Ok, so I was reading one of my cousin's blogs about how much she loves her town...and I just had to represent for Green Cove! (LOL) I'll be the first to admit, it is pretty darn small, but from the first time Ravi and I drove through it we knew this would be the place we'd start our family.You could probably walk from one end of it to the other in the time it would take you to walk the Orange Park Mall :) I absolutely LOVE being right off the River and the beautiful sky at sunrise and sunset over by Black Creek...
It is no AMC 24 Theatre, but the town theatre is just the cutest thing I have ever seen!!! It was originally an Opera House, but was converted to a Movie Theatre in 1936. It only has two theatres as the original balcony was converted to another screen in the '90s, but it is quite the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night!
Another cool fact is that the community swimming pool is actually fed by a natural spring!!! The history of the spring is quite interesting... "The rich history of Green Cove Springs is tied to the natural springs and the St. Johns River...the area was first settled in the mid-1800s and was called White Sulfur Springs. After that and around 1850, Green Cove became a prime tourist attraction, famous for the warm, therapeutic springs. The sulfur springs, or the “boil” as it was called brought wealthy visitors down the St. Johns River by steamboat to vacation at the grand hotels like the Clarendon and Qui-Si-Sana. Visitors of the period included Henry Flagler and his new bride, the Astors and Vanderbilts. The visitors drank from the spring believing in its medicinal values. It is said one local physician prescribed the spring water for various chronic ailments of the liver and kidneys. There are those today that still have confidence in the therapeutic value of the springs and can be seen daily drawing water from the spring for consumption." I have yet to take a dip yet, but for $1 you can swim all day long :)
However, my favorite place in Green Cove is the children's park!!! We've taken my sister's kids there since they were little and now it's finally our turn to take Chandani there to experience it's beauty and amusement. It's right off the River so every now and again you get a cool, refreshing breeze as you play. There's a beautiful gazebo, bridge and many, MANY absolutely gorgeous old trees lending lots of shade. I might be a little bias, but I'd have to say that in my opinion..."Green Cove Springs is where it's at!" (Sorry Kim...LOL!)
Yay for jumping in and proclaiming your own hometown pride! But, I still think that Belmont is better. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've always really liked Green Cove too. I grew up in an even smaller town in west Florida that I just love to peices and would move back there in a heartbeat. I love small town America!
ReplyDeleteIt has always amazed me that anyone could have found theraputic value in SULFUR water! But, aside from the speed traps, Green Cove is a cute little town that I always enjoy driving through on my way to St. Augustine. Chandani will like growing up there too.
ReplyDeleteI played at that very park when I was very young. My dad had an office on Walnut street and would bring us with him and send us to play. We brought our orange and yellow tupperware cups (with a handle) to take a drink from the spring. We have SO many fond memories of Green Cove. The only reason we didn't move there was because it was stinky! But that did bring us to Clay County and it also helped us meet wonderful friends!
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