Sarasota County and the city of
North Port will host visioning sessions to give the
community an opportunity to help determine future improvements
to Warm Mineral Springs. The county and city jointly purchased
the 81-acre site and are exploring opportunities to enhance the
quality of the property and the experience for visitors.
Take a short survey
Residents will be able to explore
the Warm Mineral Springs property and talk with experts who are
knowledgeable about the archeological and historical resources
of the site, along with economic development and recreational
opportunities.
Residents will be asked for feedback and ideas about the future
of Warm Mineral Springs. Information collected during the open
house will be used in future workshop discussions.
Residents may attend two additional presentations and
discussions:
- 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26,
at the Morgan Family Community Center, 6207 West Price
Blvd., North Port.
- 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2,
at the Gulfcoast Event and Conference Center on the Searcy
G. Koen Regional Girl Scout Campus, 4780 Cattlemen Road,
Sarasota
“Warm Mineral Springs offers a
great opportunity for the county, the city of North Port and all
our residents to collaborate on a collective vision of what the
property can become,” said Christine Robinson, Sarasota County
Commission chair. “The springs are an integral part of our
region’s historic, cultural and wellness identity and have an
almost unlimited potential as a community and tourism resource.
This is part of our effort to realize that goal.”
Beginning Saturday, Jan. 21, North Port will offer an online
survey at www.cityofnorthport.com, and Sarasota County will host
an online wiki discussion forum at
https://wiki.scgov.net.
Plans for Warm Mineral Springs also will preserve the lands
surrounding the spring and the water source that supplies the
downstream habitat of the West Indian manatee.
The Warm Mineral Springs day spa opened in 1946 and draws more
than 80,000 annual visitors.The therapeutic waters contain 51
minerals, which is the highest mineral content of any natural
spring in the world. The spring holds 9 million gallons that are
replenished every two hours. The warm waters are known for their
healing abilities and regularly attract people worldwide to
North Port.
Warm Minerals Springs is listed in the National Register of
Historic Places as one of the most important underwater
archaeological sites in America. The ledges beneath the springs
have been explored in many underwater archaeology investigations
and provide information about the lives of Florida Paleo
Indians. Remains found in the spring include an 11,000-year-old
man, saber-toothed tigers, giant sloths and tortoises. |
