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In the midst of the 19th century, the settlement of Leno was established on the banks of the Santa Fe River. Originally dubbed Keno in reference to a popular game of chance, the town faced a setback in 1876 when Colonel Whetstone’s application for a post office under the name Keno was rejected due to its association with gambling. Promptly, the Colonel altered the name to Leno and successfully secured the post office.

Leno flourished as a bustling town, boasting two grist mills, a sawmill, and six cotton gins, in addition to a general store, hotel, livery stable, and doctor’s office. Nevertheless, the relocation of the SF&W Railroad through Fort White in 1894 marked the beginning of Leno’s decline, prompting its abandonment by 1896.

Despite being deserted, the area remained a favored spot for nearby townsfolk and farmers to gather for picnics and swimming. Gradually transitioning from Old Leno to O’Leno, the moniker that endures to this day.

By 1935, the Florida Forest Service had acquired the land where Leno once stood. The birth of O’Leno State Park began with plans for a Florida Forest Service camp dedicated to forestry education. Construction commenced under the Works Progress Administration using labor from the High Springs region. In July 1935, the Civilian Conservation Corps assigned workers from Company 418 to Camp P-67 to support the WPA efforts at O’Leno.

Rapid advancements followed as the CCC cleared land, laid roads and trails, and erected numerous structures that still grace the park today between 1935 and 1936. With the project nearing finalization in late 1936, CCC participants were gradually phased out as WPA labor became scarce.

Camp O’Leno emerged in 1938 as a Florida Forest Service training ground. It served as a hub for instructing forestry employees and youth groups interested in the field. After two summers of operation, the training camp transitioned to the Florida Park Service under the Board of Forestry and Parks, officially opening as O’Leno State Park in 1940, standing as one of the inaugural nine state parks in the Florida Park Service.

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