James Gamble started vacationing to the Halifax region in the 1880s and in 1894 he established a winter resident on the riverfront which was a Victorian home near the Halifax River. A wealthy man Gamble purchased a large tract of land in 1898 from George Leffman and 9 years later he constructed a Cracker Cabin deep in the woods. He could reach the cabin by traveling on Spruce Creek with his yacht "The Sea Breeze" or by horse and buggy. At a later time was a railroad which Gamble owned and he had a trestle built near here which later was dismantled. He called his property "Egwanulti" which is a Timucuan term which meant by the water.

The grounds surrounding the house had a 5 acre citrus grove and packing house. Gamble restored the house and added the residence to it so that a caretaker could maintain the property while he was away. The name of the caretaker was Rollie Johnson. Gamble eventually added on a gazebo, small outdoor stone pool, well and dock which was done to make his guest feel more comfortable. Some of them guest are very well known that visited here such as William Howard Taft, John D. Rockefeller, and H.J. Heinz. Quite amazing really that such a secluded place had such prominent guest.

In 1932 James Gamble passed away and his daughter Olivia inherited the land and the property along with his other daughter Maud and her husband Alfred K. Nippert which was a judge. Maud died in 1937 unfortunately which perhaps directed the outcome of the property and future. That same year Judge Nippert was infatuated with the Walt Disney animated cartoon called "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" so he designed a children's playhouse which was modeled like the Dwarf's Home. He also built the "Snow White Cottage" in what he called the Enchanted Forest which today perhaps has a similar setting to Snow White. We were not able to find the Snow White Cottage however we did find a cottage called the Sunflower Seed Cottage we feel that this perhaps was the playhouse since it was very small big enough only for dwarfs. Surrounding the cottage is a mine shaft, the dwarfs, Witch's Hut, and Rock Gardens. Walt Disney later on was a guest at the Gamble place. 

Over the years the property begin to deteriorate and soon became forgotten. In 1983 Gamble's heirs gave the land and house to the Florida Nature Conservancy which now is part of a preserve. The area is now operated by the Museum Of Arts And Sciences which are restoring the cracker house and area. Perhaps on our second investigation we will bring you some photos inside as there is so much to explore around here. Besides the Gamble house there is scenic trails that go for miles, a canoe launch, fishing docks, a look out building, packing house and then the Snow White's Cottage. So we do hope to return to do further explorations. The whole area almost has a mystical type of feeling. 

The area is also home to hundreds of native flora and fauna including many cypress trees, alligators, pileated woodpeckers, osprey, and many other types of wildlife. It is most likely there are wild boars, panthers, jaguars and black bear back in these woods also.  It really is a world of its own. At one time just to get to the house you had to cross a wooden bridge.  Today if you were to visit the Gamble House you would see a ranch with donkey's, goats and other animals as there is a ranch of some kind back here farther down the road at the dead end. 

One thing perhaps that captured my interest here is not so much the history but reading about how at one time the Timucuan Indians roamed these lands. It is most likely that they lived off the nearby creek and land since it was abundant with plants and animal life. But also the fact is that a local who was canoeing had a big cat sighting back here. I have been fascinated the last couple years in the paranormal connection of these phantom and big cats. Some say they are just very elusive animals others say that there phantoms or like bigfoot. But when I heard that a giant lion sized cat roams these woods I thought wow just to come face to face with such a beast would be the rush of a lifetime. Although our first investigation did not reveal signs of one there was a strange noise coming from the woods could it have been one of these large creatures? You decide!

The Gamble Place really captured my heart it felt like a cozy little cabin in the woods. I also feel that it is one of the more haunted hotspots in the area perhaps one of the most. You could actually see the ectoplasm, feel the cold spots and feel the dearly departed here very strongly unlike most places we visit. So we must ask the question that perhaps The Gamble Family's love for this beautiful area carried over in the afterlife or maybe they watch over it still. That at least was my impression on a psychic level of the area that James Gamble was still here. But also in my opinion it would seem that the entities here do not get alot of visitors back in the woods so perhaps they were just enthusiastic to see us. Nonetheless you can see from our first investigation many different photos of ectoplasm and strange mist surrounding different areas. So in my opinion besides the fact that we are one of  the first paranormal group to investigate this area it also is as strange today as the mysteries that surround it perhaps that is why James Gamble and his family fell in love with it and kept for over 80 years.

© By

Rick-AngelOfThyNight