Marshal Dillon and Miss Kitty came to visit me. We look a lot alike. I showed them around the lodge and they got comfortable and hung out for a while.
The History of Convict Spring
More than a hundred years ago, the serene site of Convict Spring looked mighty different, and not just because there were no cars, no planes overhead, no cellphones and certainly no TVs.
Instead, right here at the Suwannee River Rendezvous, if you were taking in the sights, there’s a very high probability you were working on a chain gang.
Back in the early 1900s, our spring was used by Lafayette County’s incarceration system, notes Florida Caves. Their prisoners worked on road construction projects – often called chain gangs – and when it was too late or too far to get the inmates back to the county jail, they would spend the night at remote camps scattered throughout the county, and Convict Springs was one of those remote camps.
It’s hard to imagine grizzled criminals gathered around campfires, the light reflecting in the spring, but history doesn’t lie. Every once in a while, someone will turn up an artifact of one kind or another that further confirms the property’s colorful past.
Convict Spring sits atop a fascinating underwater cave system as well, one we’re certain the convicts didn’t spend any time exploring. This particular cave system is a dangerous one, with a restricted entrance and the need for a side-mounted style of diving through extremely narrow passages, notes Cave Survey in its assessment of the spring.
In 2001, Dell Moats, John Moseley, Michael Poucher and Bill Rennaker swam through Convict Spring Cave to take a full survey. They captured extraordinary video footage showing the beautiful yet dangerous conditions inside the cave. We have DVD footage of their excursion, and in the lodge.
We invite you to come enjoy the spring – from the surface, of course – for swimming during the sultry summertime at Suwannee River Rendezvous. In the evening, over the sound of crickets and frogs, you might just hear the faint rhythm of a chain gang.
Convict Spring is just one of the many amenities and conveniences that makes our resort and campground such a popular destination for visitors from all across the country. To plan your trip, call us today at 386-294-2510.
Rosie
Rosie and I played in the office and at the spring. She loves to swim. I only like to get my feet wet. Too much bother having all that wet hair to take care of.
4 Must Have Travel Games This Summer
If you are heading out on the open road this summer and are always trying to come up with the next best game for your kids to play, we have a few ideas for you.
If you are on your way to visit us at Suwanee River, even better! We can’t wait to see you this summer.
Travel Bingo – this themed game is great for time spent on the road. It keeps your kids focused on the trip, and not on how many minutes till they get to the destination.
This game will have road signs and other common items that people will see while on the road.
Movie and Name Games – this will test your and your children’s knowledge of pop culture. You will start by naming a movie for example “Finding Nemo” and then the next person would name a movie that starts with the last letter of the previous movie so a correct answer would be “Oliver and Company”.
You can do the same thing with celebrity names and go on for hours on end.
KanJam – this will get everyone up and out of the lawn chairs and out of the RV. If you have not heard of this game, it is so easy to setup – there are two goals and a Frisbee. The objective of the game is to score 21 points by throwing the Frisbee into the goals. Check out KanJam’s website or watch this video:
Farkle – if you are faced with a rainy day or a cold night and are looking for something that everyone will enjoy indoors, you should try Farkle, it is a dice game where the goal is to be the first player to get 10,000 points. Buy Farkle for your trip now.
At Suwannee River Rendezvous, we know how to have fun this summer with games, kayaking, fishing, entertainment and more. Contact us at 386-294-2510 and reserve your vacation spot today!
Hi, I’m Charlie Girl. My new mom and dad kept forgetting that I was a girl so… Anyway, they miss Charlie Jr. a lot but I’m trying my best to fit in here at the resort. Come and in and visit me.
Looking To Vacation During Spring Break? Head out to the Suwannee River Rendezvous
With the spring semester just about half-way over, that means spring break isn’t too far away.
During this time, many will simply head home for some rest and relaxation while others will be looking to get away and enjoy themselves.
If you are a part of the latter, then the Suwannee River Rendezvous might be just what you’re looking for.
Now, at first, heading out to the wilderness might not be the first choice for college students but we offer a wide variety of fun activities that are sure to keep you and your friends more than entertained.
If you want to hit the water, we offer canoe and kayak rentals that will allow you to travel along the river. While on the river, you will be able to take in all of the beautiful sights that surround it.
There is also a great deal of wildlife around the river as well-meaning you might be able to get a glimpse of some of the animals that call the area home.
