Lodge at Wakulla Springs

Lodge at Wakulla Springs
Interactive map of the Lodge at Wakulla Springs area
General information
Location550 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs, Florida, U.S.
Coordinates30°14′03″N 84°18′07″W / 30.23415°N 84.30188°W / 30.23415; -84.30188
Completed
1937

The Lodge at Wakulla Springs is a hotel opened in 1937 by businessman Edward Ball in Wakulla Springs, Florida.[1] It was built during 1935–1937.[2] It is located in Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, a wildlife sanctuary.

History

Businessman Edward Ball, who built the hotel in the early 1930's, had purchased the land in order to keep it preserved.[3] The hotel has 27 rooms, and there is only one television.[3]

From the efforts of lodge management, Wakulla Springs became the site of some of the filming of Tarzan’s Secret Treasure (1941), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), and other films.[2]

The hotel is part of the Historic Hotels of America.[2] In 2020, The Lodge at Wakulla Springs was nominated as "a People's Choice Award for best historic hotels in Florida" in the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architecture.[3]

In 2002, artisans started working to conserve the ceiling of the lodge, funded in part by the State of Florida, Division of Historical Resources and the Historic Preservation Board.[4] Each picture on the 5,800 square-foot ceiling depicts historic Floridian scenes. The techniques are a combination of many, namely European folk art with Native American influences.

References

  1. ↑ "Spiraling swifts put on seasonal show at Florida state park". The Lima News. April 7, 2019. p. 20. Retrieved June 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 "The Lodge at Wakulla Springs". Historic Hotels of America. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Lodge at Wakulla Springs nominated for best historic hotels in Florida". WCTV. June 14, 2020.
  4. ↑ Hirsiger-Carr, Madeleine. "Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park - Ceiling Restoration Photo Gallery". WakullaSprings.org. Archived from the original on June 4, 2015.