Save Silver Spring Movement Grows
February 26, 2010
OCALA – Citizens of this Florida town, home to Silver Springs, are banding together to help support the historic attraction.
The park is deteriorating, and locals feel that the management is letting it run down. Monkeys. Glass-bottom boats. Ross Allen milking rattlesnakes. Great old memories.
Sign up for their Facebook page at Save Silver Springs Now. The Facebook group talks about the issues, and what you can do.
A “New” Silver Springs
Since 1878 Silver Springs “Nature’s Theme Park” Attraction has had millions of people view its artesian spring waters and natural Florida flora and fauna. The “World Famous Glass Bottom Boats” have cruised with up to over 800,000 Guests a year to view the many sights and sounds. In past years, driving on Silver Springs Boulevard one could see how the local economy flourished and businesses grew to support the Attraction. Vacation travelers came from all over Florida and “up North” to fill the many hotels and motels and eat at local restaurants The Silver Springs Attraction is what made Ocala and Marion County a “must see” on their way to a final destination.
Today as one travels Silver Springs Boulevard, one sees businesses closed, for sale, or just abandoned. Once inside the Theme Park, one is greeted by a failing Attraction. Yes, the staff is friendly, knowledgeable and Captain Oscar will shake your hand and guide you to the “World Famous Glass Bottom Boats”, but upon stepping on board, the once proud shiny jewels of the Silver River, have been reduced to faded, chipped and peeling paint barges. The jewel has been reduced to cheap costume jewelry.
Upon further exploration to Ross Island, one views an assortment of species in less than adequate and current state of the art exhibits. Walking past buildings, again the paint is chipped and faded, windows broken, and mold peeks out behind vents and fixtures. Signs of broken and fallen structures are not so cleverly hidden from view. Gone are the once beautiful and colorful botanical gardens. The day of young brides wanting a wedding at Silver Springs and its natural beauty are almost gone. Attendance has dropped to twenty-five percent of past record numbers. Nature’s Theme Park has been abandoned by its current operators and needs to be brought back to its once magnificent state.
We agree, that the time to “Save Silver Springs” is now. If Marion County fails to take ownership of what once made it great, soon, very soon, there will be nothing left to save. The current General Manager, Terry Turner and Palace Entertainment have abdicated their responsibility to the Guests of Silver Springs and the citizens of Ocala and Marion County.
Recently, the Ocala/Marion County Hotel Association asked if Palace Entertainment the current operator of Silver Springs Attraction, would be interested in having a Community Service Day to help “spruce up” the facility. On this day the members of the Association would allow their staffs to volunteer their time and talents to paint, work with Grounds Keepers, Wildlife, Food and Beverage, Guest Relations and others The answer without any discussion was no.
Is this how Palace Entertainment wants to be a Community Partner? Since 2002, the community has supported the Silver Springs Attraction and its sister water park, Wild Waters, even in these tough economic times.
Over the years as if by design, less and less repairs and maintenance have been completed contributing to the Theme Park’s present state of disrepair. It would be interesting to see the “books” and know how much was spent on repairs and maintenance over the years. After all, Silver Springs is ultimately owned by a “private investment” company.
The Attraction has also begun a policy of, it looks like low attendance, or a possibility of rain, let’s close the Theme Park. Perhaps if Palace Entertainment would direct some of their profits to repairs and maintenance, the attendance would climb and reach higher numbers.
Marion County has said in their Plan, that they are interested in taking over and running the Attraction. The County has had success with several recent acquisitions: Rotary Sportsplex; Brick City Adventure Park and the Belleview Sportsplex. To run the Silver Springs Attraction would be a vastly more challenging undertaking. It is important that although some changes would have to be made, it is most important to preserve the history and legacy of the past 132 years.
Silver Springs has to reinvent itself for the 21st century mindset. In the Hospitality Industry, properties are refurbished no less than every seven years. Isn’t it time that Silver Springs “Nature’s Theme Park” do the same?
Silver Springs bills itself as “Nature’s Theme Park”. It can re-establish itself by becoming the leader in presenting Florida’s and Nature’s ecological, conservation, energy resource and environmental issues by presenting environmental concerns that are relevant, interactive, clean and memorable.
We Challenge Bob Ballard, Deputy Director of the Marion County Division of Environmental Protection; Barbara Fitos, Chairwoman and the Marion County Commissioners; Dr. Lee Niblock, Marion County Administrator and the citizens of Marion County to take back, revitalize and “Save Silver Springs”.
Paul Skinner
pskinner87@aol.com
Paul. Thanks for taking the time to post and for your efforts, which will ultimately pay off. Silver Springs is too great a place and too important to the identity of Marion and Ocala to let it go to pot.