Logging in Florida

[Ken]

I'm travelling to Disney with daughter her husband and my grandsons in April.  I think I know the answer after doing a bit of research but how far would I have to travel to see some logging operations?  Looks like quite a ways but I may be missing something.  Thanks for your input

[kiko]

Shouldn't have to travel far, there is huge paper mill  in Fernandina Beach called West Rock.  A call there may help arrange something.

[Riwaka]

Florida forest lands
https://fred.ifas.ufl.edu/DEStudio/html/Forestry/IFAS/Scope&Trends.html

Might ask the Tigercat etc dealers where to go
BTB 13: The Hodge Brothers | Tigercat   (WillistonTimber, Florida)

Ponsse for Hurricane cleanup
Officials From Ponsse North America Discuss Debris Removal Following Hurricane Michael in Washington County, Florida Using Specialized Logging Equipment - FosterFollyNews.com

[caveman]

I have a friend who does quite a bit of logging in Richloam which is off of hw 471.  It is not far from Disney.  It will be pine and in flatwoods.  Most of what they cut is either poles or it gets ground into mulch.  They do occasionally haul a load or two to pallet makers.

[florida]

There hasn't been any logging to speak of south of Orlando for 30 years that I know of.  When I first moved to southwest Florida in 1973 there was still some pulp being harvested and lots of pine stumps moving out on trains but I haven't seen either in many years. Up in north and northwest part of the state they do some pulpwood harvesting and I know of one mill up near Maxville on 301 that always has huge piles of cypress stacked around. 

[esteadle]

Not logging, but near Ocala (90-100 minutes north of Orlando on I75) there is an area of forest under active management called the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. While biking the trails there, I've come across some friendly Foresters who were burning off the fuel loads and needle litter that accumulates in these forests. 

Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway | Florida State Parks

They do this in the early spring when the weather is still cool and wet, and I'm not sure if you'd still catch them in operation, but when I was down there a month or so ago, there was some preparation taking place. 

If you want to see some prior managed areas from years past, check out the forest trails near the 49th Ave. Trailhead. 

See this map for more details: 
https://www.omba.org/maps/OMBA_Bike_Trails_Map_Nov_2017.pdf

Just to the east, there is a section marked 'Christmas Section' where about 5 years there was a clearcut followed by a burn, and active regeneration since. Very cool section for a nice walk. 

[ellmoe]

I have loggers in a swamp not far from the mill ( about 1 1/2 hours from Disney ). Not high tech , just "poor boy" logging , but some decent wood. Send me a PM if interested.

[Woodpecker52]

If you fly in notice the beautiful cypress stands still standing and not turned into mulch!,  Take a boat ride to the wilderness lodge and note how they used the cypress in the boardwalk and dock.  

[Woodpecker52]

Not in the boardwalk as lumber but as trees with all the Spanish moss hanging down.