-to-paddle-through-old-florida/
If you are looking to get away and experience Old Florida, a kayak outing at Silver Springs State Park, near Ocala, fits the bill. This works just fine as a day trip — or you can take advantage of the park’s rental cabins or a campground accommodating tents and RVs. There are also lodgings nearby for those who prefer to stay longer.View the wildlife both above and below the water by exploring the clear blue canals from a clear kayak. It’s an easy paddle and Get Up and Go Kayaking provides you with a knowledgeable gui...
If you are looking to get away and experience Old Florida, a kayak outing at Silver Springs State Park, near Ocala, fits the bill. This works just fine as a day trip — or you can take advantage of the park’s rental cabins or a campground accommodating tents and RVs. There are also lodgings nearby for those who prefer to stay longer.
View the wildlife both above and below the water by exploring the clear blue canals from a clear kayak. It’s an easy paddle and Get Up and Go Kayaking provides you with a knowledgeable guide who will point out local wildlife (which might even include wild monkeys).
We were equipped with a kayak (for one or two people), life vests and a dry bag for personal items. But don’t bring too much with you as there isn’t too much storage space. There were about eight kayaks in our group tour.
Our guide, Josh, an Ocala native, steered us through the waterways where we saw fish, birds, turtles — even an alligator or two from afar. But, not to worry, the guides know all the gator hangouts and avoid those areas. We spent more time looking down than up, and let Josh lead the way. Besides the wildlife, remnants of sunken boats lie below the surface.
The adventure includes a relaxed paddle, stopping occasionally to take photos, learn more about the springs or just take a break. The journey eventually takes kayakers right into the headspring, which pumps more than 500 million gallons of water a day into the Silver River.
The region is rife with history. It was inhabited at first by Neolithic people in Florida, in a time when mastodons and giant ground sloths still roamed the peninsula! Later came the Timucua, followed by Spanish explorers and missionaries as well as the Seminoles.
During the 1850s, the Silver River saw steamboat traffic transporting crops and supplies. Farms were established along the river. Right after the Civil War, steamboats brought tourists to the area. A visit to the springs was considered a must.
During our journey, we learned of the springs’ Hollywood past. In the 1930s, at least 20 movies filmed scenes there, including “Rebel Without a Cause” starring James Dean, “Distant Drums” starring Gary Cooper, the James Bond movie “Moonraker,” “Creature from the Black Lagoon” and six Tarzan films. The television show “Sea Hunt” starring Lloyd Bridges was filmed in part at Silver Springs. It is believed that Mr. Bridges learned to scuba dive there. Paramount bought the park in the ’60s and eventually the state gained control of the property.
Besides the clear kayak tours, the park features individual kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals — and the famous Glass Bottom Boat tours, which have operated since 1924.
Glass Bottom Boats run every 20 minutes until 4 p.m. Tickets for the 30-minute tour are available onsite or online, and the cost is $12 for seniors and children 6-12, and $13 for adults. Extended tours are $20 for seniors and children 6-12, and $25 for adults. Children 5 and under are free.
Kayak tours run an hour and a half, with three tours daily at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 for children 11 and under, and $62 for adults. Reservations must be made in advance.
The park, which also features a museum, a Florida Cracker historic village, a restaurant, snack bar and souvenir shop, is open from 8 a.m. to sundown seven days a week. ¦
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Best Time To Visit Silver Springs State Park
Em Thomashttps://a-z-animals.com/blog/silver-springs-state-park-best-time-to-visit-cost-and-fun-activities/
Silver Springs State Park in Silver Springs, Florida is one of the largest springs in the entire country. The park is home to a long list of amazing excursions and tours, and if you’re visiting Florida, thi...
Silver Springs State Park in Silver Springs, Florida is one of the largest springs in the entire country. The park is home to a long list of amazing excursions and tours, and if you’re visiting Florida, this park is a must-see stop.
