Entry No. 20 — the Tampa file — filed under: secret_history
Sulphur Springs Water Tower (at River Tower Park)
Soaring 214 feet above the Hillsborough River, this 1927 Gothic Revival water tower with medieval-style battlements sits over a subterranean artesian spring. Developer Josiah Richardson mortgaged his fortune to build it for his tourist resort and alligator farm, only for a catastrophic 1933 dam burst flood to destroy his businesses and leave the tower standing as a monumental relic of financial ruin.
The story
In 1927, developer Josiah Richardson had a grand scheme for Sulphur Springs: a tourist resort featuring an alligator farm, an arcade, and mineral baths along the Hillsborough River. To create enough water pressure for his development, he didn't settle for a basic utility tank. He poured a 214-foot Gothic Revival tower fitted with medieval battlements, sinking its reinforced concrete foundation 45 feet down into the limestone over a subterranean artesian spring. He mortgaged his entire personal fortune to finance the build.
The gamble lasted six years. In 1933, the Tampa Electric dam upstream collapsed during a heavy flood, unleashing a wave down the river that tore through Richardson's resort, destroyed his attractions, and wiped out his finances in a single afternoon. The tower, anchored nearly five stories deep into rock, barely flinched. It stood untouched in the debris while the rest of his enterprise washed away into ruin.
Nearly a century later, the 21-story monolith still looms over the riverbanks of River Tower Park. It stands as a surreal monument to 1920s Florida land speculation and sudden financial collapse—a towering piece of medieval castle architecture standing watch over a spring.
What it's like
River Tower Park is a simple, low-key green space along the Hillsborough River where neighborhood locals come to fish and walk along the bank. You can't climb the tower—a chain-link fence keeps visitors off the concrete base—but standing directly beneath 214 feet of sheer battlements gives you a dizzying sense of its scale. Pack a picnic for late afternoon; sitting on the grass as dusk falls beneath its massive shadow is the best way to experience the weird grandeur of the site.
The move: Pack a late-afternoon picnic for River Tower Park to stand directly beneath the 21-story concrete battlements along the riverbank as dusk falls.
- 📍 Sulphur Springs, Tampa
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 401 E Bird St, Tampa, FL 33604
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Tiger Dust — Follow up the concrete monument in Sulphur Springs with Seminole Heights' strange cabinet of taxidermy, occult books, and free pinball.
- Memorial Park Cemetery — Continue exploring Tampa's quiet, overlooked history at this 20-acre historic African American cemetery three miles south.
- The Castle — Pair a daytime visit to a 1920s Gothic Revival water tower with Ybor City's iconic multi-level gothic nightlife sanctuary.
Good to know
Can you climb inside the Sulphur Springs Water Tower?
No. The interior is locked and the base is fenced off to prevent trespassing and climbing.
Why was a Florida water tower built with medieval battlements?
Developer Josiah Richardson styled it in Gothic Revival architecture so it could serve as a visual landmark and decorative centerpiece for his planned resort complex.
How deep is the tower's foundation?
The tower's base extends 45 feet into the ground to anchor it over the artesian spring.
What happened to the resort that used to be here?
A catastrophic 1933 dam burst flooded the Hillsborough River, destroying the resort buildings and alligator farm while leaving the tower standing.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: tampa.gov · Wikipedia · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21