Ponce De Leon Springs

Florida's roadside tourist attraction industry began in the 1930's after the Great Depression, as automobiles replaced trains as the main mode of transportation. After World War II, millions of visitors made Florida their annual vacation destination and sought attractions themed around the state's natural resources or history. Between 1929 and 1971, 130 attractions were established, but the era ended with the opening of Disney in 1971, interstate highways bypassing towns and roads, and air travel taking visitors directly to their destination. Ponce de Leon Springs later became a private recreational park and then a state park in 1982. Before the interstate highways, more than half of roadside attractions were located along US 1, US 27, and US 41, while businesses on other roads also competed for tourists, including the St. Johns River Trail that guided drivers south from Jacksonville on US 17. Ponce de Leon Springs advertised itself as "Nature's Cameraland" on large billboards, including one at the corner of Hwy. 17 and Ponce de Leon Blvd. Visitors parked outside and rode a tram, took the Jungle Cruise past Monkey Island and an old cypress tree, and watched trapeze artists perform on a small island.

Florida · United States