hurricanes, and yet we still make our homes here. After all, Florida has alligators, several varieties of poisonous snakes, fire ants, sinkholes, sharks, tourists, heat, humidity, and. #RAINBOW SPRINGS STATE PARK FULL#The Florida Park Service officially opened Rainbow Springs State Park on a full time basis on March 9, 1995.Stay for the Hurricane, Evacuate for the Power Outage Volunteers cleared the overgrown park and opened the park on weekends to the public in 1993. The state purchased the original area that was the Rainbow Springs Attraction in 1990. The entire Rainbow River was designated as a Registered Natural Landmark in 1972, an Aquatic Preserve in 1986, and an "Outstanding Florida Waterway" in 1987. Rainbow Springs Attraction closed in 1974. When I-75 was built however, traffic was diverted away from this area and tourists began heading to a new attraction called Disney World. During that time, activity greatly increased with glass-bottomed boat rides, riverboat rides, a log raft ride, a gift shop and cafe, an aviary, a leaf-shaped gondola/ monorail system, a rodeo, and submarine boat tours. Under new ownership, the real heyday for the attraction occurred in the 1960s. It was also due to the fact that there were some 30 different "Blue Holes" in Florida and this would help visitors find their way! It was during this time that the name was changed to Rainbow Springs and Rainbow River because of the prism of colors visible when the sun's rays shot through the sparkling water. Sea walls, a lodge, gift shop, the waterfalls, and a reptile exhibit were developed. In the 1930s the spring was developed as a tourist attraction. A small community called Juliette flourished near the springs during this "boomtown" era. The springs became popular in the late 1880's when hard rock phosphate was discovered in the area. The crystal clear water, abundant fish, wildlife and vegetation has attracted a number of activities. Since this place has attracted and sustained human inhabitants for over 15,000 years, it is very likely that many other names we will never know once described these waters in terms equally attractive. Wekiwa Creek, Blue Spring, and Blue Run are just some of the names we have assigned this magical body of water. The crystalline waters of Rainbow Springs and Rainbow River have undergone many name changes throughout its history. The Tube Entrance is located 1.4 miles south of the campground Entrance on SW 180th Avenue Road. 180th Avenue Road about two miles north of County Road 484 and two miles south of State Road 40. The Headsprings Entrance is located three miles north of Dunnellon on the east side of U.S. The Campground Entrance with a full-facility campground is about nine miles from the day use area. Tubers can launch at the Tube Entrance on SW 180th Avenue Road. Tubing is not allowed in the headsprings area of the park. For large gatherings, private pavilions can be reserved. A picnic area at the spring includes tables, grills, and pavilions. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at the headsprings. The Rainbow River is popular for swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, and kayaking. Rainbow Springs is Florida's fourth largest spring and, from the 1930s through the 1970s, was the site of a popular, privately-owned attraction. Archaeological evidence indicates that people have been using this spring for nearly 10,000 years.
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