Page 14 - October 2016

For thousands of years, “The park itself has a fascinating in the Nation’s Oldest City – seeing
civilization has narrated the story of the Fountain of Youth. A magical spring
exists – it’s been said – that will restore the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters.
Imagine for a few moments what it would be like to have the wisdom that comes with age and the vitality and exuberance that comes with youth. And there you have the motivation and driving force behind Spanish explorer and conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon’s exploration of Florida in 1513.
In fact, Ponce de Leon was so obsessed with finding the vitality- restoring waters that he set sail from Puerto Rico and ultimately landed –
as many historians believe – on the coastline of St. Augustine in what
is now known as Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.
duality,” says Kit Keating, communications manager for the Fountain of Youth. “The front of the park commemorates the landing of Ponce de Leon over 500 years ago. It is also a perfect example of a roadside attraction that pre-dates the giant mouse that ate Florida.”
Keating is referring to Disney World, of course.
With a colorful and captivating history dating back more than five centuries, Fountain of Youth has remained a favorite place
to explore
approximately 175,000 visitors per year. It’s also Florida’s oldest attraction with signed guest books dating back to 1867.
From the park’s legendary muster of peacocks to the daily cannon firings to the re-creation of the Timucuan Village of Seloy, Fountain of Youth has a bit of
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GUEST ADVANTAGE •2016 / 2017
INSET: PALM DRIVE CIRCA 1927 MAIN: PARK ENTRANCE CIRCA 1930