Ultimate Guide to Falling Waters State Park, Florida (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
We may have been compensated for this post. Please keep in mind that it affects you in no way financially. If an item is being reviewed, we are not obligated to give a positive review and always use our own words. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. If you would like a review done contact Dannelle at DannelleGay@gmail.com
Falling Waters State Park in Holmes County opened to the public in 1963. It is regarded as one of the jewels among the state parks because of its lovely waterfall. Come here during the rains to click some amazing photographs of the waterfall and its rainbow as it flows into a 100 ft sinkhole and finally disappears into the cave at the bottom.
Falling Waters State Park is one of the prettiest parks in the State, and many people love to come here to see the amazing waterfall, which can be heard from around 100 yards away. When you finally see the waterfall, you will feel like pulling up a chair on the platform, enjoying the spectacle, and pondering over this wonder of Mother Nature.
History of Falling Waters State Park
The history of the Falling Waters State Park is a bit colorful. During the Civil War, the waterfall acted as a power source for a grist mill that Duke Horne operated. When it was abandoned, the timbers fell into the Falling Waters sink. A few of them were recovered in 1962, and they are displayed in the park.
Once, a whiskey distillery was operated legally just above the waterfall. The shop was set up to meet the demands of the people at the railway construction site, which eventually became the town of Chipley. There was a severe earth fault in the area, which led to an overall effort to find oil in 1919. The drillers drilled past the 3900 ft mark, but they did not find oil in commercial quantities, and the well was abandoned in 1922.
Before the ground was donated to the State, there was a plant nursery. However, the nursery did not last long because of the economic depression of the 1920s and 1930s. As a result, exotic species like date palms and Japanese privet can still be found.
In 1962, the Florida Board of Parks and Historical Memorials acquired the park. After the acquisition was complete, the property was leased to the Florida Park Service for its management.
Geological Cave Formations
When you use the trail in the state park, you will come across many depressions on the land surface. These depressions are technically known as sinkholes, and they are present in the area mainly because the bedrock is limestone.
Over many millions of years, the limestone got dissolved by the groundwater, and only void spaces in the rock were left behind. But when these void spaces became very large, they could not support the soil, collapsed, and formed the sinkhole.
When you stand over the Falling water sink, you will notice the cylindrical hole into which the water falls. However, it has rocky walls. The walls have limestone formations formed 20 million years ago when Florida was underwater. These formations are the Lower Miocene Chattahoochee Formation and the Lower Oligocene Suwannee Limestone.
Wildlife in Falling Waters State Park
Falling Waters may not be home to a range of exotic species, but they have some beautiful wildlife specimens. The gray-furred fox squirrels are in abundance here, and you will most likely spot them as soon as you cross the park gates.
Brown bats are also commonly seen in the subterranean caves that interlink the sinkholes of the park. Among the avian population, the great horned owl deserves special mention. The name is a misnomer because the spikes on their head are just tufts of feathers and not technically horns.
Is Falling Waters State Park Haunted?
There is a story that in the 1950s, a woman and her three children disappeared in the area. It is said that the woman took her two boys and a girl for a picnic, but they disappeared into thin air and never returned.
The locals believe that the spirit of the woman and her three children still roam around in the area and try to find their way back home. There have been a few instances when people hear their screams near the waterfall in the Falling Waters State Park,
How Big is Falling Waters State Park?
Falling Waters State Park is spread over 171 acres.
Falling Waters State Park Tours
The state park has a 70 ft waterfall, which is amazing because Florida has minimal elevation. Even more perplexing is that the waterfall originates at the ground level. It originates as an ordinary stream and winds through the forest of beech, dogwood, and magnolia. A spectacular effect is created when the stream hits a deep and narrow sinkhole.
There is an observation platform in the middle of the 100 ft sinkhole. When you are here, you get the full effect of the mist and the rushing water. The water pours down the garden of ferns and moss, and the whole image looks like that of any tropical island!
The stream cascades for some 70 ft before disappearing into a cave, and the park officials do not know the final outflow. An experiment was made to find out where the water went, but it was never successful. The water volume in the waterfall varies greatly depending upon the amount of rainfall it receives.
Tour Prices and Discounts
An admission fee of USD 5 per vehicle and USD 4 for single-occupant vehicles is charged here. Pedestrians need to USD 2 for admission.
Is Falling Waters State Park Cold?
The summer months are pleasant, and winter can be chilly, with the temperature dropping down to 46 degrees F.
What to Wear?
You can wear loose, comfortable clothes, but if you want to spend some time birdwatching, it will not be bad to wear proper birding clothing. It would help if you also carried a pair of binoculars, sunscreen, and sufficient water bottles.
Falling Waters State Park Hours
The park remains open from 8 am till sundown.
What to Do at Falling Waters State Park (Beside Tours)
Falling Waters State Park has lots of activities for both young and the old.
Swimming
There is a two-acre lake with a white sand beach where you can relax and get your feet wet. The swimming area has been clearly marked, and it has a sand bottom. There are benches, restrooms, and tables under shade trees. If you have a Florida Freshwater Fishing License, you can try your hand fishing at the marked areas.
Picnicking
It is a great place to enjoy a picnic with your loved ones. There are a couple of pavilions. BBQ grills, restrooms, and picnic tables are available here.
Trails
There are three short nature trails in the park. One such trail will take you past the butterfly garden as you walk towards the waterfall sinkhole. There are information kiosks throughout the park that you must go through before starting the trail.
Best Time to Visit Falling Waters State Parks
If you want to enjoy the view of Falling Waters waterfall, then you should come here during the rainy season. In the other season, you can call up the park before coming here and ask them the volume of the waterfall.
How to Get to the Falling Waters State Park
Falling Waters State Park is 3 miles south of Chipley off State Road 77. You need to turn left on State Park Road and then follow it to the park entrance right at the end of the road. You need to pay the entrance fees and follow the road where it ends. You can park your car near the playground and picnic pavilion.
Hotels near Falling Waters State Park
There are 24 campsites within the 171-acre park, and each site has a picnic table, clothesline, and ground grill. There is a dump station, water, and electricity, among other amenities.
The campfire circle and amphitheater at the campground are the main center of attraction as all the gatherings and programs take place here in the summer. There are some good hotels too at Chipley. Comfort Inn and Suites Chipley and Red Roof Inn Chipley deserve a special mention.
Falling Waters State Park Fun Facts
- The park contains a waterfall that has a height of 73 ft, making it the highest in the State.
- There are twelve huge limestone holes at the Falling Water State Park.
- The most recent feature of the park is the butterfly garden.
- Guest speakers are invited here to the campfire circle, and Dave Hewett, an expert on the reptiles of Florida, has been their most famous guest.
Falling Waters State Park Details
- Length: 171 acres
- Time Recommended: 2 to 3 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Kid-friendly: Yes
- Dog-friendly: Dogs on a leash are allowed here.
- Fees: USD 5 per vehicle
- Hours: 8 am to sundown
Visiting Falling Waters State Park
Do you need more information before visiting? Call (850) 638-6130 for an information packet.
Other Articles You May Enjoy:
- Ultimate Guide to Carver’s Cave, Minnesota (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
- Caving Lamps: Essential Gear for Safe and Successful Underground Exploration
- Ultimate Guide to Samuels’ Cave, Wisconsin (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
- Ultimate Guide to The Lava Tube, California (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
- Ultimate Guide to Ice Cave at Bixby State Preserve, Iowa (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
