Before the building of the attraction, the Rainbow River was known at different times as Wekiwa Creek or Blue Run. 'Rainbow River' seemed more marketable and the names of the river and springs were changed to the names they bear today.
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Rainbow Springs was known as Wekiwa Creek by the Seminole Indians. Fishing for Mermaids in 1956. It was known as Blue Spring until the 1930s, when the site was developed as a tourist attraction and the promoter sought a more distinctive name (there are several other springs in Florida named Wekiwa and Blue).
The tourist attraction has been forced to close its doors as high maintenance costs and an uncertain future meant it was not financially viable, according to Ngai Tahu Holdings chief operating officer Craig Ellison.
Welcome to Rainbow Springs State ParkWhen swimmers take their first dip in the sapphire-blue waters of Rainbow Springs, they become characters in a story that stretches back over 10,000 years, when humans first visited this place.
The flow of the spring is the fourth highest among all the springs in Florida. The cool, clear waters of the headsprings are incredibly refreshing place to swim. The average depth in the natural swimming area runs from 10 to 18 feet, and the water temperature averages 72 degrees year-round.
History of Rainbow SpringsThese falls are human-made, and telling their story can reveal how the land around Rainbow Springs was used and shaped by people.
The river supports abundant wildlife, including otters, alligators, many species of turtles and fish, and every variety of water bird—waders, divers and dabblers. Osprey, hawks and swallowtail kites soar along the river corridor while smaller birds and animals hide in the lush vegetation.
We Have Delicious Food Options Available!We take pride in serving delicious food right in the park. From Texas-style pretzels spritzed with kosher salt to tortilla chips smothered in gooey cheese (the perfect treat to enjoy while walking), our Rainbow Snacks make for a perfect appetizer or shared plate.
Canoeing/Kayaking the Rainbow RiverSo Rainbow Springs (the headspring) is a first magnitude spring (the 4th largest in Florida), pumping out approximately 400 -600 million gallons of beautiful spring water a day.
The first magnitude spring system that forms the Rainbow River has an average discharge rate of 763 cubic feet per second (cfs), or 493 million gallons per day (mgd) and is one of 33 first magnitude spring systems in the State.
Rainbow Springs State Park is a Florida state park located on U.S. 41, 3 miles (5 km) north of Dunnellon, Florida. It comprises 1,459.07 acres (5.9046 km2) upland (which includes around 100 acres (0.40 km2) of wetlands) and 12.83 acres (51,900 m2) submerged.
During the five-year period, 37 different species of fish were collected from the Rainbow River System. The study helps biologists tell how any impact, whether natural or man-made, is affecting the spring's ecosystem and ecology.
The most significant natural feature is the first-magnitude headspring basin which produces between 400 - 600 million gallons (1.5 to 2.3 million m?) of fresh water per day, forming the Rainbow River. The looking-glass waters of Rainbow Springs come from several vents, not one large bubbling spring.