Florida Roadside Attractions & Abandoned Places - O’Leno Bridge & Ichetucknee Springs State Park
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- Опубликовано: 8 ноя 2020
- On this episode of Florida Roadside Attractions & Abandoned places we begin High Springs and then visit a wooden suspension bridge that crosses the Santa Fe River in D’Leno State Park. The beautiful and clear springs at Itchetucknee River State Park is the final stop. There is much ahead!
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That place is going to the top of the bucket list..
Very nice park. Thanks for showing us this place.👍💕😊
That was the best! Teenagers used to jump off of the O'leno bridge when I was a kid. Thanks dog. 72 degrees.
Nice to see Florida isn't only about amusement parks. I find these videos way more interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Had you gone a half-mile further downstream at O'Leno you would have come to the River Sink where the Santa Fe goes underground for a few miles before surfacing again at River Rise and continuing on to its confluences with the Suwannee. The importance of the natural land bridge formed allowed the construction of the Bellamy Road in 1826 which was the main road connecting St Augustine and Tallahassee. Parts of Belllamy Road still exist in Alachua County. About a year ago heavy rain forced the closing of all the bridges over the Santa Fe stranding my daughter-in-law between her job in Gainesville and her home in Ft. White. Using GPS my son and I guided her home via the Bellamy Road that rainy night bypassing the highway bridges over the Santa Fe. Good to know an almost 200 year old unpaved wagon road can still get you home.
Corps (core)love your videos by the way. I'm an old native floridian, born
and raised . I love seeing all these childhood places as I left Florida several years ago. Thanks.
High Springs is a great place for tourists to stop. Lots of nice little shops and cafes/restaurants. O'Leno (pronounced "Oh, Leenoh" has wonderful trails through the woods and around the sinkhole. It looks like those log cabins are still in use; in the late 80's, Bradford High band held their summer camp there. Good memories!
Awesome video.. appreciate you showing my backyard..grew up in Lake City and took many trips to the river as a kid..now I often kayak and fish the Santa Fe River now that I am much older.😊👌
Great video!! It brought back lots of memories, many church picnics and school field trips. I've jumped off that suspension bridge several times, it was a sort of "rite of passage" for boys back in the 60's. Glad to see the park is so well cared for!
Thank you so much! I’m happy to hear I could bring back some memories for you, glad you enjoyed it
Man, I loved this video Jay. Brought back lots of good memories about trips to do the tubing down the Ichetucknee, the water is still as blue as it was in the '80s from my high school and college days. My daughter and friends still make the road trip on weekends once or twice a year. I also loved the video from the retro motel in High Springs. Remember staying in these kinds of places so many times as a kid with my family, love to see that many are still around and love them so much more than the chain motels. The bathroom tile in some of those places is the art deco style like you'd find in the older Publix Supermarkets and FL ranch houses from the '50s and '60s. Thanks for showing this, one of your best, love these trips you take off the interstates!
Thanks for another great video and hope all is well with you my friend.
Thanks for another great tour Jay. 🙂👍
You again are in my fav place again
Wow, what a beautiful spring! ⛲💙‼️
It’s one of my favorite spots thank you Sherry
So nice to see the old real Florida. I love these videos you do of these parks and places off the beaten path.
Thanks from oldsmar! 🌹🌹💪💪
Lived in Gainesville till I was 7 and went numerous times. ( in the 70's. yes I'm old LOL) Once while floating over the spring in a tube a Water Moccasin came out of the rocks near shore. Everyone screamed and got out while I was stuck in the middle. I remember 2 young men jumping in, one swam to me the other towards the snake while my mom stayed on shore screaming " MY BABY" LOL
It was the old theater. I lived in highsprings back in 78 and 79. Me and my school buddies used to spend our Friday and Saturday nights there
Found it came to watch, still trying to watch all your videos lol
Wow! You really crammed a LOT into this upload Tampa Jay! The springs are gorgeous! Greyt share friend! 👍~ Kristine
I’ve driven through the High Springs area many times, will have to check out some of the places you pointed out, thanks for the cool video Jay and thanks for all you do.
