BLUE SPRING STATE PARK
Located a half-mile east of the St. Johns River between Lakes Beresford
and Monroe, Blue Spring Run flows into the St. Johns. The spring itself is a
"one-boil" spring of sulfur water sending up 75,000 gallons per minute.
Today, this 2,192 acre state park is a favorite spot for scuba diving, camping, swimming
and picknicking. A boat ramp and docks allow boaters (motorless craft only) and canoeists
to enjoy the scenery and wildlife of the area. Anglers pull in largemouth bass, bluegills,
channel cats and other fish.
Each day a tour boat glides over waters so clear that fish and other aquatic creatures can
be easily identified from above. A concession offers snacks and limited groceries plus
swimming and camping supplies.
The historic Thursby House, perched atop a shell "midden" recalls the 1880s when
steamboats plied the St. Johns and oranges were a main source of income. Weathered pilings
from the original dock stand as reminders of the time when area homesteaders brought crops
here for shipment to Jacksonville and the North.
Regularly scheduled guided walks and slide programs offer visitors a look at the natural
history of the park which is managed to appear (as much as possible) as it did when the
first Europeans arrived. Inquire at the entrance station for times and locations. For
further information on Blue Spring State Park, please write to 2100 West French Avenue,
Orange City, FL 32763, phone 386-775-3663 or visit the Blue Spring State Park Site.
Blue Spring Run is a refuge for the West Indian manatee, one of the world's most
endangered mammals. During the winter months (November through March), these huge
vegetarians, docile and curious, congregate in the run to enjoy the warmth of the year
round 72-degree waters and to munch on water hyacinths. An observation platform placed
where the manatees gather makes viewing easy for visitors.
Folks are often surprised at how large this air-breathing mammal is - up to 13 feet in
length and more than 3,000 pounds in weight. Extremely gentle and quite harmless, the
manatee daily chows down on marine and freshwater vegetation to the tune of ten to 15
percent of its total body weight. That's lot of salad!
 Because the manatee has no
natural enemies, it is unafraid and quite curious about everything and may swim right up
to a diver or a boat to see "what's happening." This curiosity brings the animal
into contact with the deadly propellers of motorboats. Deaths and injuries from the boats
combined with the manatee's low birth rate and loss of habitat to make the animal one of
the world's most endangered species. The manatee is rigorously protected by both state and
federal law.
The Save the Manatee Club, a non-profit
organization, promotes public awareness of this endangered mammal through public service
announcements on television, signs in waterways, research and educational programs and the
Adopt-A-Manatee program. For details, write the Save the Manatee Club, 500 North Maitland
Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751.
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