Florida’s Wakulla County

From history and natural attractions to unique events, it will be worth the trip to this unique destination while visiting the Panhandle.

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Words by Kathleen Walls

Wakulla County is one of the Florida Panhandle's best-kept secrets. Even though it’s located in the Tallahassee metro area, many of the communities have stayed close to its Florida roots. There are festive annual celebrations, interesting history, rich parklands, and outdoor recreation. All combine to offer a southern destination with special character and style.

Panacea

The Oaks RV Resort and Motel is a perfect base to explore Wakulla County from. It's a privately owned park with just 22 full-service, shady, paved sites nestled among beautiful oaks. There's everything you need, including a pool and hot tub. The public restrooms are conveniently located next to the pool and each one has a locking door and houses a commode, lavatory, and shower. It’s furnished just like a home bathroom. If you prefer to spend a night in the motel, the rooms are diverse and tastefully decorated.

Near the pool is large carved-tree art. The story goes that when the park owner, Bob Rapp, cut down a dead oak tree, he brought in an artist to carve the remaining trunk. Rapp was thinking of a manatee. The artist took one look and told him, "Nope, that's a mermaid.”

The park is less than 20 minutes from interesting attractions, and a good starting point is the Wakulla Welcome Center. You’ll want to learn some details about the county’s many and Mashes Sands Beach is one of the closest to the park. It's also the perfect place to take beautiful photos of sunsets and enjoy birdwatching.

For a rural community, Panacea has fabulous dining options. Posey's Steam Room & Oyster Bar and Tropical Trader Shrimp Company offer delicious seafood.

Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory

If you are interested in marine life, visit the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory right in Panacea. Not only can you observe ocellated Moray eels, seahorses, and rays, but there are detailed placards that provide information about the history of the Gulf and the species that inhabit it.

There's one that tells the story of Blinky (aka One-Eyed Joe), a 3 m (11 ft) alligator that made a home in Lake Mirror throughout the 1970s. The town's unofficial mascot. In September 1978, to stop people from feeding the oversized reptile, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service moved him to Homosassa Springs near Tampa. Unfortunately, despite its size, Blinky met his match following a fight with a 1,000-pound crocodile.

Wakulla Springs State Park

Wakulla was part of Leon County until 1843. One legend is that it was coined after the Timucuan Indian term meaning "spring of water" or "mysterious water," referring to one of the county's greatest natural attractions, Wakulla Springs.

This state park is where the classic horror film Creature from the Black Lagoon was filmed (as were some of the early Tarzan movies). It encompasses the world’s largest and deepest freshwater spring and has a constant temperature of 21° (70°F) all year. During your visit, you’ll want to take a river boat tour where you can observe manatees, alligators, turtles, and wild birds.

The park’s popular Wakulla River Paddling Trail is accessible at the CR 365 bridge and there’s another launch about 5 km (3 mi) downstream, just past the U.S. 98 bridge. You can also paddle another 5 km (3 mi) to the junction of the St. Marks River at San Marcos De Apalache Historic State Park. Be sure to keep an eye out for manatees, turtles, alligators and the many birds soaring overhead.

Approximately three minutes from the park is the historic and beautiful Lodge at Wakulla Springs. It was built in 1937 by millionaire Edward Ball. You’ll want to inquire about the original creature costume and the longest marble soda fountain ever built. Perhaps take a break from your RV and stay the night or enjoy some southern cuisine in the Edward Ball Dining Room.

St. Marks

The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is one of the county’s leading natural attractions. Devised to conserve and protect the area’s diverse natural habitat, the refuge attracts more than 300,000 visitors annually who enjoy birding, hiking, biking, fishing, and a variety of water sports.

The Visitor Center Museum and the outlook are ideal places to start exploring the area. You may see alligators (and other wildlife) from the outlook and to learn more about the area, there are exhibits and knowledgeable, friendly staff.

Beyond the visitor centre are paved roads that lead through the refuge with plenty of pull-offs to observe nature. The drive to St. Marks Lighthouse is worthwhile and the observation platform is where you can view it from higher ground. Tours are available and be sure to contact the visitors centre for hours and availability before your visit (www.stmarksrefuge.org).

San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park

Spanish explorer Panfilo de Narvaez was the first to land here (where the Wakulla and St. Marks rivers flow into Apalachicola Bay) in 1528. However, the Spanish inhabitants didn’t build the first fort until 1679. Today, Apalache Historic State Park details its storied history. Entry is free but there’s a $2 USD charge to visit the museum.

Spain lost the region to Great Britain for several years and then regained it. But in 1821, they ceded Florida to the United States after General Andrew Jackson invaded Spanish West Florida and took over the fort during the Seminole wars.

The United States renamed the fort to Fort St. Marks. In the early 1850s, it was the site of a U.S. Navy hospital for sailors who were treated for yellow fever. During the Civil War, Confederates took control and renamed it Fort Ward. As you walk around the park, placards further explain its interesting history.

Sopchoppy

Historic Sopchoppy Train Depot commemorates the era when rail was the main form of transportation. Sopchoppy Depot is approximately 15 minutes from the The Oaks RV Resort and is the only remaining depot remaining in Florida on the G F & A.

In the late 1800s, the depot was more than a departure or arrival point. It hosted the era’s modern technology, a telegraph. The museum was restored in 2010 and showcases memorabilia, artifacts, historical exhibits, and photographs.

Also on the site of the depot is the 1896 Towles House built by a former slave, Louis Gavin, for John and Lucile Reiwinkle Towles. During select festivals, the porch serves as a stage for live entertainment.  If you plan to visit on the second Saturday of each month, cross the street to the Community Market where vendors sell produce, artisan crafts, and more.

Every year in April, the town of Sopchoppy stages what may be the oddest public event. The annual Worm Gruntin’ Festival is hosted every April where contestants stomp, grunt, and rub embed wooden stakes to attract worms. Music, arts and crafts, a fancy-dress ball and even the crowning of a Worm Gruntin’ king and queen are some of the highlights.

Other well-known events during the winter in the county include The NWR Wildlife Heritage & Outdoor Festival in St Marks; Brews by the Bay and the Oyster Festival in Panacea; the Arbor Day Celebration in Crawfordville.

Crawfordville

The Historic Old Wakulla County Courthouse is a frame building that is now the Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce. The courtroom on the second floor held an unusual trial in 1916. A fisherman who was arrested for catching mullet out of season was vindicated when Judge McLeod ruled that a mullet has a gizzard, therefore it is a fowl, not a fish. Recognizing the trial is a weathervane designed as a mullet atop the courthouse.

Across the street, the Old Wakulla County Jail tells the history of the county. They built the jail in 1949 and one of the exhibit rooms is dedicated to Judge McLeod. There are photos, furniture, and an antique cabinet full of artifacts donated by his daughter and other family members.

Another exhibit room showcases the Laird’s General Store as it would have looked in the early 1900s. There’s also a moonshine exhibit with a still and assorted posters about the prohibition vote.

With the many attractions and community events that pay homage to its Florida roots, Wakulla County is well worth the visit and an ideal destination to experience rural Florida.

For more information visit www.visitwakulla.com