For more than 50 years, there was no more iconic Florida tourist
attraction than Silver Springs.
Its sheer popularity meant that the surrounding area--indeed, the
entirety of Marion County--serviced the entertainment, gas, food, and
lodging needs of millions of tourists annually. Visitors flocked to
places like Ross Allen's Reptile Institute, Tommy Bartlett's Deer Ranch,
and natural attractions like Rainbow Springs and Ocala Caverns. Sadly,
as Florida tourism moved into the theme park era, scores of smaller
attractions and their related businesses were abandoned. Author Tim
Hollis revisits these once-thriving tourist spots and what happened when
those tourists stopped coming.