One of our all-time favorite places we workamped over the years was a small county park located in Lake City, Florida. It is located inside the city limits so the cellphone reception was very good and the park includes a business internet connection through Xfinity. The basic cable wasn’t all that great but it was nice to have just the same. They provide a very nice, level campsite that can accommodate almost any sized recreational vehicle/travel trailer. Yes, you must have a self-contained camper and you will need to go to one of the local laundromats to wash/dry your clothes.
Alligator Lake Recreation Area
420 SE Alligator Glen
Lake City, Florida 32025
Monday to Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
Office – (386) 719-7545
https://www.columbiacountyfla.com/ParksandRecreation.asp
Park closed on Mondays – Which is your only full day off
Duties
- Open the gate every morning (Tuesday to Sunday)
- Ride through the park to make sure there are no hazards for visitors such as downed trees on the trails.
- Check the playground for any equipment that might need replacing or repair.
- Check on the bathrooms about halfway through the day for cleanliness and supplies.
- ANYONE with a dog or other kind of pet must be approached and reminded that they are not allowed inside the park or on the trails. Comfort pets are not allowed but working medical dogs must have their vest and paperwork. You still have to remind the visitors that alligators do not care if the animal is working or not.
- About 15 to 20 minutes before the closing time you have to ride down the main trail to move the visitors towards the doors and remind everyone in the picnic area and boating areas that the gates will be closing soon. Keep a count of how many people are left then you can wait at the entrance and count them down as they leave.
- Once everyone is gone, clean and restock the bathrooms, check the garbage cans, less than half leave otherwise empty, pick up trash around the park.
There are other duties that you can and should do like cleaning all the outdoor signs, riding around the trails a couple of times a day just to check on things, etc. You do not have to mow, trim or maintain any of the equipment. A few times I had to plunge out the toilets. There is a whole routine you go through when people rent the screened-in pavilion. More on that from the secretary.
We really enjoyed our time in the park and would definitely go back there if my mom was in better health and we had another self-contained RV. So, give the park a call and go on by and check it out. If you don’t want something quite so popular they do have another placement at Falling Creek Falls county park located closer to White Springs, Florida.
Address: 953 NW Falling Creek Rd, Lake City, FL 32055
Phone: (386) 719-7545
Another county park that Columbia is trying to create a workamp site and position is at Rum Island Springs Park located in the southern portion of the county. Currently, that park is closed due to flooding from the Santa Fe River. Being a workamper along one of the major rivers is a great experience but sadly, you may have to vacate the site during flood season. https://springsrus.com/things-to-do/springs/rum-island-spring-and-park So, keep this park in mind and check with the main office about this position as well.
If you know of places around Columbia County Florida that are good for workamping please use our CONTACT US form and let us know.
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