City Profile: Green Cove Springs

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The Clay County Old Courthouse is part of what is known as the Historic Triangle in Green Cove Springs.

Photo Credit: Contributed Photo

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Not your typical camping experience! At Camp Chowenwaw in Green Cove Springs, you can actually stay in a tree house.

Photo Credit: Camp Chowenwaw

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Clay County Agricultural Fair near Green Cove Springs

Photo Credit: Clay County Agricultural Fair

Explore the history, nature and culture of quaint and lovely Green Cove Springs.

History

First settled in the mid-1800’s as White Sulfur Springs, Green Cove Springs is inextricably associated to its natural mineral springs and the St. Johns River. 

Green Cove Springs became a prime tourist destination following the Civil War as Northerners and “invalids” looking to escape the harsh, northern winters became mystified by stories of the healing powers of the town’s warm, therapeutic springs.

The sulfur springs, or the “boil” as it was called, brought wealthy visitors down the St. Johns River by steamboat to lodge at grand hotels like the Clarendon and Qui-Si-Sana. Famous visitors included Ulysses S. Grant, Buffalo Bill, P.T. Barnum and Sitting Bull. President Grover Cleveland was so impressed with the medicinal qualities of the spring water, he had the water bottled and shipped to the White House.

There are those today who still have confidence in the therapeutic value of the springs and can be seen daily drawing water from the spring for consumption.

The city has grown slowly but steadily since 1900 and now has a population of approximately 6,550. Green Cove Springs is proud of its quaint, small-town character and historic downtown.

The local economy is tied to nearby military facilities, service industries, shopping centers and retirement homes, as well as farming and mining. The area offers great opportunities for economic development, as evidenced by the industrial areas located both north and south of Green Cove Springs. One of the industrial parks is the former Navy base, which housed the famous Atlantic “Mothball” Fleet following World War II.

Special Events

For a complete calendar of special events, as well as dates for upcoming events, visit the Green Cove Springs events calendar.

Memorial Day RiverFest

This annual event is sponsored by the City of Green Cove Springs to honor military service personnel and veterans. Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. Attractions include a parade of flags, arts and crafts, food, music, pony rides and free swimming in the city pool.  The event ends with a spectacular fireworks display on the St. John River at 8:45 p.m.

Soulfood Festival

Sponsored by Parents Working for Community Involvement, this annual event is held at the Vera Francis Hall Park in Green Cove Springs. Come for the great food and music, as well as a dance competition, sweet potato pie contest and men’s softball tournament.

Christmas on Walnut Street & Parade of Trees

This is an annual community event to kick-off the holiday season.  The two-day spectacular features a large Christmas parade and the official lighting of the City Hall tree, not to mention the 150 decorated trees in and around Spring Park.

Jacksonville Winter Series Horse Show

A 19-day, pre-World Cup equestrian event featuring top national and international riders.

Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival

Annual festival established to foster the growth and understanding of Scottish culture through games, music, food, re-enactments and entertainment.

Clay County Agricultural Fair

Ten full days of exhibits, thrilling rides, pig races, Frisbee dog show and much more.  It’s the biggest fair in North Florida, offering both fun and education in a family atmosphere.

Area Attractions

Augusta Savage Cultural & Arts Center

African-American sculptor Augusta Fells (Savage) was born in 1892 in Green Cove Springs. She began making small clay figures as a child but did not begin developing her talents until a school principal recognized and encouraged her artistic abilities. She later moved to Harlem and is associated with the Harlem Renaissance. Famous for her work as a sculptor, teacher and activist, she also worked for equal rights for African Americans in the arts. 

Big Cabin at Camp Chowenwaw

Camp Chowenwaw Park is one of the newer members of the Clay County parks system.

The camp has 100 acres of wetlands and 50 acres of uplands, and is located at the mouth of Black Creek. The aquatic vegetation provides foraging areas for the St. Johns River manatee population as well as an ideal habitat for many fish species. Bald eagles, fox squirrels, river otters, gopher tortoises, white tailed deer, wild turkeys, alligators and many other species of amphibians and reptiles are just a few of what you might see while visiting Camp Chowenwaw Park.

The Camp sleeps 124 people per night. There are seven block cabins with bunk beds, nine unique “tree houses” with four bunk beds each and two lodges with bunk beds sleeping sixteen people per cabin. Fifteen tent camping sites are also available. Large fire rings and barbecues are placed throughout the camp for marshmallow roasting under the stars.

The camp’s outdoor swimming pool is open Memorial Day through Labor Day for the enjoyment of campers and area residents.

Vehicle access is limited in the camp to minimize the impact on natural resources and to protect plant and wildlife communities. Camping sites and cabins are accessed by walking trails. 

Clay County Fairgrounds

Fairgrounds host year-round events and festival s including Clay County’s Agricultural Fair, Northeast Florida Scottish Highland Games, Jacksonville Winter Series horse show, monster truck shows and much more.

Historic Triangle

Green Cove Springs’ historic district, known as the Historic Triangle, includes the Old Clay County Courthouse, “Haunted” Jail and the Clay County Historical and Railroad Museum.

Mineral Spring in Spring Park

In the mid-1800s, the natural sulfur springs brought wealthy visitors down the St. Johns River by steamboat to vacation at the area’s grand hotels. Visitors drank from the spring, believing in its medicinal values. It is said one local physician prescribed the spring water for various chronic ailments of the liver and kidneys. Even today, there are those who still have confidence in the therapeutic value of the springs.

The spring is one of approximately a dozen sulfur water springs in Florida and is still popular today as a tourist site and a public swimming facility. The water boils up from a large fissure some twenty feet below the surface at the rate of approximately 3,000 gallons per minute.

The 78-degree spring feeds the municipal pool and then flows down Spring Run into the St. Johns River. The spring and pool are both located in beautiful Spring Park, one of the prettiest parks in Northeast Florida. Entering the pool is an invigorating experience and most refreshing since there are no chemicals used in the pool.