That film is great The Great Outdoors 👍
Hey Tampa Jay when are you going to make more videos like this? Old florida roadside attractions and natural attraction are awesome, thanks for making videos, it’s inspiring and I want to do the same in the future
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻, good times on the Ichetucknee and Santa Fe River.
Great video! I love all the small towns you visit! And that park is absolutely beautiful! I would like to go to that park, it looks like fun!
Thanks for uploading this video I grew up there now living in jersey. High springs is such a great town so many good memories. They use to have a zoo at oleno park.
Awesome video another ive just found
thank you for sharing! your videos are great!
Great stuff Jay, As always....🤟 Looking good and looking happy
I never could figure out how they tube
Very interesting tour! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much
The building you are referring to in downtown high springs was the priest theater was owned by WJ priest who owned a Ford dealership in town it was built around 1910
We went to O'Leno State park today! The water is so high there that it sits under the bridge now and the swimming area is almost gone due to Elsa. Crazy watching your video to see what it normally looks like. Very different!
Good video Jay.
Just found your channel. Great job Jay!
As you cross the Santa Fe on US 27 on the way to Ft. White and Ichetucknee Springs SP you will notice the old Savannah and Western RR bridge supports in the river west of the 27 bridge. They once suported the railroad bridge into High Springs. Also visible is the elevated grade of the old rail bed that allowed the trains to climb to the height of the bridge.
i was there again last week. i live 30 minutes away. have never been across the bridge..use a handicap scooter. thank you for taking me along
Thank you :)
Enjoyed this one. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much
High Springs is a beautiful area in North Central Florida. Very peaceful and lots of great springs. Just above Gainesville FL.
Thanks Andy it’s one of my favorite areas to spend the weekend
If you like those suspension bridges there is one at the Hillsborough River State Park too. Looks pretty identical to the one you showed.
wonderful. love it
Thank you
Beautiful views from the bridge absolutely stunning 👍🤩🤩🤩🤩
I just got to say TJ you are the best! Luv ya bud ....yep Brotherly of course! Appreciate the effort's you put into your posts and content!🙂🍻
Aww shucks you’re so awesome! I appreciate you Sean
@@TampaJay 🙂🍻✌
👍👍Thankyou soooooo much 😚
Acme Music? lol. I'd watch out for Wiley Coyote and the Road Runner
Haha thought of that too
Sort of miss the days of air conditioners sticking out from a wall or window. Sort of... You tapped into a bunch of nostalgia in this video!
I do too! Thank you so much
cool
You went to one of my fav parks
Awsome tour😀🇳🇴
Thank you :)
I love how you are so into nostalgic
Thanks Bill it’s fun stuff
I like to watch ur videos.. I'm a 7 gen born here.. And sometimes i will get in my car and go..heading north on 19 from springhill...well i turn on to 27 and came across a cemetery on the left and there it was...Bo Diddley
what a beautifull landscape my friend! in brazil we had caldas novas in goiás state very similar to this spot, but thermas warm water instead
3:30 what a pretty little store :-)
I love small towns like that with stores at both sides of the sidewalk :-)
Great review thanks
Thank you Ed
What a cool state park! You are right that would be a good choice for a filming location for another Friday the 13th movie. I thought the same thing when you were on that wooden bridge of Indiana Jones.
Great vid
Thank you Mick !
I enjoyed today's video very much ! I just love to see all these beautiful springs in our state, We have only 1 warm springs over near Venice. Thank you Tsmpa Jay !
Warm Mineral Springs in Venice is much different from those here in North Florida. Those up here issue from the Floridan Aquifer, are gin clear, and 72 degrees year around. Ichetucknee is one of a cluster that feed into the Santa Fe River in the High Springs area. Most do not have lengthy spring runs, something that makes Ichetucknee and Silver Springs special. (Silver Springs flows into the Ocklawaha River).
@@JGW845 I know, its magnificent how different they are. The warm springs here, is heated completely by the sun since we have no geothermal heat and its more like a big pond .in the middle of of this spring in a giant hole, an abyss, that drops drop several hundred feet and and ancient civilization used to live there. This is why it has the highest mineral content in the country. You feel nicely bussed when you come out and warer temp is warm, people come from all of the world to sit in the Venice Warm Springs.! I also love all the springs and holes in C Florida
Wow look at the colour of that so beautiful you must feel tempted to go for a swim?
