Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park - Cross Creek, Florida

Address:18700 S Country Road 325
Cross Creek, Florida
Tel: (352) 466-3672

Located between Ocala and Gainesville, the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park is at your service for a day of hiking, touring, and picnicking! Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings lived a rich life from 1896 to 1953 and authored many works, her most well known book being "The Yearling" in 1938. Today you can visit Rawlings "cracker-style" home and gardens, preserved as if she still lived there in the 1930s and 1940s. You can stroll through the citrus groves and hike through the lush forests, just as Rawlings did nearly 75 years ago. This view into Old Florida life is invaluable, educational, and fun, and gives guests with a literary interest wealth of information about the writer and her time. Even the docents and rangers dress in 1930s period costumes!

The park is open every day between 9:00am and 5:00pm. Guided walks are available on Thursdays through Sundays at 10:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, and 4:00pm from October through July. Reservations are required for group tours, which can be scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The guides know all there is to know about Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and are friendly, entertaining, and helpful. When you leave the park, make sure you stop by the Yearling Restaurant in Cross Creek, to round off your experience of "The Yearling"'s famed author. Park admission is $2 per vehicle; tours are less than $5.

The whole family will love stepping back in time and exploring the life of an author who left a strong presence on literature and culture today. Have fun!