LAFAYETTE COUNTY -
Florida State Parks will add another feather to its
cap with the operation of popular Lafayette Blue
Spring as the 159th State Park. Lafayette Blue
Spring is a 1st magnitude spring pumping millions of
gallons of cool, clear water into the historic
Suwannee River. The Florida Park Service will take
over operation of the park from Lafayette County
beginning July 1st.
Lafayette Blue Spring is a gem, said Florida State
Parks Director Mike Bullock. As the 159th State
Park, spring resources will be protected and the
local economy will receive a major boost as a
destination along the Suwannee River Wilderness
Trail.
Located seven miles northwest of Mayo on the west
side of the Suwannee River, the park offers an
abundance of recreational opportunities including
swimming, scuba diving, hiking and camping. Parking,
bathrooms, boat ramp, and other facilities are under
going renovation.
Lafayette Blue Spring discharges more than 45,000
gallons of crystal clear water per minute from a
single horizontal vent in the south side of the sink
depression. The bright, blue spring waters contrast
with the tannin waters of the historic Suwannee
River.
The Florida Park Service has proved to be a friend
of Lafayette County and the Suwannee River Basin,
said Lafayette County Commission Chairman Donnie
Hamlin. We are proud to host the county’s second
state park. This agreement will benefit the county
and protect our resources.
Florida State Parks along the Suwannee River pump
generate than $18 million a year for local economies
and provide more than 360 jobs. With the grand
re-opening of Lafayette Blue Spring in July, these
contributions to the area are expected to increase
as the park gains popularity as a destination on the
Suwannee River Wilderness Trail.
Initiated by Governor Jeb Bush in 2002, the Suwannee
River Wilderness Trail is a five-year, $10 million
partnership between DEP, the SRWMD, businesses and
communities along the river. The trail provides
visitors an opportunity to navigate the entire
length of the world-famous Suwannee with convenient
rest stops located at one-day intervals. From tents
and cabins to motels, hotels and bed & breakfast
inns, eight regional hubs with existing
infrastructure and recreational opportunities offer
various resting and lodging choices along the way.
Florida’s state park system is one of the largest in
the country with 159 parks spanning more than
730,000 acres and more than 100 miles of sandy white
beach. From swimming and diving in rivers and
springs to birding and fishing or hiking and riding
on natural scenic trails, Florida’s state parks
offer year-around outdoor activities for all ages.
Battle reenactments and Native American festivals
celebrate Florida’s unique history, while art shows,
museums and lighthouses offer a window into
Florida’s cultural heritage. |