Fanning Springs State Park

08/29/2026

🌊🥶👻

THE COLD SPOT IN FANNING SPRINGS

There’s something strange lurking beneath the surface of Fanning Springs…

The spring stays around 72°F year-round—cold enough to make you gasp when you first get in. But some swimmers say they’ve encountered something much colder.

A sudden ice-cold current.

Not just a little cooler.

They describe swimming along normally when, without warning, they hit a spot in the spring where the water becomes shockingly cold. Some say the temperature seems to drop even further as they move through it.

One young girl was reportedly so startled by the sudden cold that she screamed in the water. When her mother rushed over to her, she felt it too.

And then there are the stories that get a little… stranger.

Some people who have experienced the phenomenon believe the cold current is more than just groundwater moving beneath the spring. They describe it as if something ancient is moving through the water—an unseen presence hiding beneath the surface.

Of course, there may be a perfectly natural explanation. Springs are fed by an enormous underground aquifer system, and variations in groundwater temperature and flow can create localized currents.

But there’s something undeniably creepy about swimming through warm Florida air, diving into a 72-degree spring…

…and suddenly feeling a patch of water that feels ice cold against your skin.

So the next time you’re swimming at Fanning Springs and you suddenly hit a freezing current…

Don’t panic.

It might just be the aquifer.

Or maybe you’ve found the cold spot. 👀🥶

**This story is featured in Holly Sprinkle’s book, “Florida Natural Springs: A History.”**

08/20/2026

Next week @ Ichetucknee Springs State Park!🥞📚

08/16/2026

🌮Did You Know? 🌮

Long before it became the beloved state park we know today, Fanning Springs had a surprisingly crunchy claim to fame in its history books!

Back in the 1960s, the property surrounding the spring was privately owned by none other than Glen W. Bell Jr.—the visionary founder and namesake of the Taco Bell empire!

Before building his massive fast-food legacy, Bell held the deed to this iconic Suwannee River hot spot during its transition away from the bustling old tourist camp and resort era of the early 20th century.

Next time you're taking a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear crystal waters, remember you're swimming in a piece of history tied to the king of tacos himself! 🌮🌮🌮

08/15/2026

A Little Fanning Springs History

After visiting Fanning Springs State Park, take a short walk or drive north on Highway 19 to our Wayside Park, located just before the Suwannee River bridge on the left.

The Wayside was once a Florida Department of Transportation rest stop, dating back to before Interstate 75 was built. One of its most interesting features is the towering section of the original Suwannee River bridge.

Built in the mid-1930s, the bridge connected Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist counties and eliminated the need for travelers to cross the river by ferry. The bridge was such an anticipated improvement that local residents held a celebration on the bridge before it officially opened to traffic. Today, the remaining bridge span is the last section of that original structure still standing.

As Highway 19 grew busier, a wider, more modern bridge was eventually constructed nearby.

The Wayside is more than just a piece of local history. It offers shaded picnic areas, pavilions and a metal ramp leading down to the Suwannee River. Visitors can explore the riverbank beneath the oak and cypress trees, enjoy the scenery and see firsthand the changing water levels of the historic Suwannee.

It may be easy to overlook, but the Wayside is well worth a stop. Its combination of history, nature and beautiful views makes it a special part of the Fanning Springs area.

08/14/2026

08/12/2026

July was another below-average rainfall month across the District, despite some areas receiving more than 11 inches of rain.

However, rainfall toward the end of the month and into August has helped improve dry conditions. In fact, some western counties in the District received so much rain they are now around the 80th percentile for groundwater, which has boosted the Districtwide average to the 23rd percentile.

With that being said, the District still shows a significant rainfall deficit - more than 22 inches in some places - and more rain is needed to clear up drought conditions.

You can read more in the District's monthly Hydrologic Conditions Report, found here: https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/m/newsflash/home/detail/1029

08/09/2026

FANNING SPRINGS FUN FACT!

Did you know Fanning Springs once had diving platforms that visitors could jump from into the spring?

Longtime visitors may remember both a higher platform and a lower jumping platform over the spring. The Florida Park Service refers to the old structure as a “high dive platform” and a “jump dock.”

The high platform was eventually shortened and the jump dock removed as the area was made safer and the natural surroundings were given more prominence. The portion that remained became the observation platform we know today.

For those who remember it: Which platform did you jump from — the high dive or the low one?

08/08/2026

The Suwannee River Water Management District is promoting its annual Leave No Litter campaign as summer crowds increase along the Ichetucknee, Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers, urging visitors to pack out trash and protect fragile aquatic habitats.