Rainbow Springs facts for kids
Rainbow Springs is a very large natural spring located in Marion County, Florida, near the city of Dunnellon. It was once known as Blue Spring. Today, it is the main attraction of Rainbow Springs State Park.
This isn't just any spring; it's a "first-magnitude" artesian spring, which is a way of saying it's one of the most powerful springs you can find. It is the fourth-largest spring in Florida! Every day, it releases over 490 million gallons of fresh, clear water. That's enough water to fill over 740 Olympic-sized swimming pools! This water is the beginning, or headwaters, of the beautiful Rainbow River.
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The Story of Rainbow Springs
What's in a Name?
For a long time, the springs were called Wekiwa Creek by the Seminole people who lived in the area. Later, it became known as Blue Spring.
In the 1930s, the area was turned into a tourist attraction. The owners wanted a more exciting name to attract visitors, so they renamed it Rainbow Springs. The new name helped it stand out from other springs in Florida.
An Old-Fashioned Attraction
For many years, Rainbow Springs was a popular place for families to visit. To compete with other attractions, it had some very unique rides. Instead of glass-bottom boats, Rainbow Springs had "submarine" boats. Passengers could sit below the water level and look out windows to see the underwater world of the spring. The park also had a monorail that gave people a tour from high above the ground.
Like other Florida springs such as Weeki Wachee Springs, Rainbow Springs also had "mermaid shows" in the 1950s. These shows featured performers swimming underwater. The tourist attraction at Rainbow Springs eventually closed in the 1970s.
Photos from the Past
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This special "submarine" boat let visitors see the underwater world of the spring.
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A monorail gave visitors a tour of the park from above.
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The monorail car coming in for a stop near the station.
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An underwater photo from a "mermaid" show in 1956.
Saving a Natural Treasure
Even after the old park closed, people knew the springs and the river were special. The Rainbow River received several important titles to help protect it:
- It was named a Registered Natural Landmark in 1972.
- It became an Aquatic Preserve in 1986.
- It was called an "Outstanding Florida Waterway" in 1987.
These titles recognized the river as a unique and important natural area. In 1990, the State of Florida bought the land around the springs. This purchase saved the area from being turned into buildings and homes. Thanks to the hard work of many community volunteers, it was opened to the public as Rainbow Springs State Park.
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