EDWARD BALL WAKULLA SPRINGS
STATE PARK AND LODGE

By  Mike Miller May 25, 2025

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park and Lodge in Wakulla, Florida, is a 6,000-acre wildlife sanctuary. It centers around one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs.

The park offers a glimpse into Florida’s natural beauty and history. Visitors can enjoy boat tours, swimming, and hiking. The historic lodge provides a peaceful retreat with a touch of old Florida charm. 

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park and Lodge

The park is named after Edward Ball, a financier who bought the land in 1931. He built the lodge in 1937 to preserve the area’s natural beauty.

Native Americans lived here thousands of years ago, hunting mastodons and bison. Archaeologists found their artifacts, including Clovis spear points.

The park was sold to the State of Florida in 1986. It’s now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Natural Landmark.

Hollywood used the park’s swamps for films like Tarzan’s Secret Treasure (1941) and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). 

The park is located at 465 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs, FL 32327, near Crawfordville and about 15 miles south of Tallahassee. It’s open daily from 8 am to sundown.

The lodge operates 24 hours, with check-in at 3 pm and check-out at 11 am. Book boat tours online in advance, as they can sell out. Bring bug spray for trails due to ticks.

Wear a bathing suit for swimming in the 70-degree spring water. The lodge has a restaurant and gift shop.

Call 850-421-2000 for lodging or dining reservations. Wheelchair-accessible boats and amenities are available.

• The spring’s bottom holds bones of mastodons, giant sloths, and camels from prehistoric times.
  
  
• The lodge’s lobby ceiling has colorful paintings of Florida wildlife and scenes, restored in 2002.
  
  
• The gift shop features the world’s longest known marble bar, measuring 70 feet 3 inches.
  
  
• The park’s cypress trees are 400–600 years old, some of Florida’s oldest.
  
  
• Manatees visit the spring, especially from October to January.
  
  
• The lodge’s elevator is Florida’s oldest working elevator.
  
  
• The park has 54 archaeological sites, showing human activity from Paleoindian times.
  
  
• Glass-bottom boat tours stopped due to reduced water clarity, but river tours run year-round. 

EDWARD BALL WAKULLA SPRINGS STATE PARK 
AND LODGE WEBSITE