The Day We Found Home
A
True Story from Gornto Springs, Florida
Kristina Douglas
©
Copyright 2026 by Kristina Douglas
|
Photo by Jean Paul Montanaro at Pexels. |
There
is a little place along the Suwannee River where giant water oaks
stretch their branches over the water, forming a canopy that makes
the rest of the world feel far away.
In
the early mornings, dew drips from the trees as daylight slowly makes
its way through the branches. From the fishing pier, you can watch
sturgeon jumping out of the still-dark Suwannee River. Around the
corner, a crystal-clear spring reveals turtles and other wildlife
beneath the surface.
It's
the kind of place people travel to Florida hoping to find.
And
somehow, I ended up living within walking distance of it.
But
that wasn't always the plan.
After
Hurricane Milton, my husband and I were looking for a fresh start. We
wanted to move to the country, somewhere we could raise our four boys
and build a different kind of life for our family.
We
weren't looking for anything fancy. We were looking for somewhere
that felt right.
As
a mother of four boys, I've learned that finding somewhere the whole
family can enjoy isn't always as simple as packing a cooler and
heading out the door. Especially when two of those boys are
autistic.
Our
oldest, Troy, is mostly nonverbal, and joining games with other
children isn't something he typically does. There are plenty of
things he enjoys, but watching him participate in a game with
children he's never met is rare.
As
his mother, I notice those things.
So
when we discovered Gornto Springs while looking for property in North
Florida, I had no idea that one afternoon would become a memory I'd
carry with me forever.
It
was around wintertime when we made our first family visit. We brought
food for a barbecue, snacks, and all four boys.
Now,
some families might arrive somewhere beautiful, take a moment to
admire the scenery, and ease into their afternoon.
Not
mine.
The
first thing we did was jump into the water.
And
if you've never jumped into a Florida spring, let me explain
something. That water will wake up parts of your body you didn't even
know were asleep.
It's
the kind of cold that makes you feel reborn, refreshed, and like you
could shiver right out of your skin.
But
that's part of the magic.
The
spring is so clear that you can see beneath the surface. Turtles and
other wildlife make their way through the water, while the enormous
oaks surrounding the spring remind you that Florida has so much more
to offer than beaches and theme parks.
Just
beyond the spring, the Suwannee River continues on its way. There's a
boat ramp and a fishing pier, and a campground where visitors can
bring their RVs or pitch tents right near the water.
There's
even a playground and bathrooms with hot showers, which any parent
knows can make the difference between a pleasant family outing and a
complete logistical disaster.
There
are picnic tables and barbecue pits, too. We had brought hot dogs,
which seemed like the perfect meal for a family outing.
Nothing
fancy. Just hot dogs, snacks, swimming, and time together.
And
honestly, with four boys, sometimes that's all you need.
Although
I should probably explain what swimming with our family actually
looks like.
My
husband, Derek, was wrestling with the boys in the water, throwing
them around while they played. Because apparently, simply swimming
isn't nearly exciting enough when you have four sons.
There's
something about dads and water that turns an ordinary swim into a
wrestling match.
And
our boys were getting the full experience.
Even
Dalton, our youngest, was ready to join the action.
He
was barely walking at the time, but apparently nobody had explained
to him that being the baby of the family was supposed to slow him
down.
With
his floaties on, he followed his older brothers and jumped right off
the dock.
Yes,
right off the dock.
There
is something wonderfully ridiculous about a child who has barely
mastered walking deciding he's ready to take on a spring.
But
that's Dalton.
And
while our youngest was busy following his brothers into the water,
something else was happening on that dock.
Something
I never expected.
Some
local children we'd never met were playing a game: last man on the
dock wins.
The
idea was simple. Stay on the dock while everyone else ends up in the
water.
And
Troy joined in.
I
don't mean he stood nearby watching the other children play. I mean
he actually became part of their game.
He
was throwing the other kids off the dock into the water.
And
they were letting him.
These
were children who didn't know our family. They didn't know Troy's
history or how unusual this moment was for him.
They
included him without making a fuss.
To
somebody passing by, it might have looked like an ordinary afternoon
at the springs.
To
me, it was magical.
They
played with my son.
And
somewhere in the middle of that afternoon, I felt it.
Oh
my God. This is home.
We
had come to North Florida looking for property. We wanted a fresh
start in the country after Hurricane Milton, somewhere we could build
a life and raise our boys.
I
hadn't expected a family trip to a spring to become part of that
decision.
But
there I was, watching my husband play with our children in the water,
our youngest already determined to keep up with his brothers, and
Troy joining a game with children we'd never met.
There
were hot dogs waiting, picnic tables nearby, and the Suwannee River
just around the corner.
It
wasn't an expensive vacation or some carefully planned family
adventure.
It
was simply an afternoon at a spring.
And
yet, it was everything I had hoped we might find when we started
looking for a new place to call home.
A
few weeks later, we bought our property within walking distance of
Gornto Springs.
Now,
instead of being somewhere we have to travel to visit, that little
spring is part of our everyday world.
I
can go there with my children and feel comfortable letting them enjoy
the water. I can appreciate the giant oaks stretching over the
spring, the clear water beneath them, and the Suwannee flowing
nearby.
I've
seen the place in the quiet of morning, when dew falls from the
branches and the river is still dark enough to make a jumping
sturgeon seem even more remarkable.
I've
come to appreciate that peaceful side of Gornto Springs just as much
as the family memories we've made there.
It's
a beautiful destination for anyone who enjoys Florida's natural
springs. Between the swimming, fishing, camping, playground, and
picnic areas, there's plenty for families to enjoy without needing an
elaborate itinerary.
But
every time I think about that first visit, I don't remember it as a
list of attractions.
I
remember Dalton jumping off the dock in his floaties, Derek wrestling
with the boys, the hot dogs we brought for our barbecue, and Troy
playing with children who had never met him before.
Most
of all, I remember the feeling.
We
went looking for a place to live.
We
found a little spring along the Suwannee River.
And
somehow, before we'd even bought the property, I already knew.
We
were home.
Kristina
Douglas is a mother of four boys living in Old Town, Florida, United
States, within walking distance of Gornto Springs. She homeschools
her children while pursuing her college education.
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