The Devil’s Millhopper

By Jim Watkins

Devil's Millhopper, Photo by Jim Watkins

The Devil’s Millhopper, in Gainesville Florida is one of two Florida Geological State Parks. It is a 120 foot deep sinkhole with many small waterfalls cascading down the slopes and disappearing into the  sink. The bowl features lush vegetation, creating a miniature rain forest below.

The walls of the sink hole have yielded fossilized remains of extinct animals, giving researchers insight into Florida’s natural history.

The Devil’s Millhopper is not the ominous site the name implies. I had the pleasure of visiting this geologic site on a clear, crisp autumn day. (Or at least as close to autumn as you get in Florida.)

The Millhopper part of the name comes from the shape of the geographic feature. It resembles the huge funnel shape of a milhopper that feeds grain into a grist mill. Early visitors are reported to have discovered fossilized bones and teeth of fish and animals in the floor of the sinkhole. This combined with the disappearing streams that fall down the sides of the sink and disappear into the floor lead them to say that the owners of the bones had been fed to the Devil.

The Native Americans told of a beautiful local princess that was sought after by the Devil himself. One night he kidnapped her and ran out of the village. All the braves ran out after them and the devil caused a great hole to open in the earth under the braves. They say the braves were caught and that their tears fed the springs in the hole even today.

Waterfall at Devil's Millhopper

The Millhopper is an ancient sinkhole that is 117 feet deep and 500 feet across. An elevated boardwalk trail leads to the bottom. The trail is marked with information to explain the views. As a geologist I was whisked away from the jargon by the views of primitive Florida. Gone were “Entrenched meanders”, there was the beauty of “Deer Run”. Forgotten was the term “Disappearing Stream” as I stood on the observation deck and listened to water cascading down the sides of the sinkhole that would not fill with water. Instead the river Styx came to mind, then conjuring the band Grand Illusion, with faint strains of “Come Sail Away”.

Small waterfall at Devil's Millhopper

Even the uninformed could recognize the change in “environmental niche” as they walked from towering pines at the top down through Magnolias to the grasses, ferns and needle palms of the floor of the sink.

I walked past the interpretative center to the trail leading down the floor of the sinkhole. The elevated boardwalk led down to the base of the sinkhole, 120 feet below. An information posting explained that the sinkhole had two collapse events, one over two thousand years ago and, one probably a paltry thousand years ago. (Practically yesterday in geologic terms.)

As I entered the sink, the surrounding noises changed remarkably, gone were the road noises. Gone were the sounds of everyday life. Water was falling somewhere. Birds were talking to each other. The wind was calmed.

There was a feeling of calm that permeated even the rocks themselves. I took the time to observe them. Sand and clay, dolomite and its cousin, limestone, separated by a single element substitution, each older than the one on top, till paradoxically there were fresh sediments at the bottom.

Landmark Plaque

The story here is remarkable in it’s physical display. Why are there meanders in steep sided valleys? Why are there new deposits at the bottom of a 120 foot hole? Why doesn’t the hole fill up with water as the streams and springs flow into it? Again where is that stream going? This is a place to ponder, a place to reflect, and today, a place of peace. Celebrate.

Hours:
The park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The park is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Driving Directions
Take I-75 to C.R. 222 (Milepost Exit 390 – Old Exit 77) and drive east 3.8 miles. At 43rd Street, turn left. At the next traffic light, turn left onto Millhopper Road. Park entrance is located approximately 1,000 feet on the right.

Park Fees
Admission Fee:
$4.00 per vehicle.
$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.

Devils Millhopper Geological State Park
4732 Millhopper Road
Gainesville, Florida 32653
Phone: 352-955-2008