Archaeological evidence indicates that people have been using this spring for nearly 10,000 years. Rainbow Springs is Florida's fourth largest spring and, from the 1930s through the 1970s, was the site of a popular, privately-owned attraction.

The area surrounding the park has been inhabited by human cultures for at least 10,000 years.
People we now call the Timucua lived here at the time of European contact. The city of Ocala is
named after a nearby Timucuan village and chief called Ocale.

Pioneers first settled the headsprings in 1839. By 1883, about 75 people lived in this agricultural
community, which had a railroad station, sawmill, hotel, stores and a post office.