Doris Leepers Spruce Creek Preserve is more then just swamps, hammocks, pine trees and a creek. It is a place of great historical significance very untouched by man. Doris Leeper an environmentalist/artist fought very hard to preserve the Spruce Creek area as their were talks of housing development, highways, roads, and even a gulf course. 

But when it was recognized as a place of history over 2,000 acres were set aside as a preserve and today is a place of many exotic birds, animals and wild life. Doris Leeper did pass on in 2,000 but the conservation of the land she fought so hard to keep preserved still remains today for others to camp, hike, visit archaeological sites, and canoe. 

Spruce Creek Preserve is made up of many parts including the natural black water stream which is full of tannic acid staining caused by swampy vegetation is the low lying upper reaches of the creek which is a cypress swamp. Their is many different habitats within the preserve such a freshwater hardwood swamp, freshwater marsh, saltwater marsh, and mangrove swamp in an estuarine ecosystem. Then as you pull away from the Creek the area is full of Oak and Spruce Trees. 

The area is also very hilly very rare for Florida trails. Maybe these hills represent various Timucuan Indian Mounds. Studies show that the Timucuan's had one of their largest settlements in this area.  The Timucua tribe was highly advanced as they had a complex social system, towns, utilized a calendar, were knowledgeable in astronomy, and medical practices superior to Europe during their time of existence. One of the largest mounds in the area is known as Spruce Creek Mound which is located on the creek and said to stand 60' in height. The site functioned as a major ceremonial and political center for the Timucuan's. The smaller mounds were used as navigational landmarks.  During a hike on our first investigation I noticed an area that looked like a mound near the creek could this have been it? 

One of the first explorer's to visit the Spruce Creek area would have been French Artist Jacques Le Moyne in 1564 who documented is explorations by drawings. This is how it was found out later the significance to Spruce Creek's History. 

However the first European or long-term Presence in the preserve area was Andrew Turnbull and his Plantation settlement which thrived off the creek. If you want to learn more about this settlement you can visit Gateway 2 Portal 8  #25 as we investigated the old fort ruins. But at one time Turnbull owned the land surrounding Spruce Creek so most likely many artifacts still may exist in the woods or signs that it once was their. Another site on the preserve is the Gamble Place which we also investigated see Gateway 2 Portal 8 #13.  So the area seems to have a significant amount of history and of course ghost to go with it. I know their are ghost on the preserve cause we captured them at the Gamble Place but I wanted to delve a little deeper then just a cracker house in the woods I wanted us to conquer the preserve itself.

I have read their are various trails in the area so far we have hiked on three of them during our first investigation into the preserve. One of the trails was in a park which was very cleaned up, wide, and traveled along the creek. Also near that trail was Doris Leeper's Atlantic Center for The Arts which is now used as a visitors center with various exotic birds.  But the other two trails were very deep into the woods. Those trails we had to drive too on a dirt road then hike on in. Those two trails are heavily overgrown, roots growing up threw the ground, hilly, and very unused. One of the trails was very short the other we hiked on was cut short cause we ran out of light and since the trail was practically unfriendly we would have been doomed without proper lighting. 

But along the trails are various markers we have to assume that each marker was a historical site. I do not have what sort of historical sites each one stands for since I heard many years ago visitors would receive a brochure so when they hiked they could read about each site. I do recall a huge clearing in the woods, seeing what looked like parts of a stone foundation, and a giant tree that had no branches. We also encountered a very old dock that sat right over Spruce Creek which was falling apart. So definitely it is quite adventurous back in here. I once read that a big cat was spotted back along the creek so much wildlife does remain hidden in here. 

I am sure much more remains to be seen and I am sure some parts of these woods have not been walked on in many years. Its a real secluded and preserved area. You can tell the trail has not been used in a couple years its rather at times too quiet to a point where every little noise you do here you question.

After our first investigation I found another area with at least 10 miles worth of trails in the preserve which is supposed to get us close to the plantation site. So we do hope for a second adventure just to a different part of the preserve if possible. Their is an old urban legend I read back here of a 14 foot 50 year old alligator named old one eyed Joe whether its true or not I do not see the story being a fairy tale. The Spruce Creek area has many secluded trails, dirt roads, swamps and woods anything can be hiding back here including a gator this size.

Being that it was the site of an Indian Settlement, Shell Middens, A Plantation, and A Hunting Lodge the history here runs quite deep. I would like to visit for a second time to do another hike to see what else I can find so we shall see what the future unfolds.

© By

Rick-Lord Of Thy Night

 

rickpreservecrackerhouse.jpg (37102 bytes)  memorialwoods.jpg (46013 bytes)  brokenwooddock.jpg (25168 bytes)  fencepost.jpg (33416 bytes)  historictree.jpg (24773 bytes)

parkboard.jpg (19769 bytes)  woodstrail.jpg (33522 bytes)  dirtroad.jpg (23305 bytes)  stoneground.jpg (75336 bytes)  canoesgreen.jpg (27636 bytes)  brokencanoe.jpg (35659 bytes)  massivespider.jpg (29705 bytes)

wooddock.jpg (18995 bytes)  woodsbench.jpg (23047 bytes)