That statue you showed I saw the exact one at a lumberjack museum sent you the picture on messenger.
Just started bingeing your channel. Doing day trips and did Circle B Bar Reserve - it was great. After you get done with with this series maybe rank all the parks/preserves like Jame Portnoy rates pizza?
Are you sure it's an infirmary? Haha... Nice video! 😆
I miss traveling through there.
It’s a gray area thank you for watching
@@TampaJay One place I'd love to see brought attention to is Garnto Springs in Dixie County and Olde Town amd Cross City area. That's my old stomping ground!!
We occasionally pass this park (O'Leno) going to and from Disney. I've been curious what it had to offer. CORPS is pronounced 'core' like Marine Corps--unless you're former President Obama. lol I think that outdoor 'stadium of auditorium' is called an amphitheater. Wow, that flood-water was high. You could almost swim across the bridge. That spring looks cool. We've got one close to us called Vortex Springs. I conducted some of my SCUBA training there. Cold! Thanks, Jay!
Good vid man
Thank you
Ever try a koa cabin
Every time I travel I prefer a campground to a motel
They're not abandoned like when you grew up,restaurants,gas stations usually pretty close
A/c and electric,they've always been a good stay
Hey remember me tampa jay I'm kameron from the six gun video
😎
Hey just wanted to let you know that it a theater or was or was just recently sold to a church. It has been open for years but I believe do to COVID it didn’t get enough business so they had to sell it. Love the vid keep up the great work 👍
Hey tampa jay, visit cypris gardens in south. Carolina lowcountry. The state. Which. Is home of. Brig general francis. Marion aka the "" swamp fox". 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
The members of the CCC had a nickname. They called them " Pinecone Johnnie's ", at least thats what the sign says at Pittsfield State Forest. Western MA. My Grandfather was involved with them before going off with seven brothers to fight the war.
Yes it use to be a movie theater Lol
The red building was a theater shut down for good due to covid just before covid they were having financial problems and a bunch of people donated to keep it open but when they made places shut down there was no way to start it back up when places started opening again.
It was the cheapest theater around the movies would come out a few weeks after they came out in major theaters I would go there with my friends in highschool
It was called the priest theater
Went to their Facebook page this is what they said
Opening Update:
We actually were doing quite well before COVID-19, as good as one can expect with the many needs that the old building has, and all theatre business was struggling before COVID, not just the Priest. We had many plans of keeping it going, whether it was being the owners of the Priest or there be new owners of the Priest. Our hearts goal has always been to keep the theatre going as a theatre, but actually the pandemic is and has been a hurtle for everyone who owns a entertainment business!!!!! I will be frankly honest with the public, our family, Alan and I, knew it was our mission to keep the theatre going at my parent's part-time retirement and the digital conversion was upon the independent theatres. It wasn't a "career path" we were choosing, but a desperate attempt to save the Priest. Don't get me wrong, we loved the Priest and had a long history there, so yes, it means a lot to our family. Following the digital conversion, family responsibilities became straining on our family, and it seemed the best at that time to sell. All things happen for reason and we did not sell, then COVID. With all that said, I know that the future of the Priest has seemed uncertain for awhile, but with patience I believe that the Priest will once again have life, I just don't know what that life will be. Prayers and caring concern would be helpful!!! We apologize that we have not posted or given updates to the community. Due to the consequences resulting from COVID, an unpredictable and slow film market,, we do not know the exact and perfect plan. It would not be advantageous for us to open our doors and suffer greater financial avail. But please understand, there are people who are concerned and working diligently on keeping the Priest.... People continue to be upset because we haven't posted about the Priest, I expected during these times that people would understand what is going on with entertainment businesses and that it has been tremendously hard to determine what we are going to do. We are praying and looking for promising avenues to continue the PRIEST...
Dang bud, hit me up. I know many great old locations in North Central Florida, just north of Gainesville.
What's the population there Jay. It must be pretty small.
