Lost and forgotten, abandoned places in Florida have always intrigued me. Partly, this is due to the allure of forbidden attractions, but the stories these places tell never cease to amaze me. The Sulphur Springs Water Tower holds a fascinating history of failed businesses, things that once were, and a tragedy that caused one man to lose everything. The story takes us all the way back to the Roaring Twenties. 

Josiah S. Richardson was a developer and a realtor with a big vision to build up the area of Sulphur Springs. Many ideas included an alligator farm, a spa, and business ventures. In 1927, the water tower was constructed to provide proper water pressure to the area. The man hired to erect a 214-foot-tall structure was a contractor named Grover Poole. It is believed that he was also the one who designed it, which is brilliantly crafted to look like a Gothic-style medieval tower.

The Roaring Twenties held much growth for the Tampa Bay area and so the business ideas seemed like a safe bet to Richardson. Unfortunately, an unforeseen tragedy struck in 1933. A hurricane came through in September of that year and brought about one of the biggest floods the area had ever seen. The devastation and damage left the dreams of this investor broken. Unable to pull together enough finances to rebuild, he sold what was left. 

Through the changing of a couple of hands, the tower still supplied water to the area though it was privately owned. That all changed in 1971 when the city of Tampa forced the pumping to cease in order to maintain its monopoly on providing water to the area.  

The tower is certainly an eye-catching attraction and something you wouldn’t expect to find in Tampa. This mysterious structure brings to mind fairytales or European conquests of the Dark Ages. So naturally many have tried to utilize it for various purposes over the decades ranging from drive-in movie theaters to apartment complexes. Each business attempt failed as if there was a curse placed on the tower. 

To this very day, the twenty-one-story structure stands as a landmark in the Sulphur Springs area. Despite it not being in operation the tower still serves a purpose. This glorious landmark stands as the proud centerpiece of the River Town Park. So you can visit this site to enjoy the views. There were lights installed so even at night you can witness this landmark illuminate on the darkest of nights. The park also hosts concerts in the park, which gives plenty of reasons to see this historic structure.

Abandoned places in the Sunshine State don’t all have to be creepy haunted houses but they all tell a story. Whatever the story may be the history of places left and long forgotten fascinates me. So certainly enjoy the tower but you should know there are plenty of other abandoned places in Florida to explore. If you do happen to love the spooky side of the city check out this Ybor City Ghost Tour while you are in town…if you dare…