To recap, the sink is 120 feet deep and 500 feet in diameter. It was caused by the collapse of limestone that had been eroded by slightly acidic rainwater. It evidently happened in two stages..one 10,000 years or more ago, and another approximately 1,000 years ago. This area, including most of the peninsula was covered by the sea at one time.
Now for the legend:
Gainesville and large swaths of North and Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia were inhabited by the Timucua people. One of their chiefs, known for his bravery, strength and wisdom, had the loyalty of many braves. He had a cherished daughter who was not only beautiful, but skilled in throwing the atlatl, a spear like device. Many had asked to marry her..but as yet the Chief had not given any brave his blessing. Now also in the area was a brave..he had been so intelligent and sure of himself he presumed to be god-like. The gods were offended by his pride and vanity, and their punishment was swift...he was banished to roam the world alone, and have a grotesque appearance of the devil. However, he remained powerful and still had superhuman powers.
The devil sought his revenge...and who would be a better target than the virginal daughter of the Chief.
His magic was so good he was able to transform his appearance to that of an elderly grandmother..and entered the tent where the Chief and his daughter slept. He woke her and convinced her to follow him and visit her dying grandson. She hesitated..she wanted to tell her father where she was going. The devil assured her that she would be back before he woke. So off they went...and her father woke shortly after, and saw a bracelet the "grandmother" had dropped...he immediately knew who had kidnapped his daughter.
The Chief assembled his braves and set off to find his daughter and her abductor. Meanwhile, the devil's disguise melted away, and the daughter saw who he was! She was terrified....her hands had been bound, so she was at his mercy. The devil saw, in his mind's eye, that the Chief was hot on his trail....they were approaching with canoes on a stream not far away. So he cast a spell and an alligator appeared, as wide as the river, his massive jaws open wide exposing his sharpened teeth and immediately stopped the braves. The Chief ordered them to down a huge tree on the riverbank, and sharpen the end! Then, with superhuman strength, they hoisted it and propelled it like a battering ram! They pierced the gator's hide...he writhed in agony, flipped in the air, and exposed his soft underbelly, and the braves quickly dispatched him.
The devil saw in his mind's eye that his spell did not stop the pursuers...so he cast an even more powerful spell! This time, the ground fell from under the pursuers! They fell to the bottom of a pit! All were dead, with the exception of the Chief! The devil arrived on the scene, and his evil presence was enough to turn the dead braves to stone! But not the Chief..he struggled to climb out of the pit! While the devil was distracted, the daughter was able to get out of her bindings..and reached for the atlatl that was nearby. One quick thrust to the devil's heart was enough...he fell into the pit and immediately turned to stone.
The Chief and his daughter were together once again...but they were distraught at the loss of so many braves. Their tears formed the stream that still flows at the base of the chasm..and the braves still lie there cast in stone. The warriors spirits have flowed into the stream, and as those of the Timucua Nation know, they have found their final resting place in the Gulf of Mexico..the final outlet for the streams that rise in the Devil's Millhopper!
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Touring the Devil's Millhopper, Gainesville Florida Part 1by raconter1669 views
we played in this thing back in the 60's before there was a board walk in it, just a steel cable down the side.
turhun1 3 months ago
@turhun1 I'm glad you found the video...it tends to get lost in all the car videos. I'm fascinated by all these sinkholes in Florida...I've videoed the one in Eustis, in Mt. Dora, in Winter Park too. That's cool that you experienced this one before it became a major attraction! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 3 months ago
I can dig it. Get out of the city for a while & enjoy the wilds
missingremote 1 year ago
@missingremote Hey, Arne! I don't think there's anything like it...you get to see interesting things, learn something, and get exercise to boot! And the cost is negligible.... Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
@raconter1 Yes - I haven't been to the sinkhole. I been to other parks & places around the entire world. Late nineties early 2000, I had a Golden Eagle pass, to Nat'l parks, but only used it Jamestown and Death Valley. Watch out for spiders.
missingremote 1 year ago
@missingremote Hey, Arne! I think that pass is a good idea..but I hear the National Parks are very crowded. Plus, many require an extensive auto trip with gas expenses. I think I will confine my travels to interesting places in Florida..and believe me, there are a lot! Spiders sure can be a problem...an acquaintance had a sister who died as a result of a spider bite...not something to be taken lightly! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago