Both my dad's family and my mom's family held reunions at Magnolia Springs State Park when I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s. It was quite an undertaking to be sure we had a picnic shelter for Labor Day weekend. In those days you couldn't reserve a picnic shelter; so someone in the family would go on Saturday and just hang out at a shelter all day, and another family member would come and stay all night so that we would have the shelter for the whole family on the following Sunday. We started having the reunions before the pool was built; so swimming was in the actual body of water where the springs were. There was a nice beach and no alligators, as there are now. We enjoyed walking around the park and playing on the playground. Several years ago my dad's family revived that gathering, but alas, it has lapsed again. Those reunion memories are very special!
