Where is Old Methuselah located?

Old Methuselah is a bald cypress in DeLeon Springs State Park, Florida. It's along the boardwalk near the spring run.

How old is Old Methuselah?

The tree is believed to be more than 1,000 years old. Loggers spared it in the 1930s because its trunk was hollow.

Why is Old Methuselah important?

It's one of Florida's oldest bald cypress trees and a living piece of history, showing how nature endures over centuries.

What can you do at DeLeon Springs State Park?

Visitors can walk the boardwalk, explore sugar mill ruins, see CCC buildings, and make pancakes at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill.

Is DeLeon Springs State Park accessible?

Yes. The boardwalk and most park areas are wheelchair- and stroller-friendly.

Old Methuselah DeLeon Springs State Park

If you want to meet a living landmark, the Old Methuselah bald cypress at DeLeon Springs State Park is it. This thousand-plus-year-old tree stands beside the spring run, hollow-trunked, wind-sculpted, and still throwing shade like only an elder can.

We found Old Methuselah on a quick walk along the boardwalk while exploring the park’s sugar-mill ruins and spring area. Even from the trail, the tree’s size and age stop you in your tracks.

Why Old Methuselah Matters

Ancient survivor: Local accounts put the cypress at well over a millennium old. Loggers spared it in the 1930s because the trunk was hollow.
Big numbers: Roughly a 35-foot circumference and about 100 feet tall — a true giant of Florida wetlands.
Living history: The tree has outlasted hurricanes, industry, and change around DeLeon Springs, making it a natural time capsule.

DeLeon Springs: A Quick Look

Beyond the tree, the park mixes nature and history: remnants of the nineteenth-century sugar mill, CCC-era structures from the 1930s, clear spring water, and easy boardwalks through cypress and oak. It’s a compact stop with a lot of story.

Photo Walk

We visited Old Methuselah during a road trip and looped the boardwalk for views from several angles.

Informational panel display about Civil War-era sugar production at Spring Garden, featuring illustrations and text on sugar-making methods and notable historical figures.

Large vertical wooden water wheel at DeLeon Springs, attached to a rustic wooden mill structure with support beams and a surrounding fence, set against a grassy, sunlit backdrop.

Interpretive sign titled 'Sugar Mill Wheel' explaining the history of DeLeon Springs' iron water wheel used to grind sugar cane in the 1800s, including its destruction in a 1901 hurricane and survival as the last remnant of the original sugar mill.

Informational sign titled 'Sugar Mill Machinery' at DeLeon Springs, describing 1800s steam-powered sugar processing equipment donated by the Louisiana State Penitentiary, with historic illustration and photo of the machinery.

Outdoor display of historic sugar mill machinery, including gears and iron components arranged on gravel within a wooden enclosure, surrounded by trees and a grassy clearing at DeLeon Springs

Wooden interpretive sign titled 'Who Built the Eagle Nest?' explaining the Civilian Conservation Corps' 1930s construction of the Eagle Nest scenic overlook, set against a wooden fence with a small black-and-white image of CCC workers at the bottom.

Brick-lined circular fire pit set into a multicolored brick patio, surrounded by a wooden fence and adjacent to a metal-sided building at DeLeon Springs.

Interpretive sign titled 'Cypress Swamps' describing the ecosystem’s bald cypress trees, root structures, and wildlife including woodpeckers, with colorful illustrations and detailed ecological information.

Section of historic stone wall remains at DeLeon Springs, partially roped off and accompanied by an informational sign describing the site's sugar mill foundations, set in a grassy clearing under trees.

Large historical sugar mill gear system on display at DeLeon Springs, featuring two iron gears mounted on wooden beams, with an informational sign in front and a sheltering wooden pavilion in the background, surrounded by trees.

Fenced-off ruins of an 1850s–1870s sugar mill at DeLeon Springs with a sign reading: 'Sugar Mill Ruins. Florida law prohibits disturbing or removing anything from this site.

Tranquil path beside a reflective spring at DeLeon Springs, bordered by a wooden fence on one side and greenery on the other, with a bench and rustic cabin in the background under tall trees.

Footbridge spanning a sparkling spring-fed stream at DeLeon Springs, with people gathered near the railings, a small fountain or waterfall feature in the water below, and surrounding trees creating a lush, natural backdrop

Person relaxing on a wooden deck at DeLeon Springs with two leashed dogs—one sitting nearby and one cradled in their lap—surrounded by lush forest, with a rustic wooden railing and an unreadable park sign in the background.

Informational sign in a lush, wooded area titled 'Old Methuselah,' describing a cypress tree over 1,000 years old, spared during 1930s logging due to its hollow trunk, with dimensions including a 35-foot circumference and 100-foot height. Located at Old Methuselah DeLeon Springs State Park

Person standing on a wooden boardwalk in a lush forest at DeLeon Springs, holding a dog on a leash and reading a posted sign that says, 'Please do not feed the wildlife.'

Person in a red hat and shirt standing on a wooden deck surrounded by dense green foliage at DeLeon Springs, wearing colorful leggings and gazing into the lush woodland scenery.

Wooded area at DeLeon Springs with dense green foliage and a brown sign reading: 'ATTENTION: This area is a protected habitat. Please stay on the designated trails and do not disturb the wildlife.

Small dog standing alert on a wooden deck surrounded by trees and greenery, with a wooden bench and railing nearby, sunlight filtering through the forest canopy.

Know Before You Go

Location: DeLeon Springs State Park, Florida
Where to find the tree: Along the signed boardwalk near the spring run.
Entry fee: Collected at the gate; check the park website for current pricing and hours.
Accessibility: Boardwalks and interpretive areas are mostly wheelchair- and stroller-friendly.
Nearby highlights: Historic sugar-mill ruins and the make-your-own pancake spot at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill (check current operating status).

Why It’s Worth the Detour

Old Methuselah DeLeon Springs State Park isn’t just a tree; it’s a marker of deep time. Whether you’re chasing Florida history, photographing big trees, or building a quirky road-trip list, this stop delivers an easy win.

Planning more Florida detours? Browse our Things To Do in Florida for springs, ruins, roadside oddities, and quiet trails.

Spread The Weird!