[DGx2]

Would appreciate hearing about anyone's experience at Silver Springs in Ocala. Reviews on line were NOT good! Thanks for your responses!

[delima2000]

We had a season pass last year but decided not to renew . Only a couple of food places open and very expensive. Everything is getting old need to refurbish the boats. Not impressed. The concerts were full of a bunch of drunks and teenagers roaming about. The car shows were ok. I can remember years ago the jungle cruise went way back into the woods,but now it is a small circle along with the glass bottom boats. If you never visited a one day pass would let you see everything they have to offer in less that a couple of hours. . It is interesting to learn about the springs. If you do go eat first or go out to eat after. We didn't even use the water park this summer. It looked too crowded.

[silvertoken]

Sadly a place of a bygone era. When we went, only one concession was open and it was packed. We decided not to eat there. Pocketbooks and bags where checked and inspected, to make sure no food or drinks where taken in. It still is a great place to take grandkids. After seeing all the theme parks in Orlando, I would wish they would do simular at Silver Springs. .

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I agree. It's really run down and in need of a total restoration. When we went in there were only two food concessions and one had a line out the door. I wanted to leave right then and there but we soldiered on. We had the world's worst pizza and headed over to see the animals on Reid Island. Again the place was dirty and run down. A lot of animal enclosures were empty and some of the animals looked sick. There were a ton of alligators. We sat for a "show" and it was boring.
IT WASN'T ALL BAD HOWEVER.
The glass bottom boat ride was fascinating. I really enjoyed it and found out that the television Program Sea Hunt and several movies had been filmed there. Looking down into the natural springs was awe inspiring.
After that we had an ice cream at a run down little building and headed over to the other side of the park where the animals are.We fed the giraffe but my wife felt sorry for him because he was all alone. The bears put on a nice little show and we took the safari ride which was OK. Found out that the Tarzan movies were filmed there. We headed back over to the island hoping to see some of the big cats that were advertised but not there the first time and we did see three or four of them hanging around in really crappy enclosures. Again one of them looked very sick and was vomiting. Maybe it was just hairballs.
We then took a river cruise which was interesting as we learned a bit about the history of the area.
Overall it was an OK day. It really is too bad to see how run down the place it, but it has a lot of potential. On the upside it's really inexpensive. I think it was about $35.00 for both of us with our Florida resident discount. Just show your driver's license.
I wouldn't say not to go, but once is probably enough for me. I don't think I'll be going back unless we have visitors from up north that are interested.

[mfp509]

Not worth it. Old, out-dated, and nothing interesting.

[justjim]

Originally Posted by silvertoken

Sadly a place of a bygone era. When we went, only one concession was open and it was packed. We decided not to eat there. Pocketbooks and bags where checked and inspected, to make sure no food or drinks where taken in. It still is a great place to take grandkids. After seeing all the theme parks in Orlando, I would wish they would do simular at Silver Springs. .

You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned Orlando Theme parks. Location, location, location----Silver Springs like Cypress Gardens (now Lego Land) takes a real effort to go for most visitors. Not to mention, by the time they visit Orlando----they have an empty piggy bank! That said, I agree that the younger grandkids can have a good time at Silver Springs and it it not that far from TV. Our five year old granddaughter and my wife and I enjoyed the day at Silver Springs four years ago. However, a day pass should do it. Concerts---not our thing. The older grandkids enjoyed Busch Gardens last year because of all the Roller Coasters rides. I wouldn't look for any smart investors to put millions into Silver Springs----it is what it is.

[lovesports]

Our friends love Country Music and have had year memberships for years. They talked us into a year membership and we go with a group and love it.

Highlights for us were the Halloween, Christmas celebrations and fireworks on New Year's eve. Plus, we were in the front row with the Glen Campbell concert. It was so loving to see his kids help him. Many good groups.

Then we had free passes and took our one year old grandaughter with her parents and it was just right for that age. Loved the boat ride, patting the giraffe, petting zoo, and dancing in the grass. A year old likes this better than the big parks which will come later.

Guess that is what the group like so much, open air concerts Like in the late 60's with the same partying. Bring your own chairs, I often sit by the Spring where you can see a ton of fish and really enjoy the surroundings. Then we often go out to dinner in Ocala.
The year pass is really very cheap for all the times you can use it.

[BarryRX]

When my wife and I went, we really enjoyed the glass bottom boat ride, but the rest of the park was kind of "tired" looking. The male Giraffe they have on exhibit is the smelliest animal I have ever been around. He's not dirty, that's just the way male Giraffes smell. Once was enough for us, but to be fair, we were there in the off season. Maybe they have more things open during snowbird season.

[USSGompers]

I grew up in Central Florida and remember Mom and Dad taking me there as a kid. When I moved here 12 years ago, Mom, hubby and I went again. The memories were not the same. The laid back atmosphere has been replaced by food shacks and 'portrait drawings' of customers. We have not been back but...

it is a nice place to visit once or twice. The glass bottom boats, animals, etc., are worth a look.

Go to the Bok Towers in lake Wales if looking for great Florida sights. I love that place.

My 2 cents.

[Barefoot]

We bought a Seasons Pass a few years ago to see Willie Nelson. The afternoon concert was fun. We enjoyed going to Silver Springs a few times. It's old fashioned and not a lot to do, but we liked it.

[Advogado]

All the criticisms above are valid, but I still like the place for an occasional visit. First, the setting is beautiful. Second, although it is run down, the park is a trip back into the past. Its a chance to see the traditional/pre-Disney Florida. It is also a fun place to take young grandkids, who might be a little overwhelmed by Disney, etc., and who really enjoy feeding the camels, the glass bottom boats, the jeep ride, and the animal shows.

[DGx2]

Thanks so much for your reply. That is similar to the reviews I read on line.

Originally Posted by delima2000

We had a season pass last year but decided not to renew . Only a couple of food places open and very expensive. Everything is getting old need to refurbish the boats. Not impressed. The concerts were full of a bunch of drunks and teenagers roaming about. The car shows were ok. I can remember years ago the jungle cruise went way back into the woods,but now it is a small circle along with the glass bottom boats. If you never visited a one day pass would let you see everything they have to offer in less that a couple of hours. . It is interesting to learn about the springs. If you do go eat first or go out to eat after. We didn't even use the water park this summer. It looked too crowded.

[DGx2]

Thanks for your reply!!

Originally Posted by silvertoken

Sadly a place of a bygone era. When we went, only one concession was open and it was packed. We decided not to eat there. Pocketbooks and bags where checked and inspected, to make sure no food or drinks where taken in. It still is a great place to take grandkids. After seeing all the theme parks in Orlando, I would wish they would do simular at Silver Springs. .