Country United States Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) Local time Tuesday 7:39 PM | County Marion County ZIP code 34488-34489 | |
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Weather 23°C, Wind SW at 14 km/h, 54% Humidity Points of interest Silver Springs State Park, Silver River, Silver Springs State Par | ||
Silver Springs is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Florida, United States. It is the site of Silver Springs, a group of artesian springs and a historic tourist attraction that is now part of Silver Springs State Park. The community is part of the Ocala metropolitan area.
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Map of Silver Springs, FL, USA
One of Florida's first tourist attractions, the springs drew visitors even before the U.S. Civil War. Glass bottom boats have been a popular way to see the 242-acre (98 ha) complex. A small amusement park with various animals, a concert stage, carousel and exhibits also developed.
History
Silver Springs was founded in 1852.
Since the mid-19th century, the natural beauty of Silver Springs has attracted visitors from around the country. Glass bottom boat tours of the springs began in the late 1870s. In the 1920s, W. Carl Ray and W.M. "Shorty" Davidson (Ray and Davidson leased the land from Mr. Ed Carmichael. Upon whose death the Springs were left to the University of Florida) made the land around the headwaters of the Spring into something resembling the attraction that is there today, now known as the Silver Springs Nature Theme Park. The attraction features native animal exhibits and 30 or 90 minute glass bottom boat tours of the springs. Downstream from the attraction is the Silver River State Park.
Also located in Silver Springs is a water park, Wild Waters (opened in 1978). The T. W. Randall House, on the National Register of Historic Places, is located to the northeast. Several defunct tourist attractions were once located in Silver Springs, including the Western-themed Six Gun Territory with its own 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railroad named "Southern Railway & Six Gun" (closed 1984), Carriage Cavalcade, Early American Museum, Paradise Park, and the Prince of Peace Memorial (closed in the mid-1970s).
Cattle ranch development
Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach has been building the Adena Springs Ranch for cattle, an abattoir, residential property development, and a thoroughbred horse farm in the area, stirring concern over plans for water use and how groundwater draw will affect the springs.
Notable people
Transportation
The main road through Silver Springs is State Road 40 which runs east and west from Rainbow Lakes Estates to Ormond Beach in Volusia County. State Road 326 terminates at SR 40, as does State Road 35, which becomes County Road 35 north of SR 40 before terminating at SR 326. County Roads 314 and 314A are also important north-south county roads that run west and into the Ocala National Forest.