What ever happened to "Tampa's Coney Island", Sulphur Springs?

Рет қаралды 34,709

Күн бұрын

A walk that covers Tampa's historical Sulphur Springs area, including both the Springs and its iconic Water Tower. It's a walk that contrasts the area's past as a prime tourist destination with its current state, which is much different.

Пікірлер: 98

@audreehorton6566 15 күн бұрын

I lived in Sulphur Springs for 10 yrs. and this is the first time I've seen the "spring". Was never brave enough to jump the fence. Its nice to finally see it.

@marukana_saha 10 ай бұрын

_What an amazing walking tour video with incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiatic narration, Tampa Coney Island may be gone, but its spirit lives on in the hearts of those who loved it. Thank you for sharing your insight and expertise with the world._

@RurbanWalker 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate it.

@tagyouritification Ай бұрын

How safe is it in the daytime to walk on the river path? I live in St.Petersburg but work off of Busch Blvd. I've driven by the Water Tower for over 35 yrs now and always wanted to walk around that area, but I've seen so many homeless hanging out in the area I'm a little leery.

@RurbanWalker Ай бұрын

@tagyouritification on that Sunday morning, it felt fine. There actually was a homeless couple fishing there that I spoke to (not drugged, just down on luck having had their rent spiked beyond what they could afford and were temporarily living there). They were very pleasant. One of them didn't want to be on video, so I obliged. A few blocks east has an area known for drugs, etc., but I think the park is safe enough at least during daylight, at least based on how I felt the two times I've been there.

@peanutbutterwaltz 10 ай бұрын

I remember seeing the tower as a kid but I never knew anything about it. We definitely went to the drive in near it a few times. I must’ve been 6 or 7. Thanks for the video man. Sub’d!

@RurbanWalker 10 ай бұрын

Thanks. I appreciate that.

@deepsea631 Ай бұрын

It's sad that the springs are blocked off now. As a kid I used to swim in the springs.

@Christophe_derBerge-op9zh Ай бұрын

Thank you for this! The late 1920s Florida land boom/bust wiped out many old Florida families including my own. The Great Depression followed closely on its heels and compounded the misery! Thank you for such a well researched video of our local history!

@RurbanWalker Ай бұрын

@@Christophe_derBerge-op9zh thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it.

@CRV69 Ай бұрын

I’m 55 years old now born in Plant City and raised between their and Tampa. I remember I was probably 8 or 9 years old going to the drive in and going into tower with older brother and friends. We climbed the spiral stairs a ways but didn’t go all the way to top.

@FLStelth Ай бұрын

Great video! I never heard of this history before. Thanks for the tour and knowledge.

@RurbanWalker Ай бұрын

@@FLStelth Thank you.

@charlessavering5717 Ай бұрын

Went to the springs as a kid and have been in the tower to look went to the tower drive in a lot it was great times I had with my friends memories I will never forget

@AtlasJohn 2 ай бұрын

Weird this popped up in my algorithm, I drove passed it and had a whole conversation about what it used to be. 👀

@sandman4384 Ай бұрын

thanks i moved to Tampa in 73 i remember this there was a dive shop near to refill tanks it was clean there then it for sure fell apart i worked on waters Ave near springs

@sandraburgess6721 Ай бұрын

Family used to hang out there in the early 70's.... thanks for the video

@rw2629 Ай бұрын

The spring as a place to swim remained open until the late 70's, I think, when a young boy drown. The city closed the spring for swimming after that and it has never reopened. They did build a pool that served as a place to swim, but it's had its problems over the years.

@AGhostintheHouse Ай бұрын

I vaguely remember the Arcade because I was probably less than 10 years old when we visited it. I remember that we bought sea monkeys there. This was in the early 70s.

@ismaelrosario3137 Ай бұрын

Just came across your channel I live couple of streets away love the history came them coming enjoy it ❤

@sidscifi Ай бұрын

I used to work at the Sulphur Springs harbor club, which stood adjacent to the water tower. It burned down in 2013. That place was very creepy and had a shady past.

@seaside1991 2 ай бұрын

I've lived in Tampa for over 20 years, and unfortunately, except for a few exceptions, most of the 5 mi radius of this Tower is run down and left behind. It's a shame that Tampa has so many missed opportunities. Maybe one day they will prioritize this large area of North Tampa and Sulphur Springs. Right now it's just downright depressing. Some people will say Seminole Heights is nice and there are several blocks that are, but most of it is grunge. Well at least there's potential.

