Gainesville
Central Florida

Gainesville was originally established as 'Mule Camp Springs' near the crossing of two Indian trails in the early 1800s. The town grew quickly and was incorporated as Gainesville in 1854, with a population of 250. Lying along the route of the Florida Railroad, the town became a centre for cotton and vegetable crops and by the end of the Civil War, the population had grown to just over 1,400. The town continued to prosper until the turn of the 20th century when boll weevil devastated and effectively put an end to the cotton industry. The city fathers, looking to the future, realized that the town’s future lay in education, and in 1905 Gainesville was chosen as the site for the University of Florida. It was the university that cushioned the town and helped it to survive the collapse of the land-boom in the 1920s and the Great Depression in the 1930s. The university has continued to expand and now it is ranked among the five largest in the country, with a student population of 47,000.

THE STORY OF GATORADE...
Gatorade, named after the University of Florida football team - the Gators - was created by four doctors at the University in 1965, with the purpose of combating dehydration. The football team officially used Gatorade in 1967, going on to win their first Orange Bowl title when they defeated Georgia Tech, whose coach stated that the Gators won because they had Gatorade and his team did not. Gatorade was attributed to helping the Kansas City Chiefs win the Super Bowl title two years later in 1969. Since 1973 the University has received more than $80 million in Gatorade royalties after successfully settling a lawsuit claiming that they owned the rights to the drinks formula.

A FASCINATING GEOLOGICAL SITE...
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park contains a bowl-shaped cavity 120 feet deep and leading down to a miniature rainforest. The streams that flow down the steep slopes of this limestone sinkhole vanish into cracks and crevices in the ground. This significant geological formation is a National Natural Landmark. Researchers have gained an insight into Florida’s natural history by studying the fossilized remains and shells found within the hole. The sinkhole gets its name due to the fact that it looks like a mill hopper and because the bones of animals are found at the base of the hole, where it was said they entered on their way to meet the devil.

ONE OF THE FASTEST TRACKS ON THE NHRA CIRCUIT...
The Gainesville Raceway opened in 1969 and has long been considered one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit. It was here that drivers clocked the first 260, 270 and 300-mph Top Fuel runs and in 2000, during the Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, eight of ten national records were set in the professional classes. The raceway underwent a major renovation in 2003 with the drag strip being extended to 675 feet and much of the area, including the launch pad and pit area, being repaved.

A SMALL TOWN FULL OF HISTORY...
Located northwest of Gainesville is the town of High Springs - a vacationer’s dream, full of small town charm in the great Florida outdoors. Wander along the tree lined streets filled with charming late 19th century homes, galleries, antique shops, artist studios, restaurants and cafes.

SOMEWHERE TO RELAX OR TO BE MORE ADVENTUROUS...
Just outside of High Springs you find Ginnie Springs - a collection of 7 springs that discharge hundreds of millions of gallons of crystal-clear water at a constant temperature of 72 degrees, all year round. The clear, blue spring water provides a stark contrast to the dark, tannin-stained Santa Fe River. Five hundred year old trees offer plenty of shade throughout the 200 acre site, providing a beautiful setting for camping, hiking or just plain relaxing. The springs offer visitors the chance to swim, snorkel, canoe or just wallow around in a tube - for the more adventurous the centre offers several different scuba diving experiences including cave diving.

GO BACK IN TIME...
The Dudley Farm Historic State Park in Newberry is an attraction that follows the history of the Dudley family through three generations, exploring the evolution of Florida’s farming history. This authentic working farm and homestead is made up of 18 buildings, including the family farmhouse with its original furnishings on display. The park staff are dressed in period clothing as they go through their daily routine of growing crops and looking after livestock, with seasonal demonstrations of cane grinding and corn shucking.

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