FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. – With its sweltering summers, thick humidity, and outrageous hurricane season, some might be inclined to describe Florida as a “hellish” place to live.
Well, it turns out they’re not too far off base.
In Florida’s panhandle sits Tate’s Hell State Forest — a huge tract of marshlands, wooded areas and swamps that span over 200,000 acres.
Tate’s Hell is located in Franklin County between the Apalachicola and Ochlockonee rivers, and it plays host to a diverse array of flora and fauna.
Historically, the site was used to produce timber in the late 20th century, though the reason it’s so well known is thanks to its colorful moniker.
According to state officials, the story behind the forest’s name stems back to 1875, which is when a farmer by the name of Cebe Tate reportedly journeyed into the swamp bearing only a shotgun and his hunting dogs.
Tate was searching for a panther that had been killing his livestock, but he instead got lost in the dense swamp for over a week.
There are different versions of what transpired during Tate’s adventures in the swamp — suffering snakebites and drinking from turgid waters, for example — but all of the tales agree that the environment took a hefty toll on him.
Finally, after wandering lost through the forest, Tate stumbled across a couple of local passers-by near Carrabelle. When asked what had happened to him, Tate could only manage one line before dying on the spot.
“My name is Cebe Tate, and I just came from Hell!”
The tale was recounted by Florida singer Will McLean in his eponymous folk song, “Tate’s Hell.”
In this rendition of the legend, the panther killed Tate’s hunting dogs in the marsh, and the long hunt caused Tate to become disoriented in the forest. After being bitten by a snake, Tate’s leg turns green, resulting in Tate’s death at the end of the story.
Despite the morbid background, though, Tate’s Hell is nowadays open to the public, and it offers plenty of activities like biking, fishing, hiking and horseback riding.
Visitors can also camp in the forest, though it’s only allowed at designated campsites by permit from the Florida Forest Service.
It’s also an easy trip to make. A day pass for the state forest is only $2, and visitors can stay from sunrise to sunset.
Just be careful not to get lost — the FDACS provides an online map of the forest to help visitors navigate their way through the terrain.
For more information on Tate’s Hell, to purchase a pass, or to make a reservation, click here.
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