Silver Springs State Park | |
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IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
Location | Marion County, Florida, United States |
Nearest city | Silver Springs |
Coordinates | 29°12′4″N 82°3′13″W / 29.20111°N 82.05361°W |
Area | 5,000 acres (20 km2) |
Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Silver Springs State Park, formerly known as Silver River State Park, is a Florida state park located on the Silver River in Marion County. The park contains Silver Springs, Florida's first tourist attraction.
The Silver Springs attraction dates to the 1870s. In 1985, the state purchased the land surrounding Silver Springs to spare it from development, creating the Silver River State Park. In 1993, the state acquired Silver Springs, as well, though it continued to be operated privately. In 2013, the state took over control of Silver Springs, merging it with the adjacent parkland to create Silver Springs State Park.