Wakulla County: Where Even the Dead Can’t Catch a Break

Every time we think Wakulla County has reached peak “Surely they won’t do that,” something from the archives taps us on the shoulder and whispers, “Oh honey… yes they did.”

Let’s revisit one of the most unintentionally comedic zoning sagas in recent memory:
The 2023 RV park that almost paved over history.

🪦 The Setup: A Cemetery Older Than the County Itself

At the intersection of US 98 and Spring Creek Highway sits the Richardson Family Cemetery, a biracial burial ground dating back to the 1850s. It contains early settlers, free people, and enslaved workers from nearby plantations. It’s on the local historic register. It’s maintained by the Historical Society. It has 170–200 known graves, many unmarked.

So naturally…

The BOCC approved a 171‑space RV park next door.

Pickleball courts included.

Source:
Tallahassee Democrat – “Wakulla the latest county in Florida to grapple with slave cemeteries”
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/07/wakulla-county-florida-grapples-with-slave-cemeteries-richardson/70760247007/ (tallahassee.com in Bing)

The Plot Twist: The Developer Already Knew

Earlier that year, the developer had already paid for a ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) survey. It found 26-28 suspected unmarked graves, right in the RV footprint. But that little detail didn’t surface until after the zoning approval. You cannot make this stuff up.

Source:
The Wakulla Sun – “Richardson Cemetery: 28 unmarked graves found on adjacent land; question is, are there more?”
https://www.thewakullasun.com/news/richardson-cemetery-28-unmarked-graves-found-on-adjacent-land-question-is-are-there-more/article_8f4d8e3e-0c9a-11ee-8f4e-3b6f6b5e7c0a.html (thewakullasun.com in Bing)

Residents scrambled to fund their own GPR.
The county scrambled to hold a special meeting.
Everyone scrambled except the one group that should’ve scrambled before approving anything.

The Outcome: Preservation Wins (For Once)

Shockingly, common sense made a cameo appearance.

The developer deeded about half an acre - the sensitive area with suspected graves - to the Historical Society for permanent protection. The RV park never materialized. No ribbon‑cuttings. No generator noise. No “my neighbor’s RV is leaking something weird.”

Instead, the focus shifted to restoring the cemetery: clearing trees, marking hidden graves, fixing fencing.

Source:
Wakulla News – “Historical Society continues restoration work at Richardson Cemetery”
https://www.thewakullanews.com/news/historical-society-continues-restoration-work-at-richardson-cemetery/article_6c0f1a3a-bf25-11ef-8c4d-4f8e2b7a9c1e.html (thewakullanews.com in Bing)

And This Isn’t Even the Only ‘You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me’ Moment

Wakulla has a pattern — and it’s not subtle.

2023: The Gas Station Near Wakulla Springs

A 16‑pump mega‑station proposed four miles from the springs. Residents revolted. DEP blocked stricter protections. People got escorted out of meetings.

Sources:
Tallahassee Democrat –
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2023/08/08/wakulla-county-gas-station-proposal-sparks-protests-over-wakulla-springs/70532982007/

WFSU –
https://news.wfsu.org/wfsu-local-news/2023-08-07/wakulla-county-commissioners-to-make-decision-on-controversial-rezoning-proposal

2025: Density Jumps on MLK Jr. Road / Cajer Posey

BOCC approved up to 5 units/acre on 48 acres. Residents begged for a pause. BOCC said “nah.”

Source:
WTXL –
https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/wakulla-county-commissioners-vote-yes-to-zoning-changes-at-monday-meeting

🚽 Ongoing: Septic-to-Sewer = Surprise Density Boosts

Residents consistently asking why growth keeps outrunning infrastructure. BOCC turning off social media to ignore. State laws easing rural development. Locals begging for sanity.

📚 The Pattern (AKA: Wakulla’s Greatest Hits)

1. Developer asks for more.

2. BOCC says yes.

3. Residents say “absolutely not.”

4. Chaos ensues.

5. Someone discovers a detail that should’ve been checked before the vote.

6. Everyone acts surprised.

The Richardson Cemetery saga is a reminder that vigilance works. Residents caught what the process missed. History got protected because people refused to shrug and move on. In short, they were paying attention!

What's Left of Wakulla’s charm is worth fighting for.

And apparently, we have to fight for it every single time.

Stay sharp, Wakulla!