Dudley Farm Historic Site is in Newberry, Florida, just 20 miles from O’Leno State Park. We camped at O’Leno (for the third time this winter) a couple of weeks ago on our way back down to Cedar Key (for the third time this winter). O’Leno SP is centrally located to many north-central Florida attractions, including Ichetucknee River State Park, which we wanted to kayak again (for the third time). Do we sound boring? As much as we both find new adventures exhilarating, we also enjoy revisiting favorite places that we come across in our travels.
• O’Leno State Park
Located on the banks of the beautiful Santa Fe River, O’Leno exudes the feeling of “old Florida.” Developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s, this was one of Florida’s first state parks, and many of the original CCC stone and log buildings still stand, including the suspension bridge that spans the river. There’s even a small museum dedicated to the CCC in the park. The campsites are sandy, shady, and surrounded by saw palmettos and live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Each time we’ve been here, we’ve made good use of the 13 miles of hiking and biking trails that traverse the park. Although the campground feels remote, it’s only six miles from the little town of High Springs, and we always end up making the trek for an excellent meal (and good local music) at The Great Outdoors restaurant.
O’Leno State Park has its own little Nature Center, and the docent there is a terrific asset to the park. Bob is a former newspaper reporter—and walking encyclopedia—with a great appreciation for snakes, which he says are misunderstood and maligned. He took the snakes out one by one, regarding each one with obvious affection. “I don’t do this for everyone,” he said, “only for people who can really appreciate them.” Although I draw the line at letting a snake wrap itself around my arm, I definitely appreciate the beauty of their mosaic-like skins. And they are surprisingly smooth, not slimy. Mostly I appreciate what a good job snakes do of keeping vermin under control. In all of our years of hiking, we’ve encountered maybe a dozen snakes, and only a couple of them venomous. Word must have gotten out that we’re snake friendly, because shortly after leaving the Nature Center, we came across an enormous rat snake wending its way across the path.
• Dudley Farm
Bob suggested that we might enjoy visiting Dudley Farm, and so we did. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the farm was donated to the state in 1983 in its entirety and is operated as a living history-working farm. Three generations of the Dudley family lived and worked the land, creating a completely self-sufficient lifestyle. “We never noticed the Depression,” said Myrtle Dudley, the last of the line. “We never had money, but we always had everything we needed.” They certainly did. They had fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, and grew corn, sugar cane, and sweet potatoes. Cracker cattle (a small endangered breed), heirloom chickens and turkeys, and mules are still kept on the farm. Park staff and volunteers in period clothing perform the daily chores of keeping the farm running, including raising crops and tending to livestock.
The buildings are original, and include the farmhouse, kitchen (separate from the farmhouse to keep from burning down the house), smoke house, dairy shed/canning house, chicken house, stables, sweet potato cellar, and sugar cane mill. The Dudley family even had a general store to supply the small community with farming supplies, hardware goods, smoked meats, tobacco, cloth, patent medicines, corn grits, canned vegetables, and eggs.
They were a hard-working and resourceful family; there’s always something appealing to me about a simple life and living close to the land. Nonetheless, if I ever live like that, I want TWO outhouses.
• Ichetucknee River
We couldn’t resist. After all, we were so close! It’s only 15 miles from O’Leno State Park to Ichetucknee State Park, and the big attraction for us there is the river. Crystal clear, turquoise water wends it way through cypress swamps. It’s one of the prettiest, most pristine rivers in Florida, and we just had to kayak it one more time before we leave Florida in a couple of weeks.
We were also hoping to see the mama and baby manatee that we spotted on an earlier trip. They were there, exactly in the same place as last time, and we enjoyed a long visit with them as they swam around and under our kayak. We also enjoyed the beginning signs of spring in the park, including the fragrant Florida spider lily.
If you plan to kayak the Ichetucknee, it’s best to go before Memorial Day or after Labor Day, unless you enjoy kayaking an obstacle course of bumper-to-bumper tubers. It’s always a good idea to go mid-week—you’re likely to have the river to yourself (or almost). We also enjoy putting in at the south entrance of the park, which means a somewhat vigorous 4-mile paddle upstream, but the return float downstream is effortless.[portfolio_slideshow]
I’ve always wondered what a cracker is, other than a Saltine that is! I finally looked it up when I started to read your post. Interesting post! And yes, I can appreciate our small space when I think how many others have to live. I do wonder how these families got so large when they were all sharing a bedroom!
