Rainbow Springs State Park

Rainbow Springs State Park centers on a first-magnitude spring whose clear water rises from several vents to form the Rainbow River before joining the Withlacoochee River. The park protects a large mix of uplands, wetlands, submerged land, and 11 natural communities that support diverse wildlife and native plants. Long known for its striking water, the site operated for decades as a tourist attraction, first as Blue Spring and later as Rainbow Springs, with submarine tours and mermaid shows before closing in the 1970s. Conservation measures in the late 20th century protected the river and springs from development, preserving a place shaped by ecology, tourism, and volunteer-led restoration.

Rainbow Springs, Florida · United States