Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park

In the 1920s, this spring was a favorite spot for tourists and locals. As the attraction grew, the river was dredged for glass bottom boat tours; and waterfalls were built on piles of phosphate tailings. A zoo, rodeo, gift shops and a monorail with leaf-shaped gondolas were added. In the mid-1970s, when larger theme parks lured the tourists away, Rainbow Springs was closed. In 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior designated Rainbow River as a National Natural Landmark. It is also an aquatic preserve and an Outstanding Florida Water. In the mid-1990s, it reopened as a state park due largely to a group of Volunteers that would become the Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park.


The organized volunteer effort at Rainbow Springs State Park began in 1990 immediately following the purchase of the site of the former commercial attraction. Volunteers cleaned the garden of more than 15 years of debris and did repairs to make existing facilities usable. In 1992 the volunteers were allowed to open the Park on a weekend only basis with the understanding that they would initiate the incorporation of a group based on a state sanctioned program for a Park CSO or "Citizen Support Organization" in order to raise funds. The corporation became a reality in 1993 as FORS or "The Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park, Inc.". The weekend operation, facility rehabilitation and the introduction of fundraising events called "Santa Livingroom" and the Annual Benefit Golf Event were early efforts of the volunteers. The work of the volunteers was merged with a basic Florida Park Service staff to make full time park operations possible in 1995.

The original cadre of supporters has grown from some 30 volunteers to almost 200 FORS members, many of whom are active volunteers. The volunteers continue to be an integral part of the Park, contributing over 15,000 hours annually. A substantial percentage of that time is in areas of visitor services such as the gift shop, food concession and special events. These activities along with donations, grants, and membership dues provide the funding for projects in the park which could not be accomplished within the state budget. FORS supports a variety of Park needs including the construction and operation of a greenhouse, providing educational materials and activities, and donating the materials for various facility improvements. The construction of a large multi-use pavilion was made possible in 1997 through a matching grant by the Felburn Foundation for Environmental Education.