We also offer fishing for anyone looking for something more adventurous during their break.
While on the boat you will have an opportunity to catch numerous different fish including Large Mouth Bass, Suwannee Bass, Mullet, Bream and Channel Catfish.
We also offer affordable lodging as well. Whereas booking a hotel in tropical location might cost an arm and a leg, our pricing won’t cause you to break the bank just for a little fun on spring break. This will allow you more money for extra activities will on break, creating an overall more memorable experience.
Suwannee River Rendezvous is a resort and campground in Mayo, Florida with numerous activities that will make any vacation, including spring break, unforgettable.
If you would like more information on our campground or would like to book a stay with us, then call us today at 386-294-2510!
Suwannee River Rendezvous is a resort & campground offering a wide variety of attractions and activities to make your vacation great!
With summer not too far away, many families will be hitting the road in their RV for a nice vacation.
It could truly be a great time but if you don’t come prepared your trip might turn into quite the nightmare.
Bedding
Depending on the RV you’re traveling in will depend on what kind of bedding you bring. If it is strictly for traveling, then you will need a sleeping back and even a tent to sleep in. However, if it comes equipped with a bed, then a few sets of sheets should be more than enough.
Cooking Equipment
Again, this depends on what kind of RV you have, but some pots and pans should be able to handle anything you’re going to cook no matter where you do it. Be sure to bring along utensils like can openers and tongs also. If you can’t eat everything you’re bringing with your hands then bring along enough forks, spoons, and knives to last the trip.
Entertainment
Even though it’s a vacation, the travel can become quite redundant and boring after a while. So bringing along items such as board games and sports equipment will help keep things fun and exciting.
Clothing
If you’re traveling the country, be sure to have clothing for any situation you may encounter. Also, be sure to bring enough to last the whole trip as well because running out of fresh clothes will not be fun for you or your fellow travelers.
RV Essentials
Just as if you were traveling by car, it would be smart to bring some automotive essentials with you just in case. Bring a tire gauge, jumper cables, and tools such as wrenches or screwdrivers because out on the road anything could happen.
Suwannee River Rendezvous is a resort & campground in Mayo, Florida, offering a wide variety of attractions and activities to make your vacation great!
With so much to see and do, you won’t ever want to leave!
If you would like more information on our campground or would like to book a stay with us, feel free to contact us today or call us at 386-294-2510!
Charlie’s post November 22,2015
Jacques Pierre came to visit me. He is the biggest friend I have. He let me play with him for a little bit but he didn’t like me hanging on his ear.
I have a lot of fun in the dog park. Pepper and I played several times. She knows how to play and I let her get the best of me. Next time she comes I will be a lot bigger than her.
Bocephus had a hard name for mom to spell and say. I had no trouble at all with his name. He had really cool eyes too.
Ferguson and I played and played. He is 9 months old and he knows how to play. Mom was all worn out just watching.
Introducing…
The Vagabond View: 11-2015
“A Wanderer’s reflections and commentary on the Rendezvous Experience; Happenings, interesting people, the local color and splendor of this magical place”.
Vag – a – bond: noun: A person, usually without a permanent home, who wanders carefree from place to place.
Allow me to introduce myself; I’m Dave Pearson, a recent arrival here at the Suwannee River Rendezvous. As a full-time RV’er, writer and musician I was so taken by this special place that I decided to stick around for a while. Needless to say, my first impressions were validated in the ensuing days. The days melted into months as I was seduced by the serene surroundings, wonderful people and many diversions. This prompted me to seek Susie’s blessing for creating a website Blog wherein I could share my observations and experiences with our Web visitors.
Future entries will include pictures and dialog capturing the unique character of not only the physical experience, but more importantly, the diverse and colorful folks that invariably become part of Frank, Susie & Charlie’s growing “family”.
With the fall season upon us, I’m off to capture and share some of this splendor with you all in my next post!!
Till then…Cheers!
Charlie Jr. 2nd post
Biscuit was really really big and I wanted to play really really bad. I even begged his dad to let me play with him. I promised to be gentle.
I took Knight on a walk and then we played with my toys. He liked my bear. I can’t wait for him to come back.
Brinkley was so polite. Mom wants me to be like him. Calm, quiet,… I told her it was going to be a while so she better be patient.
Ginger loves to swim in the spring. I think her new hair cut makes her go faster.
