William Bartram a botanist, artist, naturalist, humanist and explorer had ventured into this area only to set up his headquarters near the ravine in 1774. I am sure at that time the ravine looked alot different then it does today. Today their are various trails and fauna that was planted by the state to give it a jungle like setting. 

In 1933 the ravine was transformed into a dramatic garden by the Federate Works Progress Administration, Federal Emergency Relief Administration, Local Citizens Of Palatka,  and the Civil Works Administration.  In 1934 Florida Municipal Record had this as one of the Nations Outstanding CWA Projects. The Ravine was roughly 59 acres some say 150 acres and had almost a 2 mile road that went around it. The ravine is roughly 80 to 120 feet deep. Its real odd when you walk around it cause all you see are the tops of trees.

When the gardens were formed their was 95,000 Azaleas planed including 64 varieties, 11,000 palm trees, and more then 250,000 ornamental plants. Ravine Gardens is one of the only parks in the state of Florida with a formal designed landscape. Their is extensive field stone terraces, rock gardens, and even a massive cypress building which we must have missed on our first investigation.  Their is also picnic sites, The Roy E. Campbell Civic Center which has an auditorium and meeting rooms. Its a really peaceful place to picnic at.

At one time near the park was a old paper mill I do not believe it stands but from the painting in the park it shows of a mill along the creek. So it probably sat somewhere near the ravine at one time. In the ravine which goes like a T their is an area with a waterfall that flows down. Their is also a couple natural springs called Bamboo Springs which we found hiking on a trail. 

As you enter into the park their is a 64 foot tall Obelisk dedicated to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Then if you partake deeper into the park their is the court of States which is a long palm lined walkway displaying the flags of many nations in the world with roughly 50 pillars to be precise. To enter down into the ravine you must enter the formal gardens which begins at sea level then begins to slowly descend level by level.

The ravine is rumored to be about a mile long inside as it twist and turn into the earth. Their is a creek inside the ravine and trust me the crawfish I seen was the size of a lobster so their is life deep below the earth. A trail along the ravine is very hill as their are overgrown stairwells. Eventually in the middle of the ravine is a suspension bridge and I loved it lol. It felt like we were in some jungle just crossing the bridge.

The bottom of the ravine is much cooler their are little bridges that cross over the creek and its almost impossible to see the stars cause your deep down in a jungle like fauna. I remember seeing this one tree that had a flower petal larger then my head so it really is amazing. Some of the trees are over a century old within the ravine like live oaks, magnolias, sweet gums, and pignut hickories.  

The whole area is kind of eerie its one of these places where although its roughly only 100 acres you just know something is hiding watching. I would not say its bigfoot country but lets put it this way if you were a ghost and you haunted the ravine it would be obvious that  you could watch visitors from the beyond without ever being seen. Their is this feeling when walking down the dirt trails that something ghostly is constantly watching. Sometimes you hear movement like your being followed and sometimes you hear something come towards you then you stop and it stops. 

Its a place with alot of history imagine how many 100s of years it took just to create the ravine that in itself is really amazing. I chose this place as a test. Now and then its nice to get out do something wild it keeps you on your toes but it also is challenging to our organization. We do hope to visit for a second adventure.

© By

Rick-AngelOfThyNight

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