Silver Springs State Park is over 4,000 acres in size and includes a spring, river, and forest. It’s an amazing place to learn about Floridian flora and fauna with hikes, boat rides, and guided tours. The park has a rich history and a large variety of plants and animals.
One of the special things to do at Silver Springs State Park is take a clear-bottom boat ride around the spring, allowing you to see the life underneath the water! Read on to discover the full history of the park and all of the amazing things you can do while you’re visiting.
History of Silver Springs State Park
The Silver Springs area of Florida has a profound history that dates back over 10,000 years. Many people have enjoyed this sector of Florida for a variety of purposes. In fact, in 1850, this shore was a commercial trading hub, and steamboats would pull up for the purpose of moving supplies. It’s hard to imagine this beautiful, protected land used for industrial use.
After the Civil War ended in 1865, the Silver Springs started to be honored for its beauty. Adventurers by steamboat and railroad would stop in the Springs to explore the amazing forests and stunning waters. There’s a lot to explore in the area, so it’s rightful that they became a tourist destination.
In 1870, the glass-bottomed boat was created by Hullam Jones and Phillip Morrell. They made the bottom of a rowboat clear so that they could see what was underneath the water. This is now a staple of the Silver Springs State Park, which offers glass-bottomed boat tours on a daily basis!
Things To Do At Silver Springs State Park
There are a lot of things to do at Silver Springs State Park! The park is home to not only the Silver Springs but also the Silver River, which means the park is full of awesome things to do.
Visitors to the park can plan on doing any number of standard state park activities, including hiking, biking, and camping. You can also rent kayaks and canoes directly in the park. However, Silver Springs State Park is also home to some pretty unique adventures.
Silver Springs State Park’s claim to fame is its glass-bottom boat tours. Visitors can take a half-hour or extended tour of the springs in a glass-bottom boat for under $30. Tours start at $12 per person, making it easy and cheap to explore the deep blue waters of the springs. You’ll not want to miss this!
Silver Springs State Park is also home to a few different dining options. There are a number of restaurants within the park, providing delicious and accessible options to visitors. Stop by the Springside Restaurant for a burger and fries, or head over to Paradise Treats for a scoop of yummy ice cream.
If you’re coming to Silver Springs State Park to hike, there are some great trail options for you! The park has five defined trails, each differing in intensity and length. Here’s a quick overview of the trails you can hit while you’re visiting Silver Springs State Park.
Creek Trail
Creek Trail is the newest trail at Silver Springs State Park. It’s a 3/4-mile loop that will take you to the only tributary at the park!
Spring Connector Trail
The Spring Connector Trail is an awesome walk for folks looking to get a couple of miles in. One way, the trail is 2.3 miles, totaling over 4.1 miles roundtrip. The trail connects a few different nearby trails, making it a great option for folks wanting to explore.
Sandhill Trail
The Sandhill Trail is a 1.7-mile loop that’ll lead you through some of the gorgeous terrain offered at Silver Springs State Park.
Sinkhole Trail & Old Field Loop
The Sinkhole Trail and Old Field Loop Trail at Silver Springs State Park are both upland trails. The Sinkhole Trail is a bit longer, looping 2.2 miles, while the Old Field Loop is just under one mile around.
Swamp Trail & River Trail
Both the Swamp Trail and River Trail will take you to see the beauty that is Silver River. The Swamp Trail is just under two miles, while the River Trail is 1.3 miles. Both are looping trails.
If you’re planning on coming to town, keep an eye on the Silver Springs State Park events calendar. The park hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year, so if you and your family are stopping into town, you may want to time it with some special fun! They celebrate holidays and host craft shows throughout the year, so be sure to check the calendar for an updated schedule.
If you’re looking to have a special event in Florida, consider choosing Silver Springs State Park as your venue. They host weddings and other parties all year round, so check out their Wedding & Catering page for more details about renting out a space.
