道(dao)(dao)觀(guan)創(chuang)建于(yu)唐朝(chao)天寶年(nian)間(jian)(742-756年(nian)),是時武(wu)夷山(shan)仙靈之說吸引大批高(gao)士(shi)(shi)來此(ci)隱居修(xiu)煉(lian)。會稽女冠(guan)孔氏、莊(zhuang)氏、葉(xie)氏(后人(ren)(ren)稱三(san)(san)皇(huang)(huang)元君(jun))結(jie)伴來武(wu)夷修(xiu)煉(lian),后皆結(jie)茅于(yu)桃(tao)源(yuan)(yuan)洞,并開發成(cheng)一(yi)方(fang)避(bi)(bi)世(shi)隱居的樂土,桃(tao)樹成(cheng)林(lin)。宋儒(ru)陳石堂(tang)(tang)、高(gao)士(shi)(shi)吳(wu)正(zheng)理也曾居此(ci)煉(lian)養著(zhu)述,道(dao)(dao)教南宗(zong)五(wu)祖白玉蟾(chan)真(zhen)人(ren)(ren)也隱居桃(tao)源(yuan)(yuan)煉(lian)丹。元朝(chao)時擴建劉文簡祠、三(san)(san)元庵,主奉三(san)(san)官大帝、劉文簡公等(deng)(deng)神像。明(ming)朝(chao),桃(tao)源(yuan)(yuan)道(dao)(dao)觀(guan)已遠近聞名,是武(wu)夷山(shan)主要道(dao)(dao)觀(guan)之一(yi)。當時修(xiu)建了(le)三(san)(san)清殿(dian)(dian)、三(san)(san)皇(huang)(huang)元君(jun)殿(dian)(dian)、三(san)(san)官殿(dian)(dian)、真(zhen)武(wu)殿(dian)(dian)、娘(niang)娘(niang)殿(dian)(dian)、功德(de)祠等(deng)(deng)殿(dian)(dian)堂(tang)(tang),殿(dian)(dian)堂(tang)(tang)占地(di)面(mian)積有二千(qian)多(duo)(duo)平(ping)方(fang)米,修(xiu)真(zhen)高(gao)道(dao)(dao)多(duo)(duo)選此(ci)地(di)居之;明(ming)吳(wu)拭《小桃(tao)源(yuan)(yuan)洞訪(fang)道(dao)(dao)人(ren)(ren)》詩云∶「……,窮(qiong)源(yuan)(yuan)有古村,二三(san)(san)避(bi)(bi)世(shi)客;避(bi)(bi)世(shi)非(fei)避(bi)(bi)秦(qin),棲心煉(lian)精魄;春田自耕割,衣食無需索;風(feng)動棕花落(luo),雨過(guo)藥苗(miao)摘(zhai)。」道(dao)(dao)觀(guan)經(jing)過(guo)清朝(chao)衰(shuai)微破(po)落(luo),已有多(duo)(duo)處殿(dian)(dian)堂(tang)(tang)倒塌。民國(guo)二十五(wu)年(nian)(1936年(nian)),著(zhu)名華僑(qiao)胡文虎先生偕(xie)同海軍司令薩鎮冰先生來此(ci)朝(chao)山(shan)游玩,見(jian)道(dao)(dao)觀(guan)破(po)爛不堪,胡先生當場捐贈五(wu)百(bai)大洋作(zuo)為(wei)重修(xiu)資(zi)金,并一(yi)同題(ti)寫「小桃(tao)源(yuan)(yuan)」匾額掛于(yu)山(shan)門上。道(dao)(dao)觀(guan)經(jing)過(guo)「文革」破(po)壞(huai),只剩下中間(jian)一(yi)座殿(dian)(dian)堂(tang)(tang)空(kong)殼。
