While Exploring the St. John's River in early 1596, Don Pedro Menendez, the Spanish conquistador remembered for founding the city of St. Augustine, made the following notes in his diary:
"We found the third village of the savages on the West bank, halfway between a very big lake and a smaller one farther up stream on a likable spot in the shade of formidable trees. The river seems to be full of goodly fish, and the forest inhabited by all kinds of birds and beasts, the meat of which is quite tasty."
With a thirst for knowledge, the royal botanist John Bartram and his son, William, visited the same spot in 1765 to study the flora and the fauna of the St. John's. Upon discovering a trading post named Spalding's Upper Store, they decided to stay several weeks.
In his subsequent book "TRAVELS", William Bartram devoted 72 pages to describing the area in vivid and colorful detail, including this vivid passage:
"this blessed land where the gods have amassed into one heap all the flowering plants, birds, fish and other wildlife of two continents in order to turn the rushing streams, the silent lake shores and the awe-abiding woodlands of this mysterious land into a true garden of eden."
This "likable spot of goodly fish", this "garden of Eden" is today called ASTOR, and is still here for those who thirst for the unspoiled wilderness. The water of the St. John's, rolling relentlessly along the evergreen shores of silent hammocks, dotted with dreamy ponds and spell-bound creeks are still harboring the famous prize-winning fish, the cautious bobcats, playful otters, clumsy black bears, shy wild turkeys and the rare Florida panthers.
The slender osprey is Astor's mascot bird, but standing on the shoreline you can see hundreds of egrets, herons, and Anhinga water turkeys. You can watch the majestic flight of the bald eagle and enjoy flowers of many colors year round.
Surrounded by the huge Ocala National Forest, and settled into the restless onyx-band of our great river, Astor is indeed the precious jewel of Central Florida one has to see just once never to forget it again. Come visit us today!
| St John's River Story | www.planetdeland.com/pics/stjohns.htm |
| Inside Central Florida | www.wftv.com/living/icflorida/ |
| Ocala National Forest Information | www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ocala/recarea/?recid=40308 |
| Daytona Beach Information | www.visitdaytona.com/beach.html |
| Lake County, Florida Information | www.lakecountyfl.com/ |
| St. John's River Fishing | users.southeast.net/~newtona/bass.htm |
| Daytona Bike Week | www.officialbikeweek.com |
| Daytona International Speedway | www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com |
| State Parks | www.planetdeland.com/stateparks/ |
| Deleon Springs State Park | www.planetdeland.com/deleonsprings |
| Blue Springs State Park | www.planetdeland.com/bluesprings |
| Hontoon Island State Park | www.planetdeland.com/hontoon/ |
| Astor Bridge Marina | www.astorbridgemarina.com |
| Castaways on the River | www.castawaysontheriver.com |
| Front Street Bait & Tackle | www.frontstreet-bait.com |
| Parramore's Campground | www.parramorescamp.com |
| Astor Florida Information | www.astorflorida.com |
| United Southern Bank | www.unitedsouthernbank.com |
| Astor's Floridian Inn | www.astorsfloridianinn.com |
| Lazy Daze Boat Rentals | www.lazydazeboats.com |
| Astor Marine Pontoon Boat Sales & Service | www.astormarine.com |
| Darrell's Marine Sales & Service | www.darrells.com |
| Wilburth Construction | www.wcwilburth.com |
| Florida Cable & USA2NET Internet Services | www.floridacable.com |
| First Baptist Church of Astor | www.fbcastor.com |
| Astor Forest Property Owner's Assoc. | www.afpoa.com |
| Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway | www.floridablackbearscenicbyway.org |
| Lake County Airboat Club | www.lakeairboatclub.com |
| Astor VFW Post 9986 | www.VFW9986.org |
| The Crappie Fisherman | www.thecrappiefisherman.com |
| Beyers Funeral Home | www.beyersfuneralhome.com |
| Hitchcock's Astor Family Market | www.myhitchcocks.com |
| Backus & Assoc. Legal Service Plans | www.clbackus.com |
| Friends of the Astor Library | www.friendsoftheastorlibrary.org |
| R P Hottinger Construction | www.hottingerdocks.com |
| North Lake Outpost | www.thenorthlakeoutpost.com |
| Umatilla Drug Store | www.umatilladrugstore.com |
| Nancy Brand, Realtor of Catherine Hanson Real Estate | www.nancybrand.com |
| Blackwater Inn/William's Landing | www.blackwaterinn.com |
| St. Johns River Tours | www.stjohnsrivertours.com |
| AlarmPro Security Alarm Services | www.alarmproinc.net |
| Villa Elena Vacation Rental | www.villaelenaastor.com |
| Buck-N-Kats Cafe | www.parramorescamp.com |
| Astor Area Chamber of Commerce | www.astorchamber.com |
Please visit our other campground:
Click below to view website
