The Fountain of Youth: Uncovering Secrets of the Past ⋆

Everyone has heard of the mystical Fountain of Youth, but did you know you can actually visit and drink from it? Some links may be affiliate links, by clicking on them and/or making a purchase, I may make a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support and Safe Travels!

A mannequin in a suit of armor holds a white and red flag. He is placed next to a sign reading, " Welcome to America's First Colony" Fountain of Youth, There is a life-sized statue of a peacock in front of the sign.

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Exhibits

Admission & FAQs

The Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, Florida

While I am still grappling with my feelings on The Fountain of Youth being excited about colonizing America, I cannot argue against the history and education provided here. More than just a tourist trap, The Fountain of Youth is an outdoor museum teaching about Florida’s earliest history.

The Exhibits at The Fountain of Youth

The Spring House

A large stone sign reads, "The Fountain of Youth". There is a clay cistern with water running out of it. It is surrounded by rocks.

One of the first exhibits upon entering the grounds is The Spring House. This is where you can actually drink from “The Fountain of Youth”. Cups are provided and the water taste like good ol’ Florida water (which is actually not great at all). Having drank at the Fountain a month ago, I’m still waiting for my crows feet to disappear…

A woman in a dress bends slightly to fill a cup of water from a clay cistern.

Navigator’s Planetarium

The Planetarium has shows playing all day. Upon entering the FOY (Fountain of Youth) grounds, you will be handed a schedule of events. If you aren’t visiting during a show, there is still a small exhibit outside of the planetarium to see.

Timucaun Burials & Village

In an attempt to right the wrongs of the past, The Fountain of Youth Archeological Park has dedicated a building to the history of the excavation and reburials of the Timucaun People who once lived on this land. The inside portion is very interesting with plenty of reading about what happened as well as the below display.

Once you leave this building, the exhibit continues outdoors with ruins and recreations of a Timucaun village. There are also gardens featuring plants that are centuries old, as well as plenty of Spanish Moss.

A Spanish moss tree with a blue sky behind it. There are a few clouds in the sky.

The Blacksmith

Another exhibit with scheduled shows, the blacksmith’s shop is located in an open-aired building. While we were not there during an actual demonstration, there was still plenty to see.

Chalupa Boathouse

Visit the Boathouse to see the replica 1500’s Chalupa boat the FOY Park is rebuilding.

The Spanish Lookout

A watchtower is in the distance with palm trees dotting a blue sky.

A walk over to the Spanish Watchtower may put you in the direct path of a field trip. During my visit, a demonstration was happening for a class of children. The kids were setting off the cannons! This was extremely loud and while they did give a warning, it still made my daughter and I jump out of our skin.

The Fountain of Youth Founders Riverwalk

This area is tranquil (unless a nearby cannon is lit) and a long pier takes you to an overlook of the canal. We walked to the end of the pier thinking surely there would be something to see at the end, but alas, we were wrong, just the canal.

The Fountain of Youth Hours, Admission, Etc.

Hours

The Fountain of Youth Archeological Park is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

I visited around 11:00 AM on a Friday in November and had a lot of field trips to maneuver around, but very few crowds. We also had at least one wedding party rehearsing. They actually blocked more of the area than the children, but we weren’t bothered.

Admission

Tickets are required to enter the exhibits. While you can purchase ahead online, same day tickets MUST be purchased in person. Prices are as follows:

Ages 5 and Under- FREE
Ages 6-12- $9.95
Ages 12-60- $22.95
Ages 60+ – $20.95

Parking at The Fountain of Youth

The FOY is not a part of the main downtown St. Augustine area. You will need to drive or take some sort of transportation to get here. There are plenty of tours available, one of my favorites in other cities has been the Hop On/Hop Off tour. The address for the FOY is:

11 Magnolia Ave.
St. Augustine, FL 32084

You will turn in off the main road and then drive down a neighborhood for a bit. You will see the large archway (pictured below), drive through it to get to the parking area.

Food at the Fountain of Youth

Before you even need to purchase your tickets, you have access to an ice cream shop and Smoked Southern BBQ. Of course, there is also a gift shop with water for sale and restrooms.

A peacock is on grass. — One of many peacocks wandering the grounds

Looking for somewhere to stay in St. Augustine? Click here for hotels.

The Fountain of Youth: Uncovering Secrets of the Past