In 1878, a man named Hullam Jones looked down through the water of a Florida spring and decided to put a pane of glass in the bottom of a rowboat. The result? A local invention that would eventually carry millions of people across the surface of Silver Springs—and launch one of the wildest stories in the history of American tourism.
Silver Springs isn’t just a park. It’s an origin story. Before Disney, before airboats, before hashtags—this was Florida’s headline act. Located near Ocala, Silver Springs State Park is one of the largest and oldest artesian springs in the United States, pumping out nearly 550 million gallons of crystalline water each day. It’s not just a natural wonder—it’s where Tarzan swung, sea monsters rose, and more than a few actors got tangled in eelgrass pretending to be prehistoric.
Today, the hype has faded, the monkeys have stayed, and the water still shines.
Start your visit with a ride in the iconic glass-bottom boat. These slow-moving beauties date back more than a century and offer a literal window into another world. You’ll see sunken statues, ancient cypress stumps, and fish gliding like silver bullets through water so clear it looks imaginary. Guides point out fossils, movie props, and underwater caves. Occasionally, an alligator cruises by, cool as a cucumber in a swamp sauna.
And yes—there are monkeys.
In the 1930s, a riverboat tour operator released a troop of rhesus macaques onto an island in the Silver River to enhance his “jungle cruise” aesthetic. He thought they’d stay put. They did not. Nearly a hundred years later, the descendants of those monkeys still roam the riverbanks—wild, wily, and occasionally rowdy. They’re not native, not particularly friendly, and absolutely part of the legend. (No feeding, no selfies. Just wave from a distance and keep paddling.)
The spring basin itself is mesmerizing—deep, round, and ringed by a tangle of palms and live oaks. Swimming isn’t allowed here (to protect the delicate ecosystem), but that’s okay. You’ll be too busy kayaking or canoeing down the Silver River, where water clarity turns every paddle stroke into a meditation. Turtles sun on logs. Garfish drift like prehistoric dreams. The occasional manatee might surprise you with a gentle swirl of water beside your bow.
Want to stretch your legs? Silver Springs State Park offers more than 15 miles of hiking trails, from shady creekside loops to dry scrubby sandhills. The Sandhill Trail takes you through longleaf pine forests dotted with gopher tortoise burrows. The River Trail leads to a wooden overlook where you can gaze across a bend in the Silver River that’s so still it seems paused.
For kids (or curious adults), the Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center—open weekends—offers hands-on exhibits on local archaeology, paleontology, and Florida cracker culture. There’s even a reconstructed 1800s pioneer village, complete with blacksmith shop and sugarcane mill, that brings the past into sharper focus.
Hungry? Head to The Springside Café, a modest but well-run eatery inside the park with sandwiches, smoothies, and cold drinks—plus shaded picnic tables. Outside the park in nearby Ocala, the food options bloom like azaleas. Try Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille for Creole flavors in a brick-walled downtown location, or La Cuisine French Restaurant for escargot, duck à l’orange, and date-night decadence.
Craving something quick and beloved? Big Lee’s BBQ is a local legend—massive ribs, smoky brisket, and sides that could double as stand-alone meals. The owner once beat Bobby Flay. You’ll understand why after one bite.
For a good night’s sleep, Silver Springs offers cabins and a spacious campground. The cabins are woodsy, cozy, and equipped with kitchenettes—perfect for families who want to unplug and reconnect over card games and campfires. Tent and RV sites are shaded and serene, close enough to hear owls at night and wake to birdsong.
If you prefer a hotel, stay in downtown Ocala—The Equestrian Hotel at World Equestrian Center is upscale, elegant, and surrounded by horse-country grandeur. Or opt for something more casual like the Comfort Suites nearby, clean and close to everything.
Some numbers to make your jaw drop:
• Silver Springs pumps out 550 million gallons of water daily—that’s more than 830 Olympic-sized pools.
• The glass-bottom boat tour has been running for over 145 years.
• The rhesus macaque monkeys number 100–300 and are the only free-roaming population of their kind in the U.S.
• The park was the filming site for six Tarzan movies, several Creature from the Black Lagoon scenes, and a James Bond underwater fight sequence.
Want a local tip? Visit on a weekday morning in late fall. The air is crisp, the humidity is bearable, and the river looks like it’s holding its breath. You’ll practically have the place to yourself. Paddle upstream for a bit, pull over, and just sit. The stillness here is ancient. You can feel it in the breeze, in the water, in the quiet confidence of the trees.
And don’t rush off. Silver Springs is one of those rare places that rewards lingering. Watch the sunlight refract off the spring like a slow disco ball. Count the fish. Name the birds. Listen for monkeys. Let the day drift the way the river does—slow, steady, certain.
Florida has hundreds of springs. Many are stunning. A few are famous. But Silver Springs is the one that started it all. It’s a living postcard from a wilder, weirder time. A place where nature and nostalgia shake hands. And the water? Still as clear as memory.