I’ve thought exactly the same thing — how in the world did anyone ever have any privacy in those small houses stuffed with people?? I find the Florida Cracker culture fascinating and wrote about it here.
Laurel – appreciating dem manicured toes…….
…….and o dem manatees … thanks for all the gorgeous imagery.
Pacific NW florally glorious…..
aloha
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Haha, love going barefoot so much of the year! So happy you’re enjoying the photos. I’ll bet Ashland is gorgeous right now — love the almond and cherry blossom season. xo
I would have really enjoyed visiting those farm houses. Not sure I would have made it living that way. I call it roughing it if we don’t have sewer!!
What an awesome kayak trip! The water was beautiful and the manatee were even better. Great day!
Now the snakes…not so cool!
I agree with you — as much as I enjoyed visiting the farm and can appreciate the simple way of life, I’m very happy to have our comfortable trailer and the freedom to travel! The Ichetucknee is our favorite river so far. The peace and beauty are just spectacular.
Oh Yes I can imagine a family of 14 in one roof! I am # 11 of a family of 12…in the Philippines :) I can tell you more about it one of these days. The good thing is that using their outhouse during winter is not so bad.
I would have love to go to these areas you visited. You are the ones enjoying and experiencing the real Florida. This might give us a reason to come back and check this out ourselves. But for now, we will just experience through you and your captures. Thank you.
Whoa — I didn’t know you came from a family of 12!! I’m looking forward to hearing those stories! I hope you do come back to Florida sometime — you have such a great appreciation for the wildlife and nature, and it would be really fun to share some adventures with you two. :-)
So enjoy the leisurely pace and delightful views of your travels…how awesome to visit at the end of a day…you kayaking…me working the community kitchen salad duty and flower arranging for the tables…then made eight reversible aprons…now to relax. Love you and keep attending in spirit…life is good!
Oh, I love the image of you coming home and visiting with us via our blog at the end of the day. Not as good as actually being with you, but still sweet! As always, it sounds as though you’re involved in some very fulfilling projects. Sending you love.
Great post about two of my favorite places and one I know will be a favorite when I go there. Fabulous pictures!! I ordered the camera after reading this the first time, then came back to read it again. So if my pictures aren’t this good we will know for sure it is operator error. The Dudley’s sound pretty much like the life we lived for over 20 years in the foothills of Virginia. Minus the store. No wonder they had 14 children to help with all the work. There were only 3 of us. The pantry looks just like our shelves filled with beautiful food. Thanks for letting us know about this place. It’s on our list for sure.
You’re going to really enjoy Dudley Farm when you get back down there — especially because you lived a very similar life. I’m so excited that you bought a new camera! You’re going to love it — hope we have a chance to do some photography together.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who appreciates a woman who can keep those pretty manicured toes while traveling and trekking around the country.
Kyle and I lived in a “salt box” 1900 era home on the Applegate in the 80’s. While we had a bit more room and there were only a few of us, seeing that little home brought back a few memories. (We actually did have a bathroom)
Haha, I have my feet propped up on the kayak often when we’re kayaking — it’s kind of amazing how bulletproof toenail polish is. I would love to see photos of your life on the Applegate! I think you guys have created the perfect “mini farm” with your beautiful home and land where you are now.
Ok, I know I said we would probably not be bringing our RV back to FL, given how much we still have to see of the country, but I must admit I am already missing it and you continue to show me more places we need to go. We will be back! :)
Oh yay!!! It would be really fun to meet up with you here sometime — although I certainly hope we’ll be meeting you long before then!
I found your blog through Sherry and David. Looking forward to following your future posts. We are from the Portland Oregon area.
So happy to have you join us!
I just found your blog and enjoy your writing style. I couldn’t resist commenting on this particular post because I live between O’leno and Itchetucknee Springs. We are taking our camper to O’leno for a long weekend next month as a mini “get-away”. Safe and happy travels to you!
Glad you found our blog, Stephanie. We love that area of Florida! Lucky you to live so close to such natural beauty. Safe and happy travels to you, too.