Florida Guide > State Parks
MADISON BLUE SPRING
Madison Blue Spring State Park is located on the west bank of the Withlacoochee River, 10 miles east of Madison close to the GA State line. It was bought by the State from Anna Bruie in October 2000 for $1, 108, 000 (it had been previously sold in 1990 for $200, 000! ) This park has some 38 acres. Anna shrewdly kept the rights to take water from the area (more of that later)
This is one of Florida' s newer parks having been opened in July 2005 and is chiefly noted for its cavern and spring. This is a magnitude spring, one of Floridas 33 such springs and the State Parks Dep now own and run 23 of them.
The spring measures an awesome 82 feet across and 25 feet deep and forms a circular shape with the waters flowing through a limestone basin. With its back drop of pines and hard woods this is a truly beautiful sight. The land around the spring is Karst terrain with many sink holes Most times you visit, the spring will be a most gorgeous blue.
You are permitted to swim in this crystal clear spring and it is mostly a comfortable 70 degrees. There are showers provided for you to freshen up afterwards. Don' t forget your swimming costume and towel and if you visit out of winter time then take something warm to put on afterwards.
The scuba diving here is awesome and currently costs $10; you must have your c card. The waters here are rated moderate to fast and you must not dive alone. This cavern is highly rated among the diving fraternity and indeed people come here to scuba dive from all around the world.
Canoes are not available to hire in the park, but there are rental places outside of the park. There is a launch area inside Madison Blue Springs. .
If you have ever bought a bottle of Zephyrhills or Deer Park water, this may well have been bottled near here. The plant employs 300 people but is not without controversy since it takes hundreds of millions of gallons of water a year. In normal conditions the water flows at 45, 000 gallons a minute. Nestle (a Swiss company) own the rights to the bottling of the water
It is wise to contact the park before setting out as it is not unknown for flooding to cause its closure. If you are going to scuba dive, then you need to do some more in depth research. Weekend get rather busier so avoid these times if you can
Madison Blue Springs State Park
8300 N. E. State Road 6
Lee, Florida 32059
Phone: 850-971-5003
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