Wildlife At Silver Springs State Park
Silver Springs State Park is known for being home to a wide variety of wildlife in the trees, forests, and beneath the surfaces of the water. Birding is extremely popular here, so keep your head in the clouds as you stroll the beautiful property!
As you explore the uplands of the park, it’s common to run into deer, armadillos, and foxes! You’ll also very likely see some Sherman fox squirrels running around the acreage. There are coyotes and black bears on the land, as well, though it’s unlikely you’ll spot them. As always, if you come into the proximity of wildlife, give space and proceed cautiously.
The river is home to some of the most amazing wildlife found in the park. Manatees, alligators, and turtles live in the water. On your glass-bottom boat ride, you’ll very likely see quite a few different varieties of fish, as well! Expect to see a lot of Floridian wildlife while you’re at the park.
Silver Springs State Park is located in north-central Florida. Florida is warm all year round, with some intense temperatures during the summertime. Not only that, but visitors flock to Florida on summer breaks.
With that in mind, the best time to come to Silver Springs State Park is during the Florida off-season. March and April, as well as September and October, are less busy and feature temperate weather. However, the Silver Springs State Park is open seven days a week, all year round (including holidays!), so whenever you can visit, it’ll be waiting for you!
Cost of Visiting Silver Springs State Park
Visiting Silver Springs State Park is not very expensive! In fact, it only costs $8 per vehicle to enter the park. However, the park offers some equipment rentals and tours, which will add a few bucks to your trip’s totals.
Glass-bottom boat tours range from $12-25, depending on the length of the tour and the time of the trip. There’s a child and senior discount, as well. For a half-hour tour, adults can expect to pay $13, with children and seniors costing $12 a head.
Paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes can also be rented for varying amounts of time. A one-hour self-guided paddlesport rental will cost between $30-45, while full-day rentals cost between $60-75. The Silver Springs State Park gives a full breakdown of costs, as well as a page to make reservations.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © David Radzieta/iStock via Getty Images
Protecting Florida's Springs
floridadep.govhttps://floridadep.gov/springs/protect-restore/content/protecting-floridas-springs
In 2016, the Florida Legislature identified 30 "Outstanding Florida Springs" that require additional protections to ensure their conservation and restoration for future generations. These protections are included in water quality restoration plans, known as Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs). These plans are focused on reducing nitrogen pollution that is impacting the water quality of these springs.The legislation requires each BMAP to identify the sources of nitrogen pollution within the springshed, and to include projec...
In 2016, the Florida Legislature identified 30 "Outstanding Florida Springs" that require additional protections to ensure their conservation and restoration for future generations. These protections are included in water quality restoration plans, known as Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs). These plans are focused on reducing nitrogen pollution that is impacting the water quality of these springs.
The legislation requires each BMAP to identify the sources of nitrogen pollution within the springshed, and to include projects and strategies that will achieve the reductions needed to improve water quality in the region. Thirty springs are named as Outstanding Florida Springs by this legislation. Through the DEP’s ongoing assessment efforts, 24 of these springs have been found to have excess levels of nitrogen pollution, particularly nitrate. Sources of nitrogen in these systems can include wastewater, water from septic tanks, stormwater runoff, and fertilizer runoff from both urban and agricultural lands.
DEP worked with stakeholders to conduct a comprehensive nutrient source inventory and used the inventories to identify the projects and strategies needed to address these sources and achieve the required nitrogen reductions. Nitrogen from agricultural sources and septic tanks has a greater impact on some springs than others, so the BMAPs contain a tailored mix of strategies.
As a result of the 1st District Court of Appeals’ ruling, the 2018 final orders for the Santa Fe River, Silver Springs and Upper Silver River and Rainbow Spring Group and Rainbow River, Suwannee River, and Volusia Blue Spring BMAPs were reversed and remanded for further proceedings. Consequently, the following BMAPs are now currently in effect: 2012 Santa Fe River Basin, 2015 Rainbow Spring Group and Rainbow River, 2015 Silver Springs and Upper Silver River and 2016 Lower and Middle Suwannee River Basin. The Volusia Blue Spring BMAP is under development. For the effective dates for the remaining springs BMAPs, please refer to the table of Adopted BMAPs.
