Starbuck Spring is a second-magnitude spring located within the Little Wekiva River watershed in Seminole County, Florida. Originally known as Sheppard Spring, the spring was later renamed after Starbuck Yale, whose family purchased the property in the 1940s. The spring forms a circular blue-water pool that eventually flows into the Little Wekiva River.
Unlike many Florida springs that became major public attractions, Starbuck Spring remained largely private and undeveloped for much of its history. Because of that, it preserved a quieter “Old Florida” atmosphere that longtime residents and local historians have described as one of the area’s hidden natural treasures.
History
The modern history of Starbuck Spring is closely tied to Don and Jinny Barker, whose family became caretakers of the property after the Yale family purchased the spring in 1944. According to oral histories collected by the University of South Florida, the spring quickly became a gathering place for family events, swimming, canoeing, wildlife observation, and community picnics.
Before suburban development reached the area, the landscape around Starbuck Spring was described as a broad wet savanna connected to the Little Wekiva River floodplain. Canoeing through the marshes and spring-fed waterways was once common, and the area supported wildlife including deer, foxes, turtles, alligators, owls, cranes, ibis, and herons.
Historical records suggest the spring area was likely visited by Native Americans long before modern settlement due to its fresh water and proximity to navigable waterways. Arrowheads have reportedly been found near the spring property. Later, during the 1800s, settlers established homesteads, citrus groves, and sawmills throughout the region. A historic Masonic lodge was even reportedly associated with the nearby Sheppard Spring area.
The spring also experienced many of the environmental changes that transformed Central Florida during the 20th century. Flooding associated with hurricanes, dredging of the Little Wekiva River, invasive aquatic vegetation, and nearby residential development all altered the surrounding landscape over time. In the 1970s, construction of “The Springs” residential community brought major suburban growth to the area near Sanlando Spring and Palm Spring.
Despite these changes, Starbuck Spring remained relatively secluded compared to many other Central Florida springs. Oral histories from the Barker family repeatedly emphasized their desire to preserve the spring’s natural character and protect it from overdevelopment.
Spring Characteristics
Starbuck Spring is a second-magnitude spring with a circular spring pool roughly 65 to 70 feet in diameter and approximately 4 to 7 feet deep. The spring’s blue water rises from limestone vents and flows eastward toward the Little Wekiva River. Historic measurements have placed average discharge in the range of several million gallons per day.
Nearby Springs
- Sanlando Springs
- Palm Springs
- Island Spring
- Elder Spring
- Wekiwa Springs
- Rock Springs
Related Historic Springs
- Kissengen Spring
- Warm Mineral Springs
- Socrum Spring
- Manatee Mineral Spring
More Resources
- USF – great article on the spring
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