I wanted to rediscover Cross Creek and had the opportunity to leave the busy I-75 and headed southeast from Micanopy on Route 326 towards Cross Creek. Being the tail end of the winter season, this north central Florida area was brown with drought, and the creeks and lakes were drained dry. After passing the Cross Creek town sign, I quickly reached The Yearling Restaurant.
The Yearling Restaurant is open Thursdays through Sundays and their menu offers local cuisine such as Frog Legs, Alligator, Cooter, Quail and Venison. Staples of the Florida Crackers back in the turn of the century.
There is no true town in Cross Creek, but rather Cross Creek is a small community where Orange Lake and Lochloosa Lake are connected by a stream. One quickly arrives to the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park with ample parking. Guided tours are offered for the home of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and required to participate if you would like to enter the home. Outside, there is an interpretive exhibit with a working barn, tenant house, gardens, and trails. Chickens and ducks wander the yard, well accustomed to visitors as they came to see if I had anything for them to eat.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is best known for her Pulitzer Prize winning work of The Yearling, written in 1938 and film produced in 1946 with Gregory Peck.
Her home at Cross Creek is the classic example of an old Florida Cracker home with wood framed walls and metals roofs. The Florida Crackers were dependent on the land for sustenance, the lifestyle used the hard labor of others for its success.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings lived in Cross Creek for 25 years and a history of her life can be seen in the 1983 movie with Mary Steenburgen “Cross Creek.”
Since I was visiting with limited time, I explored the grounds around the home and thought of the hardships these people had to endure. Florida weather is unforgiving with the high humidity and heat, mosquitoes, and palmetto bugs. While completely charming and romantic, these Cracker Homes can entice you to move in.
Categories: All about Hoofbeats & Footprints, Florida, Foot Prints
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
Great shots there.
Thank you so much!
It is calming just looking at the photos – I can’t imagine what it is like living there. Amazing.
Yes ! Beautiful but super hot and buggy in the summer months. Chilly in winter.
Fantastic shots!
Thank you so much Stephanie!
Love this post! As a Floridian and lover of “old Florida” (currently living in Washington state), these photos make my heart ache for home!
Hi Bonnie ! I’m so happy that I’ve been able to share some favorite places for you. However, I’m sure you’re not missing the mosquitos and palmetto bugs. Thank you so much for liking post and hope to see you back soon.
What great photos! I especially love the ones of the signs (I love signs), and the ones of the old barn. Reminds me of home, which is funny, because home is Michigan, so it just shows how classic Americana these shots are.
Hi LS ! I’m also a sign dork. Just love how it reminds me where I’ve been. Better than trying to rely on my memory. Thank you so much for enjoying my post and hope to see you back soon.
So beautiful! Thanks so much for posting. Good work. Greetings from Italy.
I’ve been there….loved the place. Loved her books. In the hammock across the road when I was there, I saw a great bird….it must have been a piliated woodpecker….but at the time, I wondered if I’d seen an ivory-billed. That would have been too fantastic.
I grew up in Florida, love going back to visit family, friends….and stop sometimes to walk on the Florida Trail. Next time you’re down there….check out the Florida Trail. FTA people are the greatest, too…..many hiking/trail friends there.
Rosie/mdhiker
Didn’t know you were from Florida Rosie ! So happy to see that you have discovered Hoofbeats & Footprints. Wish I had leisure time in Florida when I go, but now when I travel there it is strictly for business. Have a great day!
Cross Creek is on my list of places to explore. I hope I do as nice a job on it as you have!
I do hope you make it Starkwe! I’m sure you have a lot more time to visit than I had that day. I’ll be back in Hogtown at the end of the month, but only for a short visit.
Hi, I really liked the athmosphere in these pictures! 🙂
Thank you so very much! It really is a unique place and you feel as if you have stepped back in time.