Live Oak is in the heart of North Florida, east of Tallahassee and North of Gainesville, FL. Four major highways run through the area including I-10, I-75, U.S. Highway 90 and U.S. Highway 129. Suwannee County Airport also offers transportation in the area as do many private air parks in the county. Enjoy the small-town, rural feel of Old Florida like it used to be with our lower population, low costs of living, and winding country roads.
Activities and Entertainment
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park: The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is a world re-known venue for concerts and is our North Florida tourism epicenter. They host events such as the Wannee Festival, Suwannee River Jam, Aura Music Festival, Purple Hatter’s Ball, Magnolia Festival, Suwannee Hulaween, and many more. They have provisions for both full amenity and primitive camping on their 600+ acre facility along the banks of the Suwannee River. Some of their events have upwards of 30,000+ visitors to our local area and economy. Spirit of the Suwannee Music park is located just North of Live Oak, FL in Suwannee County.
Wild Adventures Theme Park: Located just across the FL/GA line off of I-75 exit #13. Wild Adventures is a diverse theme park with roller coasters, a splash park, exotic animal exhibits and much more. The 3,000ft long “Cheetah” wooden roller coaster and also the “Boomerang” metal inversion style roller coaster are sure to give thrills to all. Wild Adventures also has their own concert events they promote throughout the year.
Live Oak Festivals: A diverse mixture down-town concerts, arts and crafts festivals (Including the long running “Christmas on the Square”), living history events, 4th of July fireworks show, and much more throughout the year here in beautiful Live Oak, FL.
Suwannee County Fair: 100 years running, the Suwannee County Fair hosts an annual livestock show and sale, has informational booths for local businesses, music, art, and of course has the typical fair rides and food offerings!
Natural Resources
Little River Springs: About 22 miles from Live Oak off of US129 lays one of the area’s favorite springs and swimming holes. Little River Springs is an improved recreational area, with concreted swim and tanning ledges, beach, board walks, and more. The spring flows about 150ft before it converges into the Suwannee River giving a large swimming and wading area of crystal clear Florida Spring water.
Royal Springs: A 5 acre county park located off of CR 349 down in the Southern end of the county. It has a large spring boil, is known for its rope swing, and other swimming amenities. It also has overlook decks and picnic tables. There is additionally a single lane concreted boat ramp with direct access to the Suwannee River for boaters and kayakers.
Suwannee Springs: Suwannee Springs has a historic twist to it in the fact there use to be a hotel and resort area catering to people that came and visited the area and the spring itself. There now remains only mostly ruins of the old original Spring House, but the Suwannee Springs tract has a nice beach area on the Suwannee River itself depending on the water levels. There is also of course the actual running spring itself which flows into the Suwannee River through a window of the ruins of the old Spring House. There are portable restrooms on site. This spring is right across US129 from the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.
Ichetucknee Springs: Arguably the crown jewel of the North Florida area – Ichetucknee Springs is a state park that has been used for generations of recreation. Most popular during the spring and summer months, Ichetucknee Spring is famous for feeding the river that people are willing to brave its icy waters for to tube the length of it within the state park. At the Spring itself there are 2 different swimming holes, parking area, onsite grills, and more. This is one of the preeminent spring recreational spots in our area.
Madison Blue Springs: Just across the Withlacoochee river in Madison County FL, off of SR6 is the beautiful Madison Blue Springs. The spring pool is about 80ft across, and up to 25ft deep before its underwater cavern system begins. A favorite swimming hole for locals and tourists alike!
Falmouth Springs: It’s been dubbed “The worlds shortest river”, Falmouth Springs is to the West of Live Oak, right off of US90. The Spring is a 1st magnitude and is unique in the fact that it does not tie or flow into any open body of water. The spring simply runs a few hundred feet, and then pools back up and runs right back underground. Very unique, and a great summer time place to swim at.
Charles Springs: It was a major point of access across the Suwannee River and was an integral part of commerce for the N FL area for many years. The area nearby housed a Spanish Mission in the 1600s and later became a trading post and Ferry after the Bellamy Road came into significant use. Today Charles Springs has basic but welcome modernization in the form of parking area, a concreted boat ramp, and steps that lead down into the spring pool itself.
Other Amenities and details:
DISCOVER RURAL NORTH FLORIDA
North Florida is home to some incredibly diverse nature with springs, rivers, lakes, rolling pastures, pine forests and “grand-daddy” oak trees.
Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park is an extremely unique recreational spot in Live Oak. The park was recently renamed to honor the late, world-class explorer, diver, cinematographer and photographer Wes Skiles. It features two major springs, a spring run and six sinkholes. In addition, the 33,000 feet of surveyed underwater passages feature one of the longest underwater cave systems in the continental United States. A nature trail is also on site.
Suwannee Country Club in Live Oak is a semi-private, 9-hole golf course. The club is open to the public and features a driving range, banquet hall and access to White Lake.
Baseball, softball, tennis, skateboarding and more are offered through the First Federal Sportsplex in Live Oak. The regional park on 40 acres includes five lighted ball fields, five lighted batting cages, five lighted bullpen mounds, two non-lighted asphalt tennis courts, two playgrounds, covered and screened pavilions, a walking/fitness station trail and a skate park.
AMENITIES & ECONOMY:
Students in Live Oak and the surrounding area attend classes within Suwannee County Schools. The district offers a total of seven schools with a primary, elementary, intermediate, middle and high school in Live Oak. Additionally, Suwannee County Schools includes an elementary and high school in Branford. The Suwannee-Hamilton Technical Center, also in Live Oak, provides technical training to develop, upgrade or advance employment opportunities.
Healthcare is offered to Suwannee County residents through the Shands Live Oak Regional Medical Center. The hospital is a 25-bed critical access care facility providing access for over 50,000 citizens in the region, offering acute care, diagnostic, emergency and outpatient services. Shands Live Oak also offers a primary care clinic and medical group clinic.
The local economy includes a number of the top state and national leading production and sales companies with regional operations. Klausner Lumber One operates the world’s largest sawmill by output, while Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation is the second largest poultry producer. Additional corporations include Suwannee American Cement LLC, Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, and Suwannee Farms.
United Country – Lands of North Florida Realty, Inc. relishes the rural feel of Old Florida like it used to be. We want our clients to be able to do the same. Our staff has expertise in Florida acreages, small farms, timber land, dairy and more. Discover Rural North Florida and let us help you find the property of your dreams.
Well Depths: Between 75-150ft down typically for residential uses.
Soil Types: Mostly sandy. More Northern areas of Suwannee, Madison, and Hamilton counties will be more prone to clay in their soils.
Elevations: As low as 50ft above sea level to as high as 200ft above in certain areas. Generally highest ground and more rolling hills in Northern Suwannee county, North Western Hamilton county, North and North Eastern Madison counties. Lafayette mostly flatter more marshy once you get more than about 10 miles away from the Suwannee River.