Families flock to
Hart Springs

By Carrie A. Mizell

The sun-dappled boardwalk and ice-cold water of Hart Springs draws generation after generation to the local park each year to mark summer’s arrival with a swimming trip, camping expedition, or family reunion in the pavilion.
Boasting one of the largest spring-fed swimming areas in the state, Hart Springs drew 1,175 people over Memorial Day weekend, explained Mitchell Gentry, park manager. The park is open year-round, Gentry explained. Memorial Day weekend just prompted the first large crowd of the summer season to come by and revel in the spring water.
“Most of the people who come here have heart strings here…generational memories,” Gentry said. “That is the business of Hart Springs.”
Gentry pointed out that the park’s RV camp filled up two weeks prior to Memorial Day, as 70 plus campers reserved their spots in advance. Another 20 campers popped a tent in the park’s primitive camping area.
Visitors to the park are greeted by the sweet smile and quiet nature of David Wise, who has worked the front gate for several years now. After a cheerful welcome, visitors are encouraged to drive on in to the park and begin swimming, picnicking, birding or strolling along the half-mile boardwalk that runs alongside the Suwannee River.
If leisure is not on the agenda, the park also offers canoes, kayaks, tubes of all sizes, bikes, basketball, volleyball and horseshoes for rent, as well as a playground for young children.
Since taking over as park manager last July, Gentry said construction has been ongoing at the park. Re-decking the pedestrian walk, rehabilitating a retaining wall, and rebuilding 400 feet of the boardwalk that was destroyed during the 2009 flood were among general contractor/park manager’s top priorities.
The park manager also oversaw the remodeling and furnishing of Hart Springs House, which in the past had served as the park manager’s residence, but because Gentry lives nearby, he approached the Gilchrist County Commissioners about turning the house into a rental. The three bedroom/two bath home, which is fully furnished is now available to visitors and has already brought in $8,000, Gentry said.
Over the Memorial Day holiday Mindy Miller of Fort Worth, Texas and four generations of her family stayed eight days at Hart Springs House, while attending a local family reunion. Mindy’s mother-in-law, Marie O’Neal Miller, was born and raised in the area and moved to Texas in 1947 after getting married. With four generations of the Miller family making the trip from Texas, including five adults and a baby, the Hart Springs House proved to be ideal for the family.
“We just love it here,” Mindy Miller said. “We brought our boat from Texas and we have it parked underneath the house, which has been really convenient.”
Mindy Miller explained that her mother-in-law Marie has fond memories of visiting Hart Springs Park as a child, that drew the family back to the park while visiting the county.
Boasting everything from sand pails and rubber balls to coffee, hot dogs and pastries, the Hart Springs Store was also completely remodeled over the last year, Gentry explained. The store now has more efficient shelving thanks to David Jones, a contractor Gentry hired, and picnic tables inside.
“In the future I would like to finish the retaining walls, build a new dock to resemble the old platform dock of yesteryear and put a jukebox in the store,” Gentry said.
Families who plan to gather in the park’s pavilion for family reunions this summer will be surprised by the fact that the fans that were located above the door have been taken out and an air conditioner has been ducted through the ceiling of the building. Fans and additional lighting have also been added to the pavilion.
Local cave diving enthusiasts will be interested to know that Big Hart now has an actual flow, after 9 cubic yards of rubble were removed from the cave thanks to Leslie Sapp and volunteers from the cave diving community, Gentry said. The dive program at Hart Springs has been re-vamped, Gentry explained. Little Heart Pass is open to divers and Black Lagoon is still a guided system.
The park’s RV campground allows pets, and offers laundry, showers and even a swing set for children, as well as a swimming pool nearby.
Richard Riess, who worked in law enforcement for a number of years now oversees the campground area. Utilizing new paperwork, Riess said campers are getting pulled in, set up and ready to have fun in a shorter period of time these days.
“The people who come in here have a smile on their face,” Riess said. “It reminds me of my time in the military and living in base housing because every camper who comes in has a fresh story to tell.”
Overall, Gentry hopes the changes at Hart Springs Park will bring about a 15 percent revenue increase for the county, while continuing to draw families year after year.