Shangri-La Springs: From Officer’s Club to Community Treasure

Tucked along the edges of Merritt’s Mill Pond, Shangri-La has been a quiet witness to decades of Jackson County history. Now, after years of planning, the spring-fed retreat is stepping into a new chapter with major renovations nearly complete.

Shangri-La is one of several natural springs feeding into Merritt’s Mill Pond, the 202-acre spring-fed reservoir northeast of Marianna. The pond’s lifeblood comes from Jackson Blue Spring, a first-magnitude spring that pumps tens of millions of gallons of crystal-clear water each day. Shangri-La, though smaller, has long captured the imagination of locals and visitors alike, alongside other well-known spring features such as Twin Caves, Indian Wash Tub, and Hole-in-the-Wall.

For many longtime residents, Shangri-La carries memories beyond its natural beauty. In the 1950s, during the heyday of Graham Air Force Base, the site was transformed into a lively officer’s club. The club drew servicemen, their families, and guests to dance, swim, and celebrate under the North Florida skies. What many assumed to be a sidewalk was, in fact, a concrete dance floor, with a towering palm tree rising through its center, a centerpiece for evenings of music and camaraderie.

Claude Reese of Greenwood once recalled the club’s vibrant layout, offering a glimpse into a chapter of Shangri-La’s past that still lives in community memory.

For decades, Shangri-La remained mostly hidden, accessible only by a rugged trek through the woods. That inaccessibility made it a popular destination for thrill-seekers willing to make the hike, but it also left the spring underutilized.

Today, that has changed. A new boardwalk now leads directly to the spring, inviting families, tourists, and locals to enjoy its cool waters without the long hike. While most of the boardwalk is now open to the public, officials are temporarily restricting access to upper areas of the site due to safety concerns. Some visitors have attempted to leap from cliffs more than 40 feet high into narrow pools below, a practice the county strongly discourages.

Deputy County Administrator Rett Daniels said the next phase includes constructing a pavilion, upgrading parking, and improving access from Blue Springs Highway. These additions will allow Shangri-La to serve not only as a recreational spot, but also as a venue for weddings, birthdays, reunions, and other community gatherings.

“This project has been in the works for many years, and we’re glad to see it finally coming to fruition,” Daniels said.

For generations, Jackson Blue Springs has been a staple of summertime fun in Marianna. With Shangri-La’s rebirth, the area gains a new centerpiece that blends history with modern accessibility. From its days as a military officer’s club to its reemergence as a family-friendly community space, Shangri-La’s story is one of resilience, recreation, and renewal.