Vortex for sale

[RebreatherPro.com]

Robert here. I could be wrong, but doesn't Vortex require constant dredging efforts to keep it clear and flowing? Isn't that pretty much what Eduardo does with all that pipe laying around in there? Paul and Jill said that the line ended way before the end point on the map because of the shifting sands that have filled in the small tunnels. There is more line that was laid a long time ago, maybe by Steve Keene and others, but they said it just disappears into the sand. Considering the drought conditions, I'd have some kind of engineering/hydrology study done before sinking any serious coin into this place. Remember Hornsby? Poe? White Springs? Etc...

[SuPrBuGmAn]

To keep the cave as easily passable as it is now, yes, it requires dredging.

Edd went beyond where Steve Keene and the original explorers went IIRC

Vortex is a natural 2nd magnitude spring, mostly just the passage size has been dredged out. The cave itself has never been a draw for the place. It flows on its own, but the pump house is used to affect the water level and control hydrostatic pressure in order to control just how much flow is issuing.

[a64pilot]

Only thing Vortex would have going for it that I can see, is you would own it, and could put carpet in the basin if you wanted to to keep the weeds down etc., although I'd bet that kind of thing is not as easy to do now as it once was. Other than that, there is no comparison at all with somewhere like the mill pond.
If there is a "sacrificial cave" it ought to be Vortex, because it's been ruined for years.

[RN]

There used to be carpet in there and it detracted from the place. I'm glad they got rid of it. The state wouldn't let the carpet go back in at this point anyway. While the Mill Pond is great for cave diving, there is nowhere in the Mill Pond to do open water training. The deepest part of the pond in open water is at the cave openings. At Jackson Blue you can get to about 15' right at the opening. At Twin you can get about 16'. At Hole in the Wall you can get about 14'. And all of those are in a very small area. Move away from the opening and you get shallower. So Vortex is a great place to conduct open water portions of class. I prefer Morrison if it's not blown out, but Vortex is a great backup when Morrison is blown out. I use both to conduct classes like Intro to Tech and OW sidemount. I also use both to do the first dive of cavern when my students are learning all of the new skills, as well as for the first dive or two of my decompression classes. The Mill Pond is not suitable for these dives, either by my personal standards or agency standards.

[GLM]

I think I saw today that the Dockerys bought it back.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

They didn't buy it back... it was never paid for(as in moneys paid out to the Dockery's after the sale) to begin with.

[GLM]

Back in their possesion and control I meant.

[Real1628]

I can confirm the Dockery family foreclosed and regained possession last Thursday. I talked to Connie and she is coming back as manager. We'll miss Joe but I guess there was a non-compete clause enforced. We'll be doing an article on FDC with more details in a couple weeks.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I think Connie has been back since Oct 1st? She was there last weekend during Vortoberfest, place was dead as nails though.

[Real1628]

I think Connie has been back since Oct 1st? She was there last weekend during Vortoberfest, place was dead as nails though.

Hey, missed you guys at Vortoberfest. It looks like a good time was had though. I'll be there again for Springfest. Like others here, I was sorry to hear Joe left but I think they plan to carry on and build the place up. It was fun in the old days and i think they know what they're doing.