General BMAP Information | Septic System Requirements | Fertilizer Requirements |
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Cool Off in Florida’s Natural Springs
WOW Editorhttps://www.westchasewow.com/natural-springs/
Florida is home to an abundance of gorgeous natural springs. Below are six springs, some nearby, others a bit of a drive, and all perfect spots to cool off on a hot summer day.Lithia SpringsLithia Springs Park is well-known for its natural springs, which flow year-round at a crisp 72 degrees into the Alafia River. It is a great s...
Florida is home to an abundance of gorgeous natural springs. Below are six springs, some nearby, others a bit of a drive, and all perfect spots to cool off on a hot summer day.
Lithia Springs
Lithia Springs Park is well-known for its natural springs, which flow year-round at a crisp 72 degrees into the Alafia River. It is a great spot to swim, but the park also offers fishing, volleyball, picnic tables with a playground within view. Camping is also available for those who want to extend their stay.
Location: 3932 Lithia Springs Rd., Lithia, FL 33547 Summer hours: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Cost: $2 per vehicle park admission (up to 8 people); swimming $2 per person
Weeki Wachee Springs
Weeki Wachee may be known for their mermaids, but they are also a great spot to cool off in beautiful, brisk spring water. Here, guests of all ages can enjoy swimming, tubing, kayaking and tons of fun in Buccaneer Bay Water park, which includes a water slide, lazy river and kiddie pool all in gorgeous spring water. This is definitely not your typical water park. There is also a Wilderness River Cruise that runs daily from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Location: 6131 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee, FL 34606 Hours: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Cost: $13 for adults, $8 for children ages 6 to 12. Ages 5 and under admitted free.
Rainbow Springs
Rainbow Springs is roughly an hour and a half north of Tampa in Dunnellon. With its crisp, crystal clear water that flows into the Rainbow River, this is one of the most popular tubing destinations during the summer months. The adjacent spring is perfect for swimming and snorkeling, and the hiking trails that surround the spring feature some of the tallest waterfalls in Florida. This site is an easy day trip, but weekends are packed and the park closes when it reaches capacity. The best bet is to go on a weekday and to go early. For those hoping for a weekend, arrive before the park opens. Camping is available for those who don’t want to make an early drive.
Location: 19158 S.W. 81st Place Rd, Dunnellon FL 34432 Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, daily Cost: Park entrance is $2 per person (under 6, free); Tubing is an additional cost.
Wekiwa Springs
This unique park just minutes from downtown Orlando features emerald springs feeding the Wekiwa River and lush tropical hammocks perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day. The crystal-clear water is a refreshing 72 degrees year-round. The swimming area at the spring is just over a half-acre in size with an average depth of four feet and is surrounded by wide-open grassy spaces perfect for picnicking. This is also a great place to snorkel.
Location: 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka FL 32712 Hours: 8 a.m.-sundown, daily Cost: $6 per vehicle
Ichetucknee Springs
This area features spring-fed rivers, lush canopies and cool swimming hole, making it a perfect spot for both tubing and swimming. Tubing is available year round. With two drop-in spots. Swimming is available at either Ichetucknee Spring (head spring) or Blue Hole Spring, but it’s important to note Blue Hole Spring is for experience swimmers only due to its depth and current. The area is also home to 2,669-acre Ichetucknee Springs State Park, which is a wildlife haven where beaver, otter, gar, softshell turtle, wild turkey, wood duck and limpkin all find a home. This area is a bit of a drive from Tampa, so book a campsite in advance to make the most of your stay.
