Another Sinkhole In The Villages Causes Road Closures

The Villages have been making headlines a lot in recent years and not just for their color-coded loofas. Over the last few years, many sinkholes have opened up within the community causing problems. This past weekend, another sinkhole in The Villages caused the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office to take action.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office took to Facebook to announce what was going on with The Villages. They said, “The roadway on Southern Trace between Williams Rd and Woodridge Dr in The Villages will be closed until further notice due to a sink hole. Sumter County Sheriff's Office, Sumter County FD, and Road Department are on scene at this time.”

This isn’t the first time sinkholes have popped up in The Villages. Back in 2002, there were sinkholes plaguing the community. There were over 13 sinkholes that developed in a retention pond off Higgins Lake on a golf course in the villages.

Many of the residents back in the early 2000s worried for the safety of their homes. One resident came back late on a Sunday evening and said, “I just came in last night from the airport at nine o’clock and found a couple of yellow notes on the door that said ‘Don’t go into the back yard you’ve got sinkholes.’ Well, we’ve always got sinkholes out in the pond, but I turned on the floodlight and there was one in my backyard.”

Fast forward to June 2023, and sinkholes in The Villages are still a problem. Roads closed in front of the recreation area in the community for a sinkhole that swallowed up the landscaping. The hole was approximately 10 feet deep.

Florida is a breeding ground for Sinkholes. Ever heard of the legendary I-4 sinkhole? The heavy rainfalls in the rainy season combined with periods of drought and the low elevation make it easier for sinkholes to form.

So, why did this Sinkhole In The Villages form? Sinkholes begin when the ground cannot support the weight of what is above ground. With the rapid growth of many areas throughout Florida, sinkholes may happen more and more.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection, sinkholes are not a hole in the rock below. These sinkholes are just what we see on the surface. The cavity or void in the rock below takes hundreds of thousands of years to actually form. 

Soil from the ground above moves into the cavity (void) in the rock. ‘Sticky’ soil can cause voids to form in the soil. In just a few days to years, more and more soil washes down and the void rises to the surface. This is when it collapses and the sinkhole forms.

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office has not yet given an update on the Sinkhole In The Villages. For more information on the road closure in The Villages, you can contact the SCSO at 352-793-2621.

Florida is known for its beautiful beaches and resorts. After all, Florida is the Sunshine State. But, if you're looking for some more underrated, and less busy, Florida beaches, then you also have some options. The major beaches are often filled with tourists, so finding some of the more underrated Florida beaches may be just what you need for a quiet getaway.

Before we get to the most underrated Florida beaches to visit, let's talk about the amazing water areas that Florida has to offer. Florida is one of the boating and fishing capitals of the world. As VisitFlorida.com points out, the state has more than 7,700 lakes, 11,000 miles of rivers, 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline and has been home to more than 900 world fishing records. That tops any other state or even country. How wild is to to think that Florida has created more fishing records than even any other country? It shows just how rich the state is when it comes to our water.

Florida also has more than 700 freshwater springs, and 27 are classified as first-magnitude springs, which is more than any other state. A few other special things about Florida is that John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on Key Largo was America's very first underwater state park. Also, the fishing village of Cedar Key is known for having the best clam chowder in America. So, if you have a craving for clam chowder, that's the place to go.

A separate article from VisitFlorida.com notes that Florida beaches are known for being very clear, but "it varies from week to week, and even from day to day depending on the amount of sunlight, the temperature, the amount of rainfall, the wind speed and direction, water currents and surf." They add that Florida has some very clear and beautiful beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and on the Atlantic Ocean. For clear water ost days, try "northwest Florida beaches in and around Panama City Beach, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Pensacola; southwest Florida beaches on Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Siesta Key."

I love that fact that you can enjoy Florida beaches any time of the year. I mean, contrary to what people outside of the state think, it can get cold here in the winter. But, it's rarely too cold to sit on the beach with a sweatshirt on and watch the sunset. Read on for underrated Florida beaches to get on your radar.

Fort Myers Beach still has a good amount of damage from the hurricane, but Margaritaville is open, so you'll find plenty to do there. Situated on Estero Island, Fort Myers Beach is one of the state's most underrated beaches. At Fort Myers Beach, you'll find beautiful, white-sand beaches and gorgeous sunsets.

Make sure to visit Siesta Key here, as well as Sarasota Gay Beach and Crescent Beach. Just south of Tampa Bay, Sarasota is a lovely beach town that is especially popular during the holidays. You'll find lots of local shopping opportunities here.

St. George Island State Park is located on a barrier island fronting the legendary Apalachicola Bay. It's a great place to gaze at the stars. Note that starting March 1, 2025, the campground at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park will be closed for an expansion project.

If you head to Santa Rosa Beach and want to find some really special, and secret, beaches, try Blue Mountain Beach and Grayton Beach State Park. This beach town is less crowded than most, which makes it a low-key getaway.

Pensacola Beach is located on a 40-mile barrier island, Pensacola Beach, and has beautiful, translucent waters. It's a really small town, so it's much less crowded than other beaches. It's a hidden gem.

If you don't want to go too far, do some digging and visit one of the closest beaches to you, that you haven't visited yet. This is one of my favorite things to do. Maybe you'll find a new favorite beach super close to home.