Gorgeous Florida Caverns State Park: A Stalag-Mighty Good Time!
The Eagles. Fleetwood Mac. Bon Jovi. They’re all pretty good bands, but nothing rocks quite as hard as Florida Caverns State Park! (Please don’t stop reading – I’ll quit with the geological puns now, I swear!)
A good rock song can transport you back to the Summer of ’69, but at Florida Caverns State Park, you’ll be transported to another world.
Enter the caves and find yourself in an underground realm dripping with stalactites and fresh water, flowing with cool air, and teeming with resident wildlife. A visit to these caverns is a must for anyone who enjoys caving, but also anyone who appreciates beautiful architecture – here you can marvel at one of Florida’s natural fortresses. It might just be the only known rival to our state’s renowned Castillo de San Marcos!
So grab your spelunking gear and follow me!
A Product of the Sea
The Castillo de San Marcos is impressive because of it’s age: 326 years old.
But that’s small potatoes compared to these fantastic caverns! Geologists date the start of construction at around 38 million years ago.1 You know, back before we had sliced bread and smartphones.
During that time the sea-level was higher, and shells, coral, and sediments accumulated to become the foundation of the caverns. As water levels dropped these all hardened into limestone, which was then slowly hollowed out by acidic groundwater. Eventually the groundwater cavities grew so big that people could walk through them.2
This dissolving process (called dissolution) is also what’s responsible for the various cave formations. Friendly stalagmites popping up from the ground to say “hello,” dazzling stalactites and soda straws hanging from the ceiling like party streamers, and impressive, curtain-like flowstone are just some of the stunning geological sights to behold. With columns, vaulted ceilings, and an atmosphere of quiet reverence, these caves have the familiar feel of stepping into a gothic cathedral.
In addition to a rich geological past, these Florida caverns are also intertwined with human history.
Digging Up the Past
“Here we behold most wondrous sights
Charles Cottingham, Marianna, Florida3
No mortal understands,
Of stalactites and stalagmites,
A house not made with hands.”
These Florida caverns have cultivated interest ever since their discovery. The first written record we have of them is from Friar Barreda, who was with the first Spanish expedition of Pensacola Bay. He recalled in his 1693 diary, “[W]e spent the night in the hollow of such a beautiful and unusual rock,” which he estimated could house at least 200 men.4
However, based upon fragments of pottery, experts have determined that Native Americans inhabited the cavern over a century before Friar Barreda ever marveled at its enormity.
This natural fortress was also used as a hideout by Andrew Jackson and his forces during the First Seminole War of 1818, and was also used as shelter by women, children, and slaves during a raging battle of the Civil War.5
Finally, in the 1930s, the idea of turning the caves and surrounding area into a state park began to take shape. In the midst of the Great Depression, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt established the New Deal, which provided work for men in need of jobs. Developing this
Park manager Jacob Strickland notes: “The components of this early first system of state parks were the physical expression of the idea that Floridians, increasingly members of an urban population, needed and indeed possessed a right to communion with nature.”6
The Florida Caverns State Park officially opened in 1942. Housing one of only a few dry (air-filled) caves in the entire state of Florida, this amazing
Florida Caverns State Park: Underground
Cave tours at Florida Caverns State Park are an expedition through a “nature-made wonderland.”
You’ll embark on a 45-minute walk through the caverns, with a knowledgeable guide leading you through the dimly lit passageways. Some areas are quite narrow and even require you to stoop, as the ceiling scrunches down to only 4 1/2 feet tall! There are also 50 descending steps (or ascending if the tour is modified for high water), so some physical exertion is required to participate. With occasionally slippery walkways, we recommended a comfy pair of tennis shoes with good tread!
Although the tour is considered moderately strenuous, don’t be scared off! With a cool, year-round temperature of 65 degrees, you probably won’t even break a sweat. Tours are currently being offered five days per week, Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(If the tour does sound like it’d be too much for you, don’t worry! You can still enjoy a walk-through video of the caverns in the park’s museum!)
Guides will thoroughly cover all safety regulations before the tour begins, making sure you’re well-prepared for the adventure to come. One of the main things to remember is actually more about the cave’s safety than your own, and that is to refrain from touching anything. Cave environments are surprisingly fragile. While it might be tempting to brush your fingers against a beautiful formation, touching them will actually mar that beauty. Our skin leaves behind corrosive dirt and oils that can take a formation thousands of years to work out, if ever.8
As you go, keep an eye out for sea biscuits, sand dollars, and clams imbedded in the cavern walls! These little fossils are reminders that the cave is a product of the sea. Some specially highlighted formations included “bacon rock,” the “South America pool,” and the “wedding cake.”9 Once you see them, the names are pretty self-explanatory!
In addition to the cavern’s formations, keep an eye out for its resident critters, too! If you’re lucky, you may get to see some adorably fuzzy bats, or even some amphibious friends like salamanders or frogs!
(Do the bats denote a possible location for Batman’s Batcave? The evidence thus far is inconclusive, but we live in hope, LOL!)
Florida Caverns State Park: Aboveground
Although the caverns are the star of Florida Caverns State Park, there’s plenty to see and enjoy in the daylight, as well!
There are two beautiful and unique hiking trails to explore – Bluff Trail and Beech Magnolia! As you walk and take in the beautiful views, you might notice rare Appalachian plant species and rocky outcroppings historically used by Native Americans. Also be on the look out for the Sherman fox-squirrel, turkeys, and bobwhite quails as you traverse the trails. You can really make a day of it and plan a pleasant picnic, as the park has five picnicking pavilions!
And if the cool caves weren’t enough to help you beat the heat, you can take a dip in the nearby Blue Hole! Its waters are 35 feet deep, a chill 67.8 degrees, and a most beautiful shade of cerulean. Open to the public for swimming, hopping in with the local turtles is a great way to top off an amazing day at Florida Caverns State Park!
Have you gone on a cave tour at Florida Caverns State Park? What was your favorite rock formation? Did you get to see a sleepy lil cave bat?!
Tell us about your adventure in the comments below!
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Photo: Unsplash
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