@timallison8560 2 ай бұрын

the city needs to invest in this landmark, get the area cleaned up, and get rid of some of those disgusting parking lots.

@Johhnnyy Ай бұрын

Too bad Tampa will never give money to poor black people, only millions to places like new Tampa and Seminole heights

@timallison8560 Ай бұрын

@@Johhnnyy you know ain't no poor people getting free money its been that way for thousands of years

@CynthiaWord-iq7in Ай бұрын

A black councilman ran on a ticket promising a beautiful and artsy enterprise fir the paved expanse from Florida to Nebraska and Burd to Waters. He didn't win that bid but I understand he is still working with private investors on that great dream. We did pave paradise Joni Mitchell, and put up a parking lot.

@tzz615 Ай бұрын

The spring was open for swimming until the early 80s. When the water got too polluted they closed the spring.

@timallison8560 Ай бұрын

annnnnnnnnnnd then what.... they've done nothing

@bbrcummins1984 2 ай бұрын

There used to be a five and dime store , and old 2-story wood building, we used to climb that water tower in the sixties

@strugglingguitarist Ай бұрын

I use to swim in that pool in the mid 60s as a kid, that water was freezing, went to the drive-in as well, but what I really want to know is how did you not get arrested for trespassing?, that was mighty brave of you walking around that area as well.

@william-fla-321 Ай бұрын

My wife, and I, use to watch movies at the Tower Drive In over 40 years ago.

@bobbythebuyer Ай бұрын

they've been redoing tampa past 10yrs now,, alot of projects like gasworx and channelside just got approved and other areas sulphur springs was a site for the rays but now will be something similar to "midtown" im sure will get re done once this train is connected to tampa from orlando/miami. palmetto beach/shrimp docks would be cool to hear some history on...nice walk and history lesson im almost 40 and never been to that spring or tower up close def going to get re done in future.

@hconnell4177 Ай бұрын

AWSOME VIDEO THANKS

@RurbanWalker Ай бұрын

@@hconnell4177 Thanks

@camm_fish Ай бұрын

Everytime I used to go to Busch Gardens I would always wonder what that tall building was.

@joesmith7427 Ай бұрын

Temple terrace is a city in the city of tampa surrounding it!! We had a budwiser brewery on busch blvd. Lots of high paying jobs and the water was an issue! The city lost, they moved to atlanta, ga.

@crosisofborg5524 Ай бұрын

Temple terrace is neither in Tampa nor surrounded by Tampa. It’s next to Tampa.

@7th_CAV_Trooper Ай бұрын

Used to go there as a kid. Mid to late 1970s. I hope you're armed walking through these sketch parts of town.

@joesmith7427 Ай бұрын

The area went dark!!

@CreepyBoris Ай бұрын

Just discovered your channel, really cool stuff. Also a long time Tampa resident here (since '93) . I always thought the water tower was the only part of the springs that was left, really cool to see the stuff on the other side of 275 by the Gazebo/Dog Track.

@RurbanWalker Ай бұрын

@@CreepyBoris thanks

@jomama5186 Ай бұрын

GREAT JOB !

@RurbanWalker Ай бұрын

@@jomama5186 thanks

@Dreezy6974 11 күн бұрын

Love my city...

@joesmith7427 Ай бұрын

The Leaning tower of Tampa!!

@joesmith7427 Ай бұрын

The 2nd mineral rich spring is in Warm Mineral Springs , Florida Its open to the public! Its near North Port, Florida

@CynthiaWord-iq7in Ай бұрын

Tower Drive-In movies defined our Hillsborough High School years thru 1970s. $2 for a carload of teens. Then in 70s hippies attending USF, all lived within the wood houses with 2 story garage apts, oak laden big frame porches and bench swings. By the 1980s, I lived in NYC, only the dig track was left if the sulphur Springs antiquity. the vintage houses were still there but Florida Avenue Projects were becoming run down and dangerous (all renovated,torn down old fir new charming low income housing 3,000s). That main drag running through Seminole Hard. Was always laden with car lots and fast foods, but that was North FL Ave. past Forest Hills, now it's both sides, enormous new car lots along with the proliferation if buy here. Pay here used cars. Dog track acreage was paved for a giant Kmart back in the day, strip malls across front. Running dogs as betting sport fell out of favor only closing in about the past 10 years. Thanks for this great tour.

