Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park

Our Opinion: We have stayed in this park many times and it is one of our favorite parks in Florida. It is an excellent park with huge level sites and plenty to see and do. The park is one of the nicest state parks in Florida.

Date of Stay: June 15th, 2011; We stayed for 2 weeks

Weather During our Stay: Sunny & Hot... with a slight breeze along with a few rain storms from time to time.

Site Description: There are 45 campsites that are arranged in three loops, with both back-ins and pull-throughs. There is both 30 & 50 amps sites. The sites have plenty of privacy, and the campground is in a wooded area with lots of BIG Oak trees with Spanish moss hanging from them. Sites are gravel with a picnic table & Fire ring/grill. All roads are paved in the park.

The campground has 2 restrooms with showers and covered outdoor laundry facilities. A large playground is located near the Suwannee Loop. A dump station is available.

Rate: It is $20 per night and 50% off for Florida seniors. No other discounts available. Florida uses the Reserve America system for reservations. The cabins are available for $100 per night. They are really nice also.

Phone/radio/TV: Great Verizon service for phone and aircard. We recieved TV with our roof-mounted TV satellite (Direct), the tree cover in some sites would present challenges but with a portable dish you may get satellite. We recieved nothing on our antenna. NPR is available on 88.9, from Tallahassee.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This is a flat campground at low elevation. Lots of saw palmetto, tall pines, large oaks trees draped in Spanish moss. Sites are pretty much private; our view is of trees, moss and a few other RV’s.

Lighting/Noise: No light or noise to bother us at night. Sometimes you will hear a train in the distance.

Favorite Sites: We like site 15 but there are MANY large, level, semi-private sites in this park. Most sites have a lot of trees but they keep them trimmed so there is no problem with low branches.

Hiking/Walking: Miles and miles of hiking, including a wonderful trail along the banks of the Suwannee River. There is also a historic walking tour in White Springs.

Comments: Within the park you can visit the Stephen Foster Museum, Carillon Tower, Craft Square/Gift Shop, and a view of the famous Suwannee River. The Stephen Foster Museum and Carillon Tower features exhibits and dioramas from Stephen Fosters songs as well as a display of antique pianos. The Carillon Tower is also home to the worlds largest tubular bell instrument, constructed and installed in 1957. The tower rings out Fosters tunes in scheduled concerts throughout the day. Visit the Craft Square where you can see working craftsmen demonstrate cultural arts and traditions, from quilting to blacksmithing and home canning. Classes are offered regularly. The Cousin Thelma Boltin Craft & Gift Shop sells regional foods, crafts, gifts, handmade items by local artists as well as Stephen Foster memorabilia. On the first Saturday of the month they have local entertainers, including Barber shop Quartets and Story tellers that come to the Nellie Blye Kitchen.

Things to see & do: Big Shoal State Park is just down the road about 3 miles & is Florida's only White Water rapids on the river, The Historic town of White Springs, Florida's State Farmers Market, and down in Olustee (about 30 miles south) there is the Olustee Civil War Battlefield (in Feb they have a huge reenactment), and a Old Historic Train Depot.

Rating: (8) This park is one of our favorite parks in Florida. Even though it doesn't have swimming or sewer it is still rated high in our books.

Have fun & Safe Travels