High Springs is home to about 6200 people. Most of Alachua County is rural or government owned aside from Gainesville with a pop. of 135,000 not counting the 52,400 students at UF.
It's not really small high springs has people come from all over alachua, gilchrist, Columbia and swannie County. It has a bunch of springs. All the springs at gilchrist blue springs, Poe springs, all the springs at Ginnie springs and rum Island. The Santa Fe River passes through it. Most the springs in Florida are in those counties I mentioned
The Ole 96er 🥩
72°
Should’ve stayed at the Cadillac motel and that diner isn’t that old I think it was built around 2005.
Wow, back in the 50’s Florida sure wasn’t the place it is today. There would have been lots of swamp land in that time frame in central Florida.
Not really. There are a lot of wetlands which are vital to the ecology of Florida and these were protected early on. (I was born here at the end of WW II and have lived here all my life.) Until recently agriculture was the major source of revenue for the state. You can't grow crops in swamp land. In the '50's most of central Florida was covered in citrus groves and cattle ranches.
@@JGW845 True, remember when the Citrus Tower in Clermont was surrounded by groves for as far as you could see? The freezes in the '80s really knocked a lot of the smaller groves out of business (especially North of I-4) and pushed others further south to places like Arcadia and LaBelle and others just sold out to developers. Man has it changed in the last 30 years!
@@TampaFanatic1: I do remember. I also remember driving at night on back roads through the citrus growing areas when the groves were in bloom. I would drive slowly with the windows down to enjoy the heavenly scent of the citrus blossoms on the night air. In the late 19th century citrus was grown as far north as Mandarin, just south of Jacksonville. Citrus grown around Melrose in eastern Alachua Co./western Putnam Co/SW Clay Co was transported by a paddlewheel boat up Santa Fe Lake (headwaters of the Santa Fe River) thru Little Lake Santa Fe, thru the Alto Canal and across Lake Alto to the rail junction at Waldo. The RR was the "Florida RR" that ran from Fernandina to the Cedar Keys. It was built by David Levy Yulee. At the time both Fernandina and Cedar Key were busy ports.
@@JGW845 Lots of amazing history in the citrus industry. A lot of people do not realize that citrus was once grown in areas far north of North Central FL in the past. Once upon a time I dated a girl from Baldwin County AL and her Dad had a few Satsuma mandarins on the south side of his house, they were in Orange Beach so its about the warmest area in AL (similar climate to Pensacola Beach or perhaps Jax Beach or St Augustine) but he said there were groves about a century ago in the area, even a small town named Satsuma. These are the same kind you see in South Louisiana where there is still a struggling industry. They ripen real early in the season and are relatively cold hardy (more than most oranges, grapefruits and of course lemons and limes) along with kumquats and some navel oranges. Also read that the early colonists tried citrus in coastal GA and the low country of SC, nowadays with the warmer winters it could be grown further north again IMHO as long as your water table is not rising as it is in La and parts of FL.
Back to Satsumas. My Dad had a couple of them planted in our back yard in Temple Terrace and they suffered no freeze damage while the Tangelos, Parson Browns, Orlando Minneola and his prized Ruby Red Grapefruit all got severely damaged in all those freezes in 1982, 83, 85 86 and Dec. 89 (the last time I saw snow flurries in Tampa, when JAX had their White Christmas) even though my Dad used the sprinklers to protect them. Most did not die but had to be pruned back a bit. BTW, I enjoyed your posts about some of the history up in the Gainesville/High Springs area , love learning about FL history which is why I follow Jay's channel when he goes on his roadies on our old US highways and state roads!
I see the Caution Alligators sign so why would you go in the water to go tubing? I go tubing up north in New Jersey but we're there actually alligators in the water? I always wanted to take a kayak ride in Ft. Lauderdale in the park until I saw the alligators sign! It makes me leary & nervous!!
Yes there can be alligators there
In the early 1960's alligators in Florida were virtually extinct in the wild. Legislation was passed to protect them and now practically any and every body of fresh water, large and small has a least one resident 'gator. Generally speaking 'gators will avoid an area where there is a lot of human activity - AS LONG AS SOME MORONS DON"T FEED THEM!! It is illegal to feed 'gators in Florida - very illegal! If there are people splashing and making noise on a daily basis you are probably OK. That said, from about a half-hour before sunset until full daylight NEVER go into the water, fresh or salt, in Florida. The night belongs to predators and all bets are off.
@@JGW845 Thank-you, very informative! I plan on moving there so I was always curious. That's good to know!!
@@susan7204: Another thing: Never ever walk your dog near a body of fresh water in Florida or anywhere in the Southeast for that matter. 'Gators are fond of dogs and will leave the water to take one. They can move surprisingly fast on land for short distances accelerating virtually instantly - some estimates say they can achieve 25 mph for short bursts. There have been instances of gators attacking dogs and instead siezing the pet owners. This has sometimes resulted in the death of the human. Florida has many lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Many have nature trails and we are blessed with abundant and varied wildlife. It seems like a no-brainer to enjoy these while walking your dog(s) and many do. DON"T! The only thing gators like better than dogs are hogs. ruclips.net/video/uTnlRCQ8fBA/видео.html Warning: Graphic and possibly disturbing to some! This happened in a very popular state park near Sarasota (Myakka RIver SP).
@@JGW845 I have common sense & I've heard too many of stories about dogs being eaten. Thank-you!
the water is 72 degrees year round.
Thank you
I have family that lives near there
Psst - corps is pronounced “core” instead of “corpse.” Great videos.
441 looks nice until u
enter Orlando area!
Jay, I just have to know, whatever happened to the pumpkin 🎃? It was the Paul Bunyan I believe and I love the great outdoors as well. Lol.
I’ve still got the pumpkin haha he might make a cameo soon thanks Matt
I thought that was you I saw .
It’s sad your so small I hope more channels like you grow👍 15k subs for high quality vids I hope you grow
That’s a big compliment thank you so much
That is a beautiful Blue Water Spring. 😯
It seems so calm and peaceful. But the look of it...the water must be a male. The reason why i said that is... we Navajos believe Water has a male and female entity. By looking at the colors of the water, Blue is consider a Male and green is female.
Txó bi'áád "female water" and Txó bika' "Male water" we use their names in our prayers to the water people. ☺😌
Plus we have over 102 different names for water in my native language. Fun fact. ☺
Wow that’s amazing thank you for sharing that with me Tony. I love knowing that stuff. The waters of that river are so beautiful lots of springs and caves down the river too. There is spiritual presence out there for sure.
@@TampaJay your welcome. ☺ Are their many rivers like big and small in the state of Florida? Plus do florida have a natural Aquifer in the ground, maybe that's why you have springs there?
@@tonytone9508 there is a huge aquifer and many rivers just like this. You’re welcome buddy thank you
There are dozens of gin clear springs all over north and central Florida. All have a constant temperature of 72 deg. F year around.
@@TampaJay: The springs in the Suwannee basin are fed by the Floridan Aquifer. The headwaters of the Suwannee is the Okeefenokee Swamp in SE Georgia. Its major tributaries are the (northern) Withlacoochee R, Alapaha R, and the Santa Fe. The Santa Fe is the largest and has the most springs.
Have you ever ghost hunted one of your old hotel's? Lol
Why can't I turn on notifications for your channel? Says content is made for kids
Lol
@@dmax64 I'm serious
You kill me with your pronunciation of things sometimes! Just a heads up, Corps, as in Civilian Conservation Corps and US Marine Corps is pronounced like core, not corpse! Hopefully you never talk to a Marine about being in the corpse!
I appreciate you watching the channel and glad to hear you’ve been enjoying the videos. Fair warning tho.. You’re gonna have a hard time watching my channel if my punctuation bothers you.. I say the darnedest things sometimes. I’m not a professional by far. I’m just a man who enjoys making videos because I love it. If my speaking bothers someone they have every right not to watch them. I’m going to continue to make them how I make them. Thanks again. I hope you have a Merry Christmas
@@TampaJay Heck no, I am not worried about all your pronunciations, I enjoy your videos so much. I can tell that you enjoy making and sharing the videos and I look forward to watching more. I didn't mean to offend you, I certainly am not perfect! Merry Christmas to you too!