What's still at Silver Springs?

In this episode: Silver Springs History; The Invention of Glass-Bottom boats; Carl Ray and WM Davidson’s advertising efforts; what we saw from the boat ride; Hollywood visits Silver Springs; The Creature From the Black Lagoon; Bruce Mozert’s underwater photography; Ginger Stanley; Ross Allen’s Reptile Institute; Paradise Park - for “colored people only”; the park’s “golden age” and decline; the current state of the park.
Welcome to another adventure with View Master Travels! This time, I'm diving into the secrets of Silver Springs, Florida, unleashing the magic of reel 161. Intrigued by the allure of one of Florida's once-popular attractions, I set out to see if the present matched the excitement captured in my old View Master reel.
As I entered the park, the contrast between the past and the present hit me. The "space age" entrance was nowhere to be found, replaced by a completely different gateway. Despite the changes, I uncovered the fascinating history of Silver Springs - Florida's oldest tourist attraction, home to the world's largest natural spring feeding the crystal-clear Silver River. From the invention of glass-bottom boats to Hollywood filming locations, the park has a rich tapestry of stories.
But wait, there's more! I stumbled upon the untold story of segregation within the park's history. Paradise Park, a separate attraction built downstream, catered exclusively to African American visitors during the era of racial segregation. The revelation added a sobering layer to Silver Springs' colorful past.
Fast forward through the park's highs and lows, from ABC's golden age in the 1960s to the challenges of the 2000s. Today, Silver Springs stands as a mere echo of its former glory, with most attractions gone, leaving only remnants and the iconic glass-bottom boats. Environmental threats loom over the springs' future, adding a sense of urgency to our exploration.
In conclusion, this View Master reel becomes a 3D portal into a world that's slipping away. Join me as we unravel the layers of Silver Springs' history, capturing the essence of a once-thriving oasis that may soon be lost to time. Thanks for coming along on this thrilling journey!
Video Credits:
“Vintage Silver Springs” by ‪@amandainflux‬
1969 Home Films by ‪@janneuteboomproductions‬
8mm Film Transfer by ‪@RetroVisionArchives‬
Most public domain imagery is from www.floridamemory.com
Ginger Stanley modern photograph from www.thehistorycenter.org/the-...
Bruce Mozert modern photograph from www.palmbeachpost.com/story/n...
Sound Effects:
Car passing: freesound.org/s/416439/
Winter forest in the Netherlands: freesound.org/s/508620/
Crowd talking outdoors: freesound.org/s/566891/
Snarling cobra: freesound.org/s/423454/
Small group applause: freesound.org/s/30038/
Electric boat tour sounds: freesound.org/s/38644/
London park ambience: freesound.org/s/210002/
Polaroid taking a picture: freesound.org/s/345906/
Motorboat passes: freesound.org/s/616532/

[@philmarsh5593]

Another video full of great research and wonderful facts. I love the old theme park reels - really interesting to find out more about them. 1 of my favourite YT channels. Thanks again!

[@viewmastertravels5114]

Thanks!

[@michaelpowers9307]

Marvelous work. So little left of the park, but you put together a very entertaining and educational journey with a View-Master reel as the springboard. Thanks

[@viewmastertravels5114]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.

[@LaPetiteBoulin]

Wonderfully made video! The old pictures show the area to be so pretty. There is something about it that gives me a type of nostaligia, which is funny since I wasn't even born yet. I wish they would do something about the concerns facing the spring. They could restore the place and make it an inflatable water park & camp site something. Give people a reason to come back and enjoy the spring again. Thanks for the video!

[@viewmastertravels5114]

Thanks for watching! I get nostalgic for some of these things to from doing the research and it's for stuff that happened like 50 years ago.

[@mikewatson4644]

Really sad to see how some of these attractions have gone downhill. I remember seeing the ads for Silver Springs all those years ago. I would have loved to have visited it when it was in it's prime. Thank you for the video

[@viewmastertravels5114]

Thanks for watching, makes you realize nothing lasts forever.

[@adpetrafan]

Well made yet again. Thanks!

[@viewmastertravels5114]

Thanks for watching!

[@DukeofHoth]

This is a great video, really well made, and a great introduction to the park's history for anyone that's interested. I'm really impressed that you took this idea of looking at old view master images and incorporated it into an in-depth, well researched history lesson for not only the park but also the people and settings that are relevant to the slides, with an in-person view of them in the present. If your other videos are even close to being this well thought out, and well edited, you've definitely gained a subscriber!

[@DukeofHoth]

I also just discovered there was a viewmaster, number 362, for Carriage Cavalcade Cars, which was another attraction right across the street from Silver Springs' original entrance. It opened around 1954 and showcased old cars, carriages, and other things, later being renamed to the Early American Museum. It was later acquired by and then moved to Silver Springs proper in 1978, before being replaced in 1991.

[@viewmastertravels5114]

That’s interesting, I don’t have that reel, but I did see Carriage Cavalcade of Cars on the old maps!

[@rodneylatimer2277]

Saw the park in 1966. It was grand. Met Ross many times. Loved the snakes and gators. We lived in Clearwater and camped in Brooksville for many years. Ocala was another spot we camped at. Fla. was really cool back then. Things changes and good things go away.

[@viewmastertravels5114]

Meeting Ross Allen must have been pretty cool.

[@tjseidita4051]

Outstanding!!!

[@viewmastertravels5114]

Thanks! Please share!

[@carolcamp4828]

Nice video👍🏼

[@viewmastertravels5114]

Thanks for watching!