Day 4 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

For our day 4 of our 2025 summer of travel we had a leisurely morning at the campsites. Later in the morning, we took a drive to Palatka. We drove for miles with the Ocala National Forest on both sides of the road. We came to a steep grade in the road. We were going over the Cross Florida Barge Canal. Us west coast Florida people say " a barge canal in Florida?"

Yes, parks and park projects were built in the New Deal era by the Civilian Conservation Corps. New Deal funding for the canal ran out within three years. Local critics insisted that the canal would disrupt Florida’s aquifer and waterways. National opposition grew in response to claims that the project was a waste of taxpayer money and of limited value to people outside of Florida.

But hope for the canal had yet to run out completely. During World War II, German submarines threatened Florida’s coasts and shipping lanes. During World War II, Congress modified the former sea-level canal project into a lock and dam shallow-draft canal along the same route as the original sea-level project. After the war, rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union intensified. Canal boosters pointed to project as an asset to national security and rehashed old arguments in its favor. Construction resumed in 1964, with President Lyndon B. Johnson presiding at the groundbreaking in Palatka, Florida.

However, the canal was ultimately not to be. There was a new surge of environmental awareness in the 1960s, and major opposition to the canal emerged. Heading a group called the Florida Defenders of the Environment, activist Marjorie Harris Carr appealed to President Richard Nixon and issued legal challenges to construction. Nixon stopped the project in 1971, ending a long-held but never-realized dream. Over the next decade continued legal battles ensued and the political momentum for the project waned. Congress eventually deauthorized the project in 1990. With the canal only about one-third complete, the land that had been secured for its path sat in limbo. So, what to do with the largest unfinished public works project in history? Turn it into a greenway and name it after the activist that halted the project, The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.

Its about 20 miles into Palatka from the park. Palatka, Florida is known for its history as a river port, its abundant outdoor recreational opportunities, and its rich cultural heritage. It's particularly famous for Ravine Gardens State Park. We will check that out on our next visit. The town's annual festivals like the Florida Azalea Festival and the Blue Crab Festival are big draws. Palatka was a major port on the St Johns River, playing a crucial role in transportation and commerce, particularly during its "golden age" from 1865 to 1895. 

The St Johns River is special because it's the longest river, 310 miles, in Florida and it's a significant recreational and economic resource. It's known as the "Bass Fishing Capital of the World" and is home to diverse fish species and wildlife. The St Johns River is one of the few rivers in the U.S. that flows north, adding to its uniqueness. The river also supports a major deep-water port in Jacksonville. 

We enjoyed a simple lunch at Sonic in Palatka. Charlie got Jim to a place that serves the hot dogs he loves! No pictures! But, it was a great day to sit outside and enjoy a meal with friends!

Along 19 in Rodman, is the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch. The Florida Good Sam's used to go there for Samborees. Ernie & Debbie Evans still have a bluegrass festival here. It was founded in 1950 by Homer Rodeheaver. Is the accumulation of a dream by an orphaned boy.  Homer’s mother died when he was only eight years and this created a lifelong desire to help other young boys who experienced the loss of a parent. Homer, known as Rody to his friends, and Billy Sunday were the most famous revival team of the early 20th Century.  

Rody and his brothers founded The Rodeheaver Publishers of Sacred Music in Chicago.  By 1912, they expanded into Philadelphia and then by 1938 merged with Hall-Mack Publishing Company.  A branch office was opened in Los Angeles with the symbol of the firm being a rainbow arched over a line of musical notes based upon Rody’s theme song, “Every Cloud Will Wear A Rainbow If Your Heart Keeps Right.” Rody is credited with starting the American custom of Easter Sunrise Services.  He continued to share his lifelong dream of helping needy boys in a warm, healthy Christian environment with influential businessmen.

During his revival tours, he came across Rodman, a small town near Palatka, Florida.  He started purchasing large tracts of land with the eventual goal of setting aside a portion of the land for his boys ranch.  Rody established a very profitable cattle, timber, and sawmill operation on the rest of the land. Initially named Rainbow Ranch after his music publishing company, it was eventually named Rodeheaver Boys Ranch.  Five years after Rody had realized his dream of establishing a Christian environment for needy boys, he died.

Today, the ranch sits on 800 acres of pristine land on the beautiful St. Johns River and it continues Rody’s dream of providing a safe haven for needy boys in a Christian environment. It provides a wholesome home environment with a program for social, educational, vocational, and spiritual development for boys who are at-risk or disadvantaged due to poverty, home insecurity, parental death, desertion, divorce, or other issues with the legal parent or guardian that are no fault of the child.

They exist because they know families sometimes struggle and believe boys need strong role models in their lives. “It’s Better to Build Boys than to Mend Men” is the Ranch motto and is just as relevant in our society today as it was in 1950 when this phrase was used by their founder, Homer Rodeheaver.  

Stay tuned to our Two Lane Adventures as we move to St Augustine, Florida tomorrow!