O'LENO STATE PARK

Hi Everybody----glad you made it.  Here we are at our first stop--O'Leno State Park north of
Gainesville on the Santa Fe River. One of Florida's first State Parks.

In this park the Santa Fe River disappears into a sink hole and resurfaces 3 1/2 miles southwest at River Rise State Park. The area under which the river flows has been called  "The Natural Bridge" and provided easy passage over the Santa Fe River from as early as 7,000 BC.

Leno

History of the Town of Leno
Acquired in the early 1930's by the Florida Board of Forestry, the park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) and used as a summer forestry camp.  Many of the structures are still in use today.

Suspension bridge over the Santa Fe River constructed in 1936

Yep Alligators

Swimming area, bridge in background

Took a walk and came across some deer grazing(first wild animals on trip).

Our camp site in the trees---a pull-through  didn't have to unhitch the jeep

 As you can see, pretty wooded site--and hardly anyone here.  Uneventful trip here, slaughtered
 hundreds of lovebugs on the windshield.

Tomorrow, heading west for St. George Island and the beach.
MILES TODAY: 267
CAMPING: $10
Thanks for coming along!