DUNNELLON, FL (352today.com) – Before it became a peaceful state park known for kayaking and tubing, Rainbow Springs was once the site of a colorful roadside attraction, complete with submarine tours, trained animals and waterfalls made by hand.

Located just north of Dunnellon, Rainbow Springs Attraction opened to the public in the 1930s, part of a boom in natural Florida attractions competing for tourists long before theme parks like Disney arrived. While the springs themselves had been around for decades and were later mined for phosphate in the 1800s, it wasn’t until the automobile tourism era that the springs were turned into a full-fledged family destination.

Black and white photograph of a cascading waterfall, surrounded by lush foliage and rocky terrain. The water flows smoothly over a stone ledge into a rippling pool below, mist subtly rising from the base.
A close-up view of one of the many handmade waterfalls at the park. Courtesy: State Archives of Florida/Florida Memory

To compete with nearby Silver Springs and Weeki Wachee, the Rainbow Springs developers got creative. They constructed artificial waterfalls – a rare feat for Florida – and added attractions like mermaid shows, a leaf-shaped monorail called “Forest Flight,” and submarine-style boats which allowed guests to see deep into the clear blue waters. The springs’ vivid coloration, caused by their depth and natural purity, made them into a photogenic favorite in roadside brochures.

A vintage black-and-white photo of a riverside park shows people relaxing on benches under a large umbrella along a sandy beach. A long wooden dock extends into the water, where children and adults are swimming. Several covered glass-bottom boats are docked or floating on the river. The background is filled with dense trees and a small thatched-roof pavilion, evoking a mid-20th century outdoor leisure scene.
Former Florida Governor, Claude Kirk, on the “Forest Flight” ride at Rainbow Springs Attraction in 1968. Photographer: Florida Division of Tourism, courtesy of the State Archives of Florida

In its heyday through the 1950s and 1960s, Rainbow Springs also offered zoo exhibits, bird shows and native wildlife encounters, making it a popular day trip for families. The attraction was independently operated and smaller than some of its regional competitors, but it developed a loyal following. Visitors remember its lush vegetation, scenic walking paths and sense of tranquility even amid the entertainment.

However, as the Interstate Highway System diverted travelers away from smaller towns and Walt Disney World opened in 1971, attendance at Florida’s classic roadside attractions began to dwindle. Rainbow Springs was no exception. Despite efforts to modernize and market the park, it struggled to compete with larger, more elaborate theme parks across the state.

A boat is lined up along a wooden dock on a crystal-clear river, with trees and tropical plants in the background and calm water reflecting the sky.
One of many glass-bottom boats docked, awaiting the next tour. Courtesy: State Archives of Florida/Florida Memory

By 1974, the Rainbow Springs Attraction officially closed to the public. For decades, the land sat mostly unused except for local interest groups and limited development proposals. Nature slowly began reclaiming the property, though many of the artificial waterfalls remained intact, flowing silently through the overgrowth.

In a turn of fate, the land found new life in 1990, when the state of Florida acquired the property and began restoration efforts. By 1995, Rainbow Springs reopened as Rainbow Springs State Park, focused on conservation, recreation and historical interpretation. Visitors today can walk the same paths, now cleaned up and maintained, and still see the waterfalls that once lured tourists off U.S. 41.

Though the theme park is gone, signs of its past are still visible through decaying infrastructure hidden behind foliage and stone walls. The Rainbow Springs Attraction is no longer part of the state’s commercial tourism legacy, but its story lives on in family memories and Florida’s colorful roadside past.