Wekiva River (Gulf Hammock, Levy County) facts for kids

The Wekiva River is a cool river in Florida! It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger river called the Waccasassa River. The Wekiva River starts at a place called Wekiva Spring in Levy County, Florida.

From Wekiva Spring, the river takes a winding path, first heading west and then south for about 7 miles. It eventually joins the Waccasassa River. Along its journey, smaller streams like Mule Creek and the Little Wekiva River add their water to the Wekiva.

Where is the Wekiva River?

The Wekiva River is found in a special area of Florida known as the Gulf Hammock. This area is located between two other famous rivers, the Withlacoochee River and the Suwannee River. The Gulf Hammock is a large wetland area, full of interesting plants and animals.

A Look Back in Time: The Gulf Hammock Hotel

Long ago, in 1877, a couple named Christopher and Emma Wingate built a hotel called the Gulf Hammock Hotel. It was located right between the Wekiva River and the Little Wekiva River. This hotel was a popular spot for people who loved to hunt, fish, and travel. Guests came from all over the world to stay there! The hotel welcomed visitors until 1905.

Famous Painter Visits the River

One of the hotel's regular guests was a famous American painter named Hermann Ottomar Herzog. He visited the area often between 1893 and 1905. Herzog loved to paint the beautiful landscapes around the Gulf Hammock. He created more than one hundred paintings of this area, and at least seven of them even had "Wekiva" in their titles!

The River's Role in History: Logging

Around 1908, the Wekiva and Waccasassa River areas became important for logging. People would cut down large cypress trees. These trees were then floated down the Waccasassa River to a place called Burns Landing. From there, they were tied together into big rafts and sent downstream to the Gulf of Mexico. The rafts then traveled up the coast to a sawmill in Lukens, which was near Cedar Key, Florida. This shows how the river helped transport valuable resources a long time ago.