Abandoned Railroad Trestle Over The Steinhatchee River

Abandoned Railroad Trestle

Florida has many abandoned railway tracks in the Suwannee River Valley. In the early 1900s freight and passenger steamships were replaced by trains that carried crops and timber and also made passenger stops in small towns such as Chiefland, Cross City, and Trenton. The Nature Coast Trail follows this historic route which is part of the old railroad. 

I wanted to see what remains I could find from this railway. So I followed a trail back to the Steinhatchee River north of Cross City. It is known as the Steinhatchee Conservation Area. This trail lead me to an abandoned railroad trestle dating back to the early 1900's. I traced the railroad line here on maps and it eventually connects into the Nature Coast Trail.

Abandoned Railroad Trestle Over Steinhatchee River

My Videos

Abandoned Railroad Trestle

Abandoned Railroad Trestle

Resources

Nature Coast Trail

Suwannee River Water Management District

Steinhatchee River

"Etna" Ghost Town in Withlacoochee State Forest

Turpentine Camp Remains

I went out exploring in the Withlacoochee State Forest and found an old ghost town called "Etna". It was a turpentine camp from 1898 to 1915 and has long since vanished. When I arrived at the site the area was heavily wooded.

I explored around the site extensively finding scattered remains all around. Some bricks, herty cups and other evidence from turpentine activity. During it's peak the town had 50 buildings though on this visit I didn't see any remains of buildings but saw a lot of blocks.

I learned that the site was initially discovered back in the early 90's when they surveyed the area for a pipeline. Many of the local historians didn't know of the site either at the time of it's discovery. Now that the site is known we now have a window into the past.

Herty Cup Fragments

                              My Videos
                              Turpentine Site Remains
                              Ruins of Etna
                              Etna Turpentine Site

                              Resources
                              History of Etna
                              Withlacoochee State Forest

Bricks

                                        *As always I leave all artifacts as I find them.                                               

Barrel Ring

Foundation & Blocks

Metal Cup for Collecting Resin from Trees

Relics of Suwannee Springs (Old Spring Water Well)

In Northern Florida along the Suwannee River is an area known as Suwannee Springs. You can visit the area and see the ruins from the old Suwannee Springs resort that was built in the late 1800's. One of the things I saw was the spring water well that the guests used. Back then it was in the center of the resort but today it's in the middle of a wooded area behind the spring where the water was pumped from. I saw old piping coming out of the ground near the well, part an old storage tank and another pit.

As I explored around the woods here I was taken back to a time to a busy resort where people traveled from all around the world to visit. Part of that experience comes from being able to still see remains throughout the area as you venture around. Below I posted a video and helpful links for this place.

Pit by The Well

My Videos
Spring Water Well Remains

Old Well

Resources - History
Suwannee Springs The Resort
Forgotton Suwannee Springs
Suwannee Springs

Old Well

Exploring Cumpressco in The Green Swamp

Trailhead

This is an interesting place to explore in the Green Swamp with lots of history. I've been covering various areas here to see what I can discover. On this adventure I hiked a forest road known as Cumpressco in the East Tract. This used to be an old railroad that went through the old town of Cumpressco. It's long gone and the town site is somewhere along this area. 

The dirt road goes on for miles so I hiked it from the trailhead several miles out and along the way I found railroad spikes embedded into the ground, a giant piece of steel by an area that I think used to be a stop along the railroad. Further down the same dirt road in the woods I found a few small abandoned cabins and I am not sure what they were used for or how old they are. 

I headed back to the trailhead once I was done checking out the cabins. It was a long walk back along the same dirt road I came in on. Surprisingly I found an old abandoned truck that I missed on the way in. It was in brush and I walked back to check it out.

I also saw a lot of wildlife on this hike and that always adds to the experience! I got to see a lot of alligators big ones and baby ones along the swamp. I saw a few deer, a couple of owls in the trees high above and even a bobcat. 

Each time I go this area to explore I come away with something different each time. It's history and beautiful wilderness always draw me back. I posted some photos and videos I did below along with some helpful links to help you find out more about this place. If you have any questions or some insights on this place please feel free to comment to below. 

My Videos

Small Cabins in The Green Swamp

Finding Small Abandoned Cabins in The Green Swamp

Abandoned Truck in The Green Swamp

Resources

Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve 

History of Compressco 

Green Swamp Interactive 

Abandoned Trucks in The Green Swamp

I've always enjoyed hiking in The Green Swamp not only is it a big place to explore but their is a lot that can be found.

On this particular adventure I came across a couple of old abandoned trucks. They were rusting away in the woods off some forest roads. I couldn't make out how old or what kind of trucks they were. One of them was just about all stripped away and the other was more intact but seems to be a popular shooting target for hunters. I posted some photos here and my videos below. Get out there and explore the swamp!

My Videos
Abandoned Truck in The Green Swamp
Finding an Old Truck in The Green Swamp
Old Truck in The Green Swamp

Resources
Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve

Abandoned Farmstead in Seminole State Forest

Vacant Wooden House

I had been exploring in a part of the Seminole State Forest where I found this abandoned farmstead area. It seems the place is used more for hunting but I found it is really nice to walk the trails and roam around the place. I just made sure to check that hunting season wasn't going on at the time. I walked through old pastures and pine flatwoods with not a soul around...

Vacant Barn

I hiked back to an area where I found a couple pole barns and a vacant wooden house. Upon entering the area I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure who could be back there. My research indicated that the place should be abandoned and was on wildlife management land but you never know. I entered into a big pasture area where you could see the barns and house in the distance. I scoped it out with my binoculars and saw that it was clearly empty except for a bunch of cows up by the treeline. The area is nice and open surrounded by forests. I thought to myself how nice it must have been to live out here!

Vacant Barn

I first approached the house and began hearing booming sounds coming from inside which spooked me some. Just as I turned off my video camera to go inspect it I saw three baby cows run out of the house! I continued filming and photographing the surrounding area and buildings. There was nothing in the house really just debris from what I could see. It had one bathroom, one bedroom, front room and enclosed porch. Across the way were a couple empty barns and more cows. You could see old telephone poles with ripped out wiring where the place once had power.

The place is vast and you can find all sorts of neat stuff out here in this wilderness! I posted some of my videos and helpful links below.


My Video
Abandoned Farmstead

Resources
Seminole State Forest
Seminole Forest Wildlife Management Area

Old Van in The Woods at Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area

Recently I explored some of Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area. You can roam many miles of trails and see all kinds of neat sites there. One of the most interesting things I saw was an old "Harvester Metro Van" rusting away in the woods. I am not positive if it is that kind of van but looks like it based on other pictures I've seen. It must have been abandoned sometime ago, my best guess is it could be from the 1940's or so but am unsure.

Old Harvester Metro Van

When I found the van I looked around the area and wondered how could this get here out in the middle of the woods? Who drove it and what's the story behind it? I had walked in on an old road by this old ranch site called "Taylor Creek Ranch". The ranch was here going back to at least the 1940's and maybe the van was left there from that time to rust away in the woods. I am unclear but it's mysteries like these that inspire me to learn more about these places.

Taylor Creek Ranch Remains

I posted a couple of my videos

below and a some very informative websites on this place that were very helpful for me when exploring this place. I ask that if you find sites like these that you please leave things as you see them. I find it just as rewarding to take photos and videos rather than artifacts. I always keep in mind that once things like this are gone, they are gone forever. I was very happy to see what was left of this old van in the woods...

My Videos

Old Van in Tosohatchee WMA

Old Van in The Woods

Resources

Florida Hikes and Other Outdoor Information

Out in The Boonies

Tosohatchee and The Florida Trail

Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area