Big Hole Spring, also known as Dead Spring, is a small karst feature in Sumter County, Florida, near Shady Brook and the Lake Panasoffkee watershed. The U.S. Geological Survey identifies it as SP9 and lists its location at 28°45′33″N, 82°05′55″W.

Despite being listed as a spring, Big Hole may not function as an active flowing spring under normal conditions. During the USGS Lake Panasoffkee study, no spring flow was detected at the site. The report notes that drought conditions were present during the study period, so the feature may flow during wetter periods.

The USGS also cites earlier work suggesting that Big Hole/Dead Spring may be a karst window rather than a true spring. A karst window is an opening where an underground passage is exposed at the surface; it may hold water, but does not necessarily discharge groundwater like an active spring.

Big Hole Spring is located about 0.1 mile west of Interstate 75 and about 0.1 mile south of Shady Brook. Because access details are limited and the surrounding area appears to include private or undeveloped land, visitors should not assume public access is available.

More Resources

• USGS Report on Lake Panasoffkee
• Florida Springs Initiative report with mention of the spring