Kingsley Lake

Kingsley Lake is located in north central Florida about six miles east of Starke, FL.  It is an almost circular lake of about 2000 acres.  It is 5 1/2 miles around the shoreline and is 2 miles across in any direction.  It is the oldest and highest lake in Florida located on the edge of the Trail Ridge formation.  It is 90 feet deep at its deepest area.  It is a very stable lake which means it has very little fluctuation of depth seldom fluctuating move that 16 to 18 inches in measurements above sea level.  It is refreshingly cool in the summer due to several springs along the shoreline as well as in the lake.  It has a sandy bottom and from the air looks like a silver dollar, which is what pilots have nicknamed the lake, Silver Dollar lake.  It has over 100 docks and homes on the north and west side of the lake and Camp Blanding is on the east and south side of the lake.  Kingsley Lake was named after a young Calvary officer, Captain Kingsley, who was surrounded by Indians.  To escape he swam, with his horse, across the lake and it saved his life.  He requested, at that time, that the lake be called Kingsley since it saved his life.  His horse died soon after the swim.  In the 1870s, 80s & 90s the land around Kingsley lake was settled with farmers and fruit growers where oranges, strawberries and grapes were grown along with natural products taken from the native palm trees.  The freeze of 1895 killed all the citrus in the area.  Kingley lake changed from being agricultural to recreational.  In the early 1900s plots of land were developed and sold for summer cottages on the west side of the lake.  It later, due to improvement of the roads, became permanent homes to live in all year.  With the starting of WW II a National Guard Camp located on the east side of the lake was taken over by the U.S. Army as a Infantry Replacement training camp; Camp Blanding.  Kingsley lake is famous for its clear water, swimming, water skiing, fishing and its stability. 
We have been coming to Kingsley lake since we moved to Orange Park over 20 years ago.  At the time there was a recreational swim area, Stricklands, with water slides and high diving board and platforms.  It was a great way to spend a day swimming and picnicking on the lake.  It has closed but we are still able to enjoy the lake due to Camp Blanding.  I will be posting a slide show later today of the sunset pictures from last night.  We have camped at Camp Blanding several times and it has always been one of our favorite places to camp, especially in the warm months, due to the lake.  It is clear, cool and very refreshing on hot days.  It is good to be back at Camp Blanding and Kingsley Lake.