Florida Residents Please Beware Of The Deadly Sinkhole Near I-4

Florida Residents Please Beware Of The Deadly Sinkhole Near I-4. I had no idea about this sinkhole which is called Mystery Sink but according to clickorlando.com, it sits at the north end of Orange County and is filled with water. It apparently sits at the deepest point in the entire state and is very close to I-4. I live in St. Petersburg but often go visit my sister in Orlando. I have passed by Mystery Sink plenty of times and did not notice.

The Orange County Regional History Center tells us that "Mystery Sink" is about 500 Ft deep or maybe even more. It's weird that we don't hear much about it seeing that it's deeper than other notorious sinkholes like the 1981 Winter Park sinkhole and Deep Lake.

In 1970 a boy went scuba diving in Mystery Sink. Why? He was there with an instructor who was teaching about deep water diving. While the two were searching for a safety vest, the instructor noticed the 16-year-old boy was no longer with him. Sadly the boy had drowned and a massive search kicked off to find the boy's body.

During the search for the body, another diver died trying to recover the teenage boy. Neither his nor the boy's body was ever recovered. Since then there is a large fence around the area and you cannot go there without permission. There are always those who don't follow the rules though, so I am warning you. Florida Residents Please Beware Of This Sinkhole Near I-4.

Now to keep the owners privacy an exact location has not been given out but I'm sure you will notice it. Especially with the barbed wire fence around it. I'm glad that this sinkhole is filled with water though. Imagine if a house was sitting on top of it and the house fell through. That does happen in Florida, and it's very scary.

Summer is almost here and it's time to start thinking about summer vacation. Forget beach days, the new craze for Florida families is packing up the car and heading to a natural spring. Most likely, this springs will be less crowded and it's a chance to get close to some Florida wildlife. Here are 5 springs that are definitely worth the drive from Tampa. If you don't want to make the trip, here are some springs that are 2 hours away from Tampa (or less).

Many of these state parks are cheaper to visit than a day of parking would cost you on Clearwater beach and are usually less populated, especially if you head there on a weekday. Cool down in the 72-degree water year round, if you're lucky enough you may even spot some manatees. It's worth noting that you should try to get to the springs as early as possible. On weekends and peak days they will close down due to capacity.

Travel & Leisure helped us build this list with the most pristine springs in Florida. We condensed the list and added a few of our own favorites. Most of the springs on this list are at least a 2 hour drive from Tampa.

King's Landing is only a 2 hour drive from Tampa which makes it our favorite spring to visit in Florida. If you get there early enough, you won't have to worry about getting a hotel or camping spot for the night! Here you'll find crystal clear waters, manatees, and even some river otters.

Ginnie Springs is one of the most popular camping grounds/springs in Florida. It's located in the Gainesville area making it about a 2.5 hour drive from Tampa. The clear waters will prove it's totally worth the drive!

Juniper Springs is also only about 2 hours from Tampa. It's located within Ocala State Park. It's also located near Silver Glen Springs, Juniper Springs, and Salt Springs.

Homosassa Springs was actually named one of the best summer destinations for 2023! Thankfully for us, it's about an hour and 15 minute drive from Tampa.

Devil's Den has become a super popular destination for tourists and locals. They offer scuba diving and snorkeling trips. Or, you can rent a cabin and stay for the weekend! It is also a short trip to Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve.