Silver Springs Paradise Park

Silver Springs Paradise Park. Silver Springs State Park. , Paradise Park was a segregated African-American resort located about a mile down the Silver River from the popular Silver Springs attraction near Ocala, Florida. The park was developed by Carl Ray and W.M. "Shorty" Davidson, co-owners of Silver Springs for nearly four decades. The park opened May 20, 1949 and remained open until 1969. African-American families, tour buses, and church groups came from all over Florida and the United States to visit the attraction. Amenities included a pavilion with a dance floor and jukebox, a swimming area with a sandy beach, tropical landscaping and space for softball and other games., (captions) , Like its counterpart Silver Springs, Paradise Park featured glass bottom boat tours that introduced visitors to the beauty of the Silver River., Bottom Left: There was a reptile exhibit at the park, similar to the one located upriver at Silver Springs. , Top Left: Beauty contests sponsored on Labor Day by the American Legion. , Top: Book written by local authors detailing the history of Paradise Park. , Right: Postcards and advertisements for Paradise Park., Easter egg hunts, baptisms and picnics were common, and at Christmas Santa Claus would cruise down the river on a glass bottom boat to pass out candy, nuts and fruit for the children.