Description
Designated as an Outstanding Florida Spring, Gemini Springs is a second-magnitude spring that consists of two springs. The springs are about 100 feet apart on an almost straight-line westward projection of the north shoreline of the reservoir. For convenience of identification, the springs are numbered: Spring 1 (Spring 2 of Rosenau et al. 1977) and Spring 2 (Spring 3 of Rosenau) from west to east. Spring 1, as identified by Rosenau, is actually an 8-inch well. The well was initially back-plugged from 340 feet to 141 feet below land surface in September 1991, and the well has been completely abandoned since July 2002.
Spring 1 is about 100 feet west of the reservoir and on higher ground than Spring 2, which is at the northwest edge of the reservoir. Spring 1 has a circular pool about 15 feet in diameter, and flow is from a horizontal cavern opening in the limestone. The cavern opening is about 6 feet high and 8 feet wide, with the cavern appearing to extend laterally underground to the north or northeast. Spring 2 has a circular pool at times inundated by the reservoir. Flow is from a small cavern under a rock ledge about 3 feet below water surface. Spring 1 flows about 150 feet to the east-southeast and converges with the flow from Spring 2 at the west end of the reservoir. The reservoir is impounded on its east end by an earthen dam with a concrete weir outlet. Flow is through the weir, then 1.5 miles east and northeast down a creek and through a marsh area to Lake Monroe on the St. Johns River.
Recreational activities and public access
The spring area is within a county park recreational area, Gemini Springs Park. The 210-acre Gemini Springs was purchased in 1994 through the combined efforts of Volusia County, the Trust for Public Lands, the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Communities Trust. The county does not allow swimming in the spring, but the park features a 4.5-acre dog park, a three-quarter-mile nature trail, a 1-mile loop bike trail, freshwater fishing dock and camping. The park also includes a trailhead for the Spring-to-Spring Trail, which, once complete, will stretch 26 miles from Gemini Springs Park to DeLeon Springs State Park. It is being designed to accommodate walkers, joggers, inline skaters, bicyclists and people with disabilities.
Entry to the county park is free of charge.
Directions
The county park is located at 37 Dirksen Drive, DeBary, between the town of Enterprise and the city of DeBary.