In the 1800s, central Florida was primarily agricultural; however, with the end of the Civil War, a stout tourist trade started to take advantage of Florida’s temperate winters, long summers and abundant natural beauty, and out of that growth came Wekiwa Springs. In 1941, the Apopka Sportsmen’s Club purchased the property from the Wilson Cypress Company, which had maintained a small turpentine camp in what is now the park, maintaining the area for recreational use. By 1979 the state of Florida expressed interest in the property for use as a state park, and, starting in 1970, visitors from all over the country and all over the world have been enjoying the natural spring, crystal clear water, and the area's abundant wildlife. A major point for the spring's popularity is the year-round 72 degrees F temperature of the water.
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The main attraction at Wekiwa Springs Park is the spring, providing approximately 42 million gallons of water to the Wekiva River each day The swimming area varies in depth from under a foot to five feet, and a small 15-foot-deep cavern at the source of the spring. The cavern extends deeper into a cave, which has been explored in great detail. SCUBA and cave diving is strictly prohibited. The park has a nature center, and access to Wekiwa Springs, Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run and the Wekiva River. Picnic pavilions equipped with charcoal grills exist in the picnic area. Canoes and Kayaks can be rented at the nature center. There are four campsites in Wekiwa Springs State Park that can only be accessed by canoe or kayak. |
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The two RV Gypsies rented the paddle boat so that Lee could exercise his knees. Unlike the canoes and kayaks, paddle boats must stay in the small lagoon area, but that was OK for the two RV Gypsies because they had fun watching the alligators and turtles. |
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But
then came the surprise! Karen Duquette was photographing a baby alligator
swimming beside the paddle boat and then the baby alligator swam to
the other side of the paddle boat. Then Lee said there was a bigger
alligator on the other side of the boat. But before Karen could photograph
it, they heard a big splash and then they saw the big alligator but
the baby alligator was gone. The big alligator ATE the poor baby. Bummer!
Especially since it would have been a prize-winning photo or video if
Karen had been able to capture the actual second the big one grabbed
the baby. It was sad in lots of ways, but that's nature. |
Below are three photos of the baby alligator in the last few moments of its short life. |
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And here is the bigger alligator which was probably thinking- 'yummy yummy yummy in my tummy.' Then it went to rest and hide in a corner as if it had done something wrong. |
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Below are photos of different alligators in the lagoon. All of these were smaller alligators that the two RV Gypsies have come across in the past, but it was still exciting to be so close to them. They were not always easy to spot, but Lee had eagle eyes. |
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And Karen got bit too - NO, not by an alligator, but while still on the paddle boat, Karen started itching because something got her leg good and this red spot grew bigger and itched for days. It was also very hot to the touch. Not sure what caused it. |
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