US 441 Old Heritage Highway

by David Michael
(Ojus, Florida)

I recently traveled along US441 from Gainesville to the Marion County line about 48 miles south. This entire area of central Florida is loaded with side roads that are fun to explore off the "beaten path" of US441.

The Old Florida Heritage Highway Corridor Management Council, working with Friends of Paynes Prairie, has instituted a self-guided cell phone tour along US441, which is known as The Old Heritage Highway in this part of Florida.

Several sites have been set up around the Prairie, and new ones are on the way.

To check out some of the first few test sites, dial 327-9005, and try 1# for the 441 Boardwalk, 12# for the top of the VC observation tower and bison, 6# for the old railroad trestle near Camp Ranch, and 8# for Alligators along the La Chua Trail.

Many more stops are in the planning stage, visitors are already showing interest, and the tracking website has recorded well over two hundred calls so far.

The program is coordinated by the City of Gainesville Cultural Affairs Department and the Department of Parks, Recreation, and is funded through Alachua County tourism tax dollars.