1990年(nian),桃源道(dao)觀(guan)(guan)獲批準為(wei)對外(wai)開放宮(gong)觀(guan)(guan)。福建省宗(zong)教(jiao)局對道(dao)教(jiao)重(zhong)(zhong)振十分重(zhong)(zhong)視(shi),并介紹(shao)三名從中國道(dao)教(jiao)學院(yuan)畢(bi)業的福建省籍道(dao)士(shi)到武夷山桃源道(dao)觀(guan)(guan)開展教(jiao)務工(gong)作,把桃源道(dao)觀(guan)(guan)列(lie)為(wei)該省重(zhong)(zhong)點宮(gong)觀(guan)(guan)之一。1991年(nian),住(zhu)觀(guan)(guan)道(dao)士(shi)對大(da)殿內(nei)部進行(xing)整(zheng)修,并用(yong)閩(min)北(bei)珍貴(gui)木杉---紅(hong)豆(dou)杉雕(diao)刻了三清道(dao)祖(zu)圣像(xiang),像(xiang)高二米一五,雕(diao)刻精細;裝配紅(hong)豆(dou)杉供桌、銅(tong)香(xiang)爐、燭(zhu)臺(tai)和(he)宗(zong)教(jiao)用(yong)品(pin),開展正常宗(zong)教(jiao)活(huo)動。
1993年,道觀(guan)根據省人民政府頒布的《福建(jian)省宗教(jiao)活動(dong)場所登記暫行(xing)規定》,經(jing)核(he)準給(gei)予登記發證,道教(jiao)文化活動(dong)全面(mian)開展。1995年7月(yue),桃源道觀(guan)和(he)武夷山景(jing)區籌集資金刻制了世界目前最大老君(jun)巖雕,并于1996年3月(yue)4日舉行(xing)盛大開光(guang)(guang)大典,中國道協、省、地、市(shi)領導主(zhu)持(chi)了開光(guang)(guang)儀(yi)式(shi),海內(nei)外信眾三千多人參加了開光(guang)(guang)盛典。老君(jun)圣像(xiang)高十(shi)(shi)六米,寬(kuan)十(shi)(shi)一米,厚十(shi)(shi)米;造像(xiang)逼(bi)真莊嚴,神態和(he)藹可親,線條暢然,灑(sa)脫自在,超然物(wu)外。
桃(tao)源洞道觀(guan)重(zhong)修面積占地約為六千(qian)多平方米,主殿(dian)(dian)有(you)三(san)清殿(dian)(dian)、玉皇殿(dian)(dian)、靈官殿(dian)(dian)、山(shan)門(中(zhong)軸部(bu)份(fen))組(zu)成(cheng),左右配殿(dian)(dian)有(you)三(san)皇元君殿(dian)(dian)、真(zhen)武殿(dian)(dian)、三(san)官殿(dian)(dian)、藏經閣等殿(dian)(dian)堂組(zu)成(cheng)。有(you)道教徒開展道務和(he)(he)修真(zhen)之(zhi)殿(dian)(dian)房,也有(you)培(pei)養道教人(ren)才和(he)(he)宣(xuan)傳道教文化之(zhi)場所。1995年桃(tao)源道觀(guan)和(he)(he)武夷山(shan)景區籌集(ji)資金刻制了(le)世界目(mu)前(qian)最大老(lao)君巖雕(diao)。
俗(su)話說:「山上白(bai)草皆(jie)為藥」,武(wu)夷山人經過(guo)長期實踐,總(zong)結了筍多利用草藥治病的膳食方法。如:「八珍(zhen)燉(dun)(dun)(dun)兔(tu)肉」,其八珍(zhen)為黨參、白(bai)術(shu)、茯苓、芏草、川芎、當(dang)歸、白(bai)芍、熟地(di)等。又如,栗(li)(li)加糖清(qing)(qing)燉(dun)(dun)(dun)能清(qing)(qing)涼治眩暈;栗(li)(li)加蹄清(qing)(qing)燉(dun)(dun)(dun)能補(bu)(bu)(bu)胃健脾養精(jing)神(shen);栗(li)(li)加肉清(qing)(qing)燉(dun)(dun)(dun)清(qing)(qing)涼降治氣管炎;栗(li)(li)帶殼蒸熟補(bu)(bu)(bu)氣強身潤膚生精(jing);野毛(mao)栗(li)(li)生吃能止小(xiao)兒半夜盜汗,蓮子(zi)心(xin)可清(qing)(qing)心(xin)火。紅(hong)菇(gu)(gu)祛(qu)風去濕(shi)。香菇(gu)(gu)浸酒消腫(zhong)風。農家家膳、進補(bu)(bu)(bu)匡(kuang)節宴(yan)的菜肴還有(you)多種:即甲(jia)魚燉(dun)(dun)(dun)當(dang)歸、豬(zhu)干(gan)煮枸杞、紅(hong)菇(gu)(gu)燉(dun)(dun)(dun)番鴨、紅(hong)菇(gu)(gu)煮螃蟹、清(qing)(qing)燉(dun)(dun)(dun)童子(zi)雞、肚包雞、雞包雞、鴿(ge)包參。