Released by the Chipley Garden Club …
Let’s start our tour at the front entrance! As you drive in, notice the red buds and a variety of native azaleas lining the right side of the parking lot (courtesy of the Chipley Garden Club). Directly behind the gate house are native azaleas and a multi-branched River Birth that were plants last year (again courtesy of the Chipley Garden Club).
Deeded to Florida in 1962, Falling Waters State Park is a 171+ acre State Park. Huge native trees and fern-covered sinkholes cover two trails that lead to the highest waterfall in the state. The falls are located in a 10-foot deep, 20-foot wide cylindrical pit and drops 73-74 feet. It’s still undetermined exactly where the water goes. A gully-washer rain storm will fill the pit to the brim – it will then empty in a few hours. It’s a mystery!
The park also offers visitors a beautiful native landscape complete with the Joyce Carter Memorial Butterfly Garden, the waterfall, a lake for swimming and fishing, picnic areas, campfire circles, and a full-facility camping area … and it’s all nestled in a pine forest.
Hikers can experience the gently sloping landscape of North Florida on one of the many trails. Swimmers may be nibbled at by the bream … and … did you know that almost everything at the park in handicapped now?
Speaking of the Butterfly Garden, Ri McGlamery has been leading her team as they upkeep, re-plant, and identify plants. It’s just beginning to come back to life after the Winter, but later on it will be in full bloom and look lovely. Very educational!
The archeological record reveals that the park’s sinkholes were used by Native Americans during the Seminole Wars. In 2007 Indian artifacts found here were dated to 1000-1500 years old – pottery bits, arrowheads and possibly the only cafe painting in Florida.
Remnants of a Civil War gristmill and a distillery were also found.
Legends say in 1919 the first Florida oil well was drilled here. Although at 4,912 feet, it still failed to produce enough oil and was capped in 1921.
Falling Waters is a BIG garden planted by God (mostly) under a canopy of pines. It offers several different habitats – pines, hardwoods, grassland, the lake and the swamp, ferns and lichens down in the sinkholes – that, at taimes, are all abloom with native wildflowers … and butterflies and birds … and wildlife!
Park Manager Aaron Miller and his crew have a full time job taking care of the park! And it has really paid off because OUR park in an AWARD WINNING park! Aaron welcomes the garden club’s attention and visits.