NEWS RELEASES
Boardwalk Through Sinkhole Reopens At Florida State Park
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through Florida Dept of Environmental Protection's website.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Park Service announced the reopening of the sinkhole boardwalk at Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, closed since September 2017 due to damage from Hurricane Irma. A place that has attracted visitors since at least the 1880s, Devil’s Millhopper is a collapsed sinkhole 120 feet deep that contains a miniature rain forest. The first stairway into the sink was built by the CCC during the 1930s. The site is unique, one of the few spots in Florida where 100 feet of rock layers are exposed, revealing the geologic history of the area back to 34 million years ago. Fossils are often found in the sinkhole’s walls.
“Devil’s Millhopper is an incredible window into Florida’s natural history,” Florida Park Service Director Eric Draper said in a press release. “The new boardwalk will provide a safe way for people to experience the park’s unique geology.” Located a few minutes from downtown Gainesville, the park offers interpretive displays, a nature trail, picnicking areas and guided tours. Current hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
For additional information, visit the Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park website.