Testimonials for Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park
- "My wife and I decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary this year by going to a park. We had made reservations online so all we had to do is enjoy the ride to the park. We instantly fell in love with the cabin which was built in the 1930s. Everything was the way we pictured it would be. We took walks, flew kites and just sat around and enjoyed life. It was so peaceful, and the park staff was so helpful. This park is clean and beautiful and it makes the drive well worth it. We are already planning another trip this year with our family. We recommend this park to anyone who loves camping! Once again thanks for every thing."
April 6, 2004
John Ronan - St. Cloud, FL - Every Florida state park I've visited strikes me as beautiful and I'm grateful these small areas of wild Florida remain for all of us to enjoy and love. Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park has a fabulous picnic area with numerous sheltering gazebos. We loved the ravine with its charming brook, the many lakes (though the water was low) and viewing the wonderfully situated cabins, full of heritage and quite inviting. The trails, grounds and facilities were very clean and I really appreciate all the work that goes into keeping these parks beautiful for the enjoyment of humans, sanctuary for wildlife and where Florida plants can grow naturally. WW
Wendy Wilson - Orance City (by Orlando), Florida - Florida never ceases to amaze me with it's incredibly diverse habitats, and Gold Head Branch is no different. To see the exclusively diverse animals and plants that call the steephead ravines unique environment home is a one of a kind experience. Knowing that Lake Sheelar is over 24,000 yrs old is mind boggling. To top it off, the expanse of the universe visble in the night skys is nothing less than breathtaking! The dawn we visited, Venus, the Moon and the star Regulas were all next to each other near the horizon producing a sight to be seen!
Ray Strong - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - I have camped at Goldhead atleast 9 times and each time is a new experience. I still have yet to hike/discover parts of the park even after extensive hiking. I have four children and Goldhead has become our home away from home. It is a garden of Eden for me and my family and a sanctuary for peace. I recommend Goldhead to anyone that loves nature and has a sense of adventure. The trails are spectacular and the staff are wonderful. I am going to look into volunteering because I feel obligated to give back to this place. It is my sanctuary. Thank you.
Kenneth Smith - Jacksonville, FL - Rode horse trail last sunday in april.Nice ride with shade and wide,well marked trails.Deep sand did prevent cantering in most areas.Only dislike was having to try to drive to ranger's station with horses and big trailers to register, then turn around and go back north on busy Hwy 21 to pull off road in horse parking area.Really need road markers for this parking area.Huge water trough clean, and garden hose to wash horses a real delight. Can we park then ride south inside fence to rangers station to register?
Susan Russell - Green Cove Springs , Fl - My wife and I visited 6/13/08 - 6/15/2008. We did some camping and just wanted to get away for a relaxing weekend. Goldhead provided this as it was very peaceful and quite. The campe sites are large and have plenty of room between them. Make sure to bring some ant spray as this was the only downfall.
Robert Newell - Jacksonville, Fl - From 10-13 thru 10-17 I had the pleasure enjoy the excellent scenery and amenities of
Probably the most impressive portion was one of
your OPS Park Ranger's. His name was Rich Hemphill. He embodies, what I hope your officials
recognize , all the qualities a state park ranger
should have. He was courteous, polite, and extremely knowledgeable about many aspects of wildlife, park policies. I truly hope on my next
October visit, goldhead remains as pristine as
always and Ranger Hemphill is there to make my
visit even more enjoyable.
Claude Ware - Zephyrhills, florida - Our family has been spending week-ends in the rustic cabins for the past 45 years. We never tire of sitting on the porch, hiking the ravine, grilling out, playing games, canoeing, and stargazing. The cabins are once again being refurbished but their charm is never disturbed (except once by tv sets which have now mercifully disappeared!) The peace and quiet at Goldhead is a welcome respite from everyday living and we are about to introduce our grandchildren to its simple pleasures next fall. Our gratitude goes out to Mike Roess for donating the land, the CCC for building the cabins. Time almost stands still here, a small miracle in a busy world.
Mary Emerson-Smith - Atlantic Beach, Florida - I have been going to Gold Head sense I was about 9years old camping. We allways loved going. Now that I'am married, my husband and my children,and now my grandchildren we all still love to camp out there. Every Easter my family has a family reunion out there. My three sisters and their family go camping with us too. We rent the recreation hall.Last year we had about 100 people there.Everyone allways has a great time out there. So if you want to have a nice place to go camping or just go for the day, this is the place.
Judy Baxley - Middleburg, florida - My family spent two nights in in 'Sweetgum" block cabin early April 2009. Kitchen was small but workable (hint, if doing any major cooking you may want to bring your favorite knife/pan...we were celebrating a holiday so cooking was important). total of 3 double size beds made 4 adults comfortable. Staff very friendly, birding and wildlife viewing wonderful. Hiking trials in ravine and elsewhere in park were lovely. Water in the lakes is quite low (particularly in 'big' Johnson Lake,'Little Johnson' has the swimming and picnic area/playground). Appears that the once big lake is well on it's way to becoming a prairie; drought and development sucking up groundwater have taken their toll. I won't go again without my bicycle as biking would be very pleasant...I would suggest that they add rentals of simple one or 3 speed bikes. Low water levels made canoeing unappealing to us. This is a lovely and clearly popular park with a lot to offer for a get-a-way with the family or friends.
Margaret Pickholtz - Coral Springs, Florida - My family and I decided to celebrate my 41 birthday and the 20th birthday of my older son at Gold Head State park, from 07/31/09 through 08/04/09. it was a wonderful experience, the cabins were very comfortable, very close from the lake, very clean, staff very friendly, the wild life is was beautiful, and we all enjoy very much the water activities, the canoeing, swimming, hiking, I really regret not taking my bike... because the park topography, it is excellent for biking exercises, my daughter was very happy it was a first time for her encountering an environment like that, i really recommend it, it was a lovely experience.
ibis suau - tampa, fl
