November 9, 2013

Florida Caverns State Park

After a leisurely morning we took the 24 mile ride to the Florida Caverns State Park.  Even though we had already visited the park we decided to take the cave tour because it had been 8 or 9 years ago. 

After paying $21 ($5/car and $8/per person cave tour) at the entrance booth we took a ride through the campground to check it out.  We weren’t planning on staying in the area after stay at Eastlake, but we like to check out campgrounds for possible future stays.  The road around the loop is very narrow and the sites are teeming with overhanging branches so we determined it would not suit our needs.

We continued onto the Visitor Center parking area. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The next tour was beginning in 5 minutes so we wouldn’t have time to go into the Visitor Center until after the cave tour.

 

Our tour guide, Wes, had a sense of humor

(a good asset to avoid a tour becoming boring). 

Just as Wes was warning about being aware of low clearance I hit my head on a low hanging stalactite. 

According to the park brochure, the park’s caves have a long and interesting geologic history. 

Sea levels were much higher than today. 

 The southeastern coastal plain of the United States was submerged.

Shells, coral and sediments gradually accumulated on the sea floor. 

 As sea levels fell, these materials hardened into limestone. 

As the acidic groundwater dissolved crevices just below the surface, cave passages large enough to walk through were created.

A large part of the land that comprises the Florida Caverns State Park was acquired in 1935. 

Structures within the park and work on the tour cave were completed by members of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and the WPA (Works Projects Administration). 

 

The groups were established by President Roosevelt to provide jobs to men during the Great Depression. 

Florida Caverns State Park was opened to the public in 1942.

I brought a sweatshirt along because I didn’t remember if the cave was cold.  It was actually quite warm.

 

The cave tour was interesting but cannot compare to our experience at both Mammoth Cave and Carlsbad Caverns. 

Upon exiting the cave we took Beech Magnolia Trail leading us back to the Visitor Center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rest of the afternoon was tied up with doing laundry and food shopping. 

We ended the evening with another spectacular sunset.