Florida's Hidden Turpentine Camps

Florida’s hidden turpentine camps are abandoned industrial sites where workers once tapped pine trees for resin, and you can still find their traces in public forests across the state. The camps operated from the late 1800s into the early 1900s, supplying turpentine for shipbuilding, paint, and medicine, before synthetic substitutes ended the boom. Today, the most accessible remnants lie in state and national forests, where old barrels, rusted tools, and building foundations survive along hiking trails.

What Were the Turpentine Camps?

Turpentine camps were temporary logging communities built around pine forests. Workers, often African American men under a sharecropping or convict-leasing system, made deep cuts in pine trunks to collect resin, then distilled it into turpentine and rosin. The work was brutal, with long hours, low pay, and dangerous conditions. By the 1930s, most camps had closed, leaving behind collapsed structures and scattered equipment.

1. Tate’s Hell State Forest

Tate’s Hell State Forest, in the Florida Panhandle, holds remnants of old turpentine camps within its dense forests. Look for the deep “catface” scars on longleaf pines—the V-shaped cuts made to channel resin—which still mark trees a century later.

2. Withlacoochee State Forest

Withlacoochee State Forest is home to several hidden turpentine camps. The Croom and Richloam sections have the most visible remains, including brick chimneys and iron kettles used for distilling resin.

3. Blackwater River State Forest

Blackwater River State Forest hides turpentine camp remnants along its trails. The Krul Lake area and the Jackson Red Ground Trail pass by collapsed sheds and rusted tools. Expect deep sand on the paths—it is part of the terrain that kept these camps isolated.

4. Ocala National Forest

Ocala National Forest has a history intertwined with the turpentine industry. The Paisley Woods Bicycle Trail and the Lake Delancy area contain concrete foundations and scattered metal drums. The forest’s sand pine scrub was a major source of resin, and you can still see the straight, tall trunks that were tapped.

5. Apalachicola National Forest

Apalachicola National Forest holds hidden turpentine camps in its remote areas. The Fort Gadsden Historic Site within the forest has evidence of both turpentine and timber operations, and the nearby Wright Lake area shows old railway grades used to haul resin out.

6. Osceola National Forest

Osceola National Forest is home to several hidden turpentine camps. The Mowilka and Olustee Battlefield areas have the clearest remnants, including metal cables and wooden platforms. The nearby Olustee Battlefield itself is a separate historic site—do not confuse the two.

7. Eglin Air Force Base Reservation

Eglin Air Force Base Reservation contains hidden turpentine camps. The base’s Jackson Guard office issues permits for recreational visits, but live-fire training zones are strictly off-limits. Call ahead to check access windows, as they change monthly.

8. Goethe State Forest

Goethe State Forest, in Levy County, has a history of turpentine production. The Black Prong Trail and the forest’s network of sand roads pass by old still sites, identifiable by brick fireboxes and charred soil. The forest also has a large population of gopher tortoises—watch where you step near their burrows.

9. Big Cypress National Preserve

Big Cypress National Preserve hides turpentine camp remnants. The Florida National Scenic Trail runs through the preserve and passes by several old camp sites, though flooding can make them inaccessible in the wet season (June–October). Canoeists on the Turner River can spot old timber and barrel staves along the banks.

10. Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park has a lesser-known history of turpentine camps. The park’s Pine Island and Long Pine Key areas have the most visible remains, including old fence posts and glass bottles. Access is only by foot or bike, and the limestone bedrock makes the trails rocky—not the typical swamp walk you might expect.

Discovering Florida’s Turpentine Camps

Florida’s hidden turpentine camps offer a glimpse into the state’s past. The remnants, from old tools to abandoned buildings, tell stories of a bygone era and reveal the hard work of those who lived and labored there. Visiting these sites provides a deeper understanding of Florida’s history beyond its beaches and theme parks. Whether you are a history buff or just curious, these camps are worth the detour. They remind us of the diverse heritage that shapes Florida today.