Silver River State Park
Encyclopedia
Silver River State Park is a nearly 5,000 acre (20 km²) Florida State Park
east of Ocala
. Adjacent to Silver Springs
and the Ocklawaha River
, the park is a mile south of State Road 40
on State Road 35 (also known as Baseline Road).
s, white-tailed deer
, wild boar, wild turkey
, fox
es, American alligator
s, Sherman fox squirrel
s and gopher tortoise
s, as well as coyote
, bobcat
and Florida black bear
.
There is also a colony of non-native Rhesus Macaque
s which were introduced to the park in early 1938 by a tour boat operator, known locally as "Colonel Tooey," to enhance his "Jungle Cruise" ride. A local legend that they are the descendants of monkeys used to enhance the scenery for the Tarzan
movies that were shot in the area in the 1930s is not true.
ing, kayak
ing, camping
, and wildlife viewing. Amenities include a "cracker village
" and a museum
and an environmental center that are open on weekends. The park has 15 miles (24.1 km) of trails, access to the Silver River, ten luxury cabins, and a 59 site, full facility campground.
Silver Springs Nature Theme Park
with its glass-bottomed boats is located on the property of the park, but is run by a private company.
There is a Silver River Museum
and Environmental Education Center with educational facilities, run by the Marion County Public School System in cooperation with the Florida Park Service
. The Center has a village of restored or "newly-built" 19th century farm buildings (houses, meeting house, sheds, blacksmith, etc.) and a museum on the natural and social history of the area. Used during the week by the school district for classes, on the weekends it is open to the public. One week, early in November, the Center also puts on the Ocali County Days as a fund raiser. This is a 19th century, living history event with displays, talks, and performances incorporating living historians. For that Tuesday through Friday it is open to public, private and home school-age children and their teachers who have made reservations with the Center. The event is open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday and has become a popular annual attraction in the area.
The area that comprises the state park was purchased by the state in 1985 to maintain the natural environment of the area in the face of booming real estate development. The Silver River runs through the center of this 5000 acres (20.2 km²) park. The spring head is still run by the private company "Silver Springs Nature Theme Park" but the rest of the entire 5 mile spring run is completely pristine and undeveloped.
Florida State Parks
The Florida State Parks encompass the majority of the lands that fall under the authority of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. There are 160 such entities, including nature reserves, recreation areas, and historic sites, which can be found in every corner of the state...
east of Ocala
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
. Adjacent to Silver Springs
Silver Springs, Florida
Silver Springs is a U.S. populated place and spring in Marion County, Florida, just to the east of the city of Ocala. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and the Ocklawaha River
Ocklawaha River
The Ocklawaha River flows north from central Florida until it joins the St. Johns River near Palatka. Its name is a corruption of ak-lowahe, Creek for "muddy"....
, the park is a mile south of State Road 40
State Road 40 (Florida)
State Road 40 is an east–west route across central Florida, running from US 41 in Rainbow Lake Estates eastwards through Ocala over the Ocklawaha River and bridge and through the heart of the Ocala National Forest to State Road A1A in Ormond Beach...
on State Road 35 (also known as Baseline Road).
Ecology
Among the wildlife of the park are nine-banded armadilloNine-banded Armadillo
The nine-banded armadillo , or the nine-banded, long-nosed armadillo, is a species of armadillo found in North, Central, and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos...
s, white-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, wild boar, wild turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es, American alligator
American Alligator
The American alligator , sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae...
s, Sherman fox squirrel
Fox Squirrel
The fox squirrel is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America...
s and gopher tortoise
Gopherus polyphemus
The gopher tortoise is a species of the Gopherus genus native to the southeastern United States. The gopher tortoise is seen as a keystone species because it digs burrows that provide shelter for 360 other animal species...
s, as well as coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
and Florida black bear
Florida Black Bear
The Florida black bear is a subspecies of the American black bear that has historically ranged throughout most of Florida and southern portions of Alabama and Georgia. The large black-furred bears live mainly in forested areas and have seen recent habitat reduction throughout the state...
.
There is also a colony of non-native Rhesus Macaque
Rhesus Macaque
The Rhesus macaque , also called the Rhesus monkey, is one of the best-known species of Old World monkeys. It is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and its tolerance of a broad range of habitats...
s which were introduced to the park in early 1938 by a tour boat operator, known locally as "Colonel Tooey," to enhance his "Jungle Cruise" ride. A local legend that they are the descendants of monkeys used to enhance the scenery for the Tarzan
Tarzan in film and other non-print media
Tarzan, a fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first appeared in the 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, and then in twenty-three sequels. The character proved immensely popular and quickly made the jump to other media, first and most notably to comics and film...
movies that were shot in the area in the 1930s is not true.
Recreational activities and amenities
Activities include bicycling, canoeCanoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
ing, kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
ing, camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, and wildlife viewing. Amenities include a "cracker village
Florida cracker
Florida cracker refers to original colonial-era English and American pioneer settlers of what is now the U.S. state of Florida, and their descendants. The first Florida crackers arrived in 1763 when Spain traded Florida to Great Britain...
" and a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
and an environmental center that are open on weekends. The park has 15 miles (24.1 km) of trails, access to the Silver River, ten luxury cabins, and a 59 site, full facility campground.
Silver Springs Nature Theme Park
Silver Springs Nature Theme Park
Silver Springs Nature Theme Park is a zoological park located in Silver Springs, Florida, USA, east of Ocala. Although not truly a theme park, Silver Springs is a nature and zoological park occupying land owned by the state of Florida as part of the Silver River State Park.The property for the park...
with its glass-bottomed boats is located on the property of the park, but is run by a private company.
There is a Silver River Museum
Silver River Museum
The Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center is located in the Silver River State Park, near Silver Springs, east of Ocala in Marion County, Florida, USA...
and Environmental Education Center with educational facilities, run by the Marion County Public School System in cooperation with the Florida Park Service
Florida State Parks
The Florida State Parks encompass the majority of the lands that fall under the authority of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. There are 160 such entities, including nature reserves, recreation areas, and historic sites, which can be found in every corner of the state...
. The Center has a village of restored or "newly-built" 19th century farm buildings (houses, meeting house, sheds, blacksmith, etc.) and a museum on the natural and social history of the area. Used during the week by the school district for classes, on the weekends it is open to the public. One week, early in November, the Center also puts on the Ocali County Days as a fund raiser. This is a 19th century, living history event with displays, talks, and performances incorporating living historians. For that Tuesday through Friday it is open to public, private and home school-age children and their teachers who have made reservations with the Center. The event is open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday and has become a popular annual attraction in the area.
History