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Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins
Historic State Park in Homosassa, Florida
We just left Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Homosassa, FL and were headed down County Road 490 on our way to the Salt Marsh Trails at the Crystal River Wildlife Refuge when we passed some ruins along the side of the road and I hollered “STOP! Turn around and go back!”
I gotta give him credit — Rich is pretty good about slamming on the brakes without getting hit in the rear end.
Somehow when I was planning out our day and writing down everywhere I wanted to visit, I missed the Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park. He turned around and went back to a nice little parking lot on one side of the road. There were a few picnic tables and grills, and directly on the other side of the road were the remnants of an old 19th century steam-powered sugar mill.
This is a Florida State Park but there is no cost to park and walk over to the ruins of this 40-foot limestone masonry chimney, iron gears, kettles, and cane press that are just 5-feet off the road.
I love history. I love stopping at historical landmarks and monuments just like this. I always read the signs and take lots of pictures. Reading the signs teaches me about the history of the place I am visiting. If I want to know more I can always look it up later.
This steam-driven mill was part of a 5,000 acre sugar plantation named Margarita in the 1800’s. It was built and owned by a man named David Levy Yulee who was a pro-slavery business man and railroad builder. The mill processed sugarcane into syrup, molasses* and rum. Cutting the cane and making the syrup was hot work. The final products were then shipped all over America by railroad.
During the Civil War, this plantation supplied the Confederate soldiers with sugar*, syrup, and molasses*. The Yulee homestead and plantation was burned down in 1864 by Union troops and all that remains today are these ruins on the modern two-lane highway that passes by a mere 5-foot away.
For more information about this historical sugar mill or David Levy Yulee, you can visit Florida State Parks or NatureCoaster.com.
*I am signed up with the Amazon Affiliate Program and all the links in this article are links to products that I may make a commission off of. Whenever possible I try to link to products we have purchased and currently use.
