GLASS BOTTOM BOAT

April 20th Lynda, Larry and I went to Silver Springs State Park.

We came to ride the glass bottom boat. We might try kayaking next time.

We took the extended boat ride which was 90 minutes long.
Our captain sitting in the back was a good tour guide. The Silver Spring River eventually runs into the St. John River and into the ocean. Looking through the glass bottom you could see the springs(there are many Springs)

and of course lots of fish.

On the bank we spotted a large alligator, I think he is a tourist attraction.

Later we saw a mommy and her babies.

Cormorants and Ahingas had nest with babies up in the trees.

There are Rhesus monkeys that were let go years ago on an island as a tourist attraction. What they didn't realize was that they could swim and did not stay on the island. So there are monkeys now in the park. We did not see any but a couple that had been here a few months ago said they saw a lot of them.

Lots of shows and movies did filming here. The water is clear and 72 degrees. This is the dock from Sea Hunt. 

Don't Give Up the Ship with Jerry Lewis was filmed here.

Creature from the Black Lagoon and many other movies had scenes made at the springs.

After the Civil War ended in 1865 thousands of army veterans returned to Florida for the warm climate. Business people saw the opportunity to make a profit from Florida's natural environment, springs, rivers, forest and wildlife. In1878 Hullan Jones invented the glass bottom boat at Silver Springs. After WW I car tourist brought thousands of people to Florida and its attractions.  1920's began the golden age of the attraction that lasted  until the 1960's.  In 2017 Silver Spring became a state park.

 Ross Allen's added reptile exhibitions to the attraction.

Paradise Park was a segregated African American resort located a mile down the Silver River from the Silver Springs Park. It was open from 1949 to 1969, My neighbor who is from Alabama remembers going here when she was a girl.

It was a fun relaxing day.

Glad when Lynda comes so we do more of these tourist trips.