PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- Fort Gates Ferry connects Putnam County to the Ocala Forest, when it is work. During Hurricane Irma its loading ramp was destroyed and the ferry has been down since.
"We're out of business, Shut down since the hurricane," Richard Hackett said.
Richard and Cathy Hackett and Dale Jones operate the ferry and have been waiting on the county to rebuild the ferry's ramp.
"We get calls every day asking if the ferry is working," Jones said.
Gates Ferry has been around since the 1800s. Hollywood greats like Paul Newman have used it but these days the ferry is going nowhere.
"we carry six to 25 cars a day," Jones said.
The ferry travels a mile across the St. Johns River, between Putnam County and the Ocala Forest. The ten dollar fare saves drivers a 50-mile trip.
"We need to get somebody on the ball," Hackett said.
Why is it taking the county so long to restore the landing to Fort Gates Ferry? How long will it be closed to the public?
"They ain't doing anything," Hackett said. "We can't get any answers."
On Your Side reached out to County Administrator Terry Suggs for answers, so far no response.
The Hacketts said the county received a bid to rebuild Fort Gates Ferry Landing, but it was too high and it was rejected.
"We can't hold out much longer," said Richard Hackett,"we're going to have to do something to this place."
This rich part of Putnam County's history is sitting in the water, in limbo.
The Hacketts say their contract with the county runs until 2024 and it requires the county main the road as well as the landing to the ferry.
They want the county to keep its end of the contract, if it doesn't they will be forced to close their business.