The rich history of the Big Shoals region spans millennia, offering shelter and leisure activities to generations of visitors. Whether soaking in the mineral springs or navigating the rapids in a kayak, the allure of this remarkable location knows no bounds.
For centuries, Native American tribes such as the Apalachee and Timucuan dwelled in the Big Shoals region. The limestone deposits here served as a source for crafting stone tools necessary for their hunting and fishing endeavors, while the nearby mineral springs were esteemed for their medicinal qualities. With the arrival of European settlers in the early 1800s, most of the Native American inhabitants were displaced from the area.
William Brinton Hooker, an early prominent figure in Florida’s cattle industry, established his homestead along the northern bank of the Suwannee River in the 1830s. Hooker raised scrub cattle, cultivated black seed cotton, and even constructed a ferry crossing the river.
In the early 1900s, the land underwent logging and turpentining operations, which were key industries in the Suwannee Valley at the time. Today, remnants of this era can still be seen, including the remains of the Old Godwin Bridge, Mr. Hooker’s homestead, and the Downing and Tippins Turpentine Camp.
The park’s longleaf pines bear the scars of catface stripping, a method employed to extract resin for naval store production. Park ranger Gary Erixton has dedicated nearly four decades to researching the region’s turpentine history and constructing detailed models of the former turpentine camps.
As the turpentining industry declined, the facilities used for processing timber were left abandoned. Nevertheless, the area encompassing Big Shoals State Park remained ingrained in local memory, drawing visitors who sought to enjoy the rejuvenating mineral springs at nearby White Springs, much like the indigenous people once did.
Claiming that the sulfur water had healing properties, Dryant and Elizabeth Sheffield established a hotel and bathhouse on the site, becoming one of Florida’s original tourist destinations, the remnants of which still stand today. However, the popularity of the springs dwindled by the mid-1930s, ultimately drying up completely by 1990.
The lands where Big Shoals now stands were acquired between 1986 and 1989 through a collaborative effort involving the state of Florida, the Suwannee River Water Management District, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, all recognizing the historical significance of this area.
The Big Shoals Public Lands continue to operate through partnerships, ensuring the preservation and enjoyment of this historic site well into the future.