Location: 12087 S.W. U.S. Hwy 27, Fort White, FL 32038 Hours: 8 a.m. to sundown, daily Cost: $6 per vehicle; Tubing is an additional charge and information can be found here.
Juniper Springs
These springs, located in the Ocala National Forest, are a bit of a trek from Tampa, but worth the drive. Known for being one of the oldest recreation centers on the East coast, this place has it all. During the day, enjoy swimming snorkeling, picnicking, bird watching, paddling and hiking. This site tends to be packed on weekends and does close when capacity is reached. Make it a vacation by booking a camp site and arriving at the recreation area early in the day to take advantage of these gorgeous springs.
Location: 26701 E Highway 40, Silver Springs, FL 34488 Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., daily Cost: $8 on weekdays and $11 on weekends; Campsites are additional.
Florida history: State’s best-known spring has been famous since the 1800s
Eliot Kleinberghttps://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2021/11/20/florida-silver-springs-ancient-and-modern-history-converge/8642757002/
The Palm Beach PostWhat’s silver about Silver Springs? You have to see it yourself.These springs just east of Ocala, famed for more than a century for their glass-bottom boats, have waters so clear that sunlight reflects off floating sand particles, which shimmer like flakes of silver.The spring shoots out 450 million to 850 million gallons of water every day, depending on the water table. Note: 850 millio...
The Palm Beach Post
What’s silver about Silver Springs? You have to see it yourself.
These springs just east of Ocala, famed for more than a century for their glass-bottom boats, have waters so clear that sunlight reflects off floating sand particles, which shimmer like flakes of silver.
The spring shoots out 450 million to 850 million gallons of water every day, depending on the water table. Note: 850 million gallons is the capacity of about 63,000 standard swimming pools. A day. The water, which averages 34 feet deep, stays at a chili 72 degrees. Bass, mullet, bluegills and an alligator or two will splash by or slide across the white sand bottom.
The Silver River might have been used for thousands of years, first by indigenous peoples, then by Spanish explorers, and into the early 1800s by adventurous tourists. Boaters armed with poles would work their way along the narrow river, dodging cypress limbs and Spanish moss.
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From farm hub to tourist attraction
The onset of paddlewheel boats made Silver River a hub for Central Florida farmers. Then, in the late 1870s, entrepreneurs fitted glass to the bottoms of canoes and rowboats and began offering a ride with a view. And what a view. A 200-room hotel went up in the 1880s but later burned down.
At the start of the 20th century, boats began sporting cushioned seats and their iconic canopies. Gasoline engines came in in the 1920s, electric motors in the 1930s. A businessman developed a “jungle ride” and brought in a group of wild monkeys, who promptly escaped; their descendants still live along the river.
Hollywood comes calling
From 1933 to 1942, six of the original Tarzan movies, with Johnny Weissmuller, would be filmed at the springs. And from 1958 to 1961, more than 100 episodes of the scuba-diving adventure drama “Sea Hunt.”
The ABC television network bought the springs in 1962. Actually, they thought they’d bought the springs. It turned out the families who sold the property actually were only leasing it and there was confusion about who owned it. The property later was turned over to the state of Florida, and ABC became the lessee. In 1984, ABC turned over the property to a holding company.
A 35-acre “jeep safari” opened in 1990, and the “Lost River Voyage” a year later. The 38-acre Wild Waters water park opened in 1978. The state took over Silver Springs outright in 1993. Four years later, the park and the adjacent Wild Waters underwent a major expansion.
Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection took over management of the 350-acre Silver Springs and Wild Waters in 2014. It wanted the now-Silver Springs State Park to be famed for its natural beauty. That clashed with the nearby Wild Waters, with its flumes, swimming pools and food stands.
Wild Waters closed in the fall of 2016.
Florida Time is a weekly column about Florida history by Eliot Kleinberg, a former staff writer for three decades at The Palm Beach Post in West Palm Beach, and the author of 10 books about Florida (www.ekfla.com).