@camsantavicca7332 Ай бұрын

I’m really happy you made the video - however this was never Florida’s most popular tourist attraction, not even the most popular in Tampa Bay in its heyday. Also it is extremely unsafe to walk on Nebraska like that 😂

@geraldnemeth7944 Ай бұрын

I didn't know about any of that, been wondering what the tower was about when driving by. Thanks

@andrewdeweerd461 Ай бұрын

Ok that was pretty fantastic!

@RurbanWalker Ай бұрын

@@andrewdeweerd461 thank you

@joesmith7427 Ай бұрын

It goes to 6 mile creek or also called the by-pass canal !!

@cmoney4659 Ай бұрын

Why did they start locking the board walk ? Same at lowry park ?

@cinthb Ай бұрын

Tampa Parks and Rec isn't investing in the repairs needed so they "fence it off".

@anothergeorge4661 Ай бұрын

I grew up there on Sitka st.

@crosisofborg5524 Ай бұрын

The guy committed several misdemeanors and at least one felony filming this.

@Christophe_derBerge-op9zh Ай бұрын

Narc

@garyrodriguez8414 Ай бұрын

I read on another historic site that it was the death of two or three caused by an amoeba that caused the closure of the spring. As needful of a water supply for growing Tampa you would think the city would invest in reclaiming and cleaning up this spring and property and utilizing it for advantage. Where does all that revenue Tampa water generates that they can not invest in a free water source that just needs some attention and vision.

@TheFattdragon Ай бұрын

Hi the history that I read was that at the corner of Nebraska and the park was the old trolley station. After it closed it was replaced by a large gas station/ repair shop. in the back of the shop they stored large oil/chemical drums and 3 dumpsters full of greasy car parts. One year came some bad rain storms and a large outflow of water came up from the spring. it caused half the shop and all the drums/ storage site to sink down into the spring aquifer polluting the hole site for years to come. When they remolded the pool area they sent diver down for an inspection they said the dumpsters are still wedged in the tunnel and they couldn't move them they then needed to be taken to the ER because of skin burns caused by leaking chemicals in the water. Rough estimate of cleanup repair at least 10 million...

@SpencerRogers-ku3gr 2 ай бұрын

I know the guy who owns that Theatre. Lol

@drewc6899 Ай бұрын

see @youtube this is one time your algo got it right

@Jwolf13370 Ай бұрын

I'm not against tourism but not everything needs to be somebody else's. Why can't it be a nice park for the people that live here? Why can't it be a flood mitigation system or hydroelectric type of thing that would be good for the community. Save the nature because it doesn't need to be more concrete.

@adamsadventures9919 Ай бұрын

my cousin was carjacked in ss

@HighTechBull Ай бұрын

Just came across your channel. I always wonder what is the history of that tower when I see it off of I-275. I have never liked the name Sulphur Springs. Sulphur smells terrible, and it makes me think of water that smells like farts.❤

@bobbysmith5642 Ай бұрын

Run for it Marty! This is what democrat leadership looks like! Tis why everyone left the City of Tampa in the early 70's and moved to unincorporated Hillsborough County! The locals rule of thumb... Never be caught south of Busch BLVD after dark.

@7th_CAV_Trooper Ай бұрын

never south of Busch and north of Kennedy.

@TheNaqoyqatZ Ай бұрын

What an incredibly stupid comment...

@bobbysmith5642 Ай бұрын

@@7th_CAV_Trooper Never south of Kennedy either!

@Tampa_DeVaL 28 күн бұрын

@@TheNaqoyqatZ You must be Haitian to say that. Stay away from my cats!

@carinwiseman4309 Ай бұрын

As usual, because of lawyers, modern people can look at marvels from afar, but cannot use or enjoy anything.

@joesmith7427 Ай бұрын

This spring is polluted !!

@candacepost2137 Ай бұрын

Probably alligators in there.

@jomama5186 Ай бұрын

Yes ma'am! I've been on that river !

@cinthb Ай бұрын

--Most definitely!

@jomama5186 Ай бұрын

It may be fenced because of the amount of alligators in that river ?

@carinwiseman4309 Ай бұрын

No, alligators won't bother you. Druggies will.

@PaulHeffner Ай бұрын

Great stuff! A whopping 5 minutes of interesting information padded into a 17 minute video by taking us along on EVERY tedious footstep and looking at amazing chain-link fences and nondescript undergrowth. Maybe edit this down?

@louislamboley9167 Ай бұрын

I grew up here in Tampa. I'm 76. I used to hang out with my friends at the pool. Great times. Sulphur Springs is now the most crime infested violent place in Tampa thanks to a certain race of people. Let's see how long YouT keeps this comment. The truth hurts don't it.