FLORIDA STATE PARKS
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Information and Education
Room 613, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd. M.S. 535
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
805/488-9872
TDD 850/488-6563
Internet <www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/>
There are modern vacation cabins in many Florida parks, and primitive cabins in 2 state parks. Cabins can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. A deposit equal to a 2-night stay is required for confirmed reservations. Each extra vehicle is $2 a night. 0utside camping is not permitted in the cabin area.
Special Recreation Use Pass:
This pass can be used as an entrance pass, and covers activities such as boat launching, equestrian and diving. A family pass is valid for 4 persons. Individual passes are $40, family passes are $80, plus tax, per year. Passes are valid for one year from issuance. A 15-day vacation pass for all parks is only $25. Entrance passes are honored in all state parks except for Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park and Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier, but they offer a 33% discount. Passes may be purchased through any state park or by direct mail. Call 352/628-7002 for more information.
BAHIA HONDA STATE RECREATION AREA
Route 1, Box 782
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
305/872-2353.
The park lies on the skeleton of ancient coral reefs covered by beach, dune, coastal strand, hammocks and mangrove. The name of the park is Spanish for Deep Bay. The park is along the Overseas Highway, and is the southernmost Florida State recreation area. The warm climate offers year around recreation and great fishing. Bahia Honda has many plants that are found nowhere else on the islands, including satinwood, spiny catesbaea and dwarf morning glory. Look for white herons, egrets, ospreys, pelicans and terns. The park offers regular campfire fire programs, and guided walks. At the far end of Sandspur Beach is a nature trail, following the shore of a tidal lagoon, through the coastal strand. There are 6 cabins at the park, all furnished. The limit is 8 persons per cabin. Reservations accepted up to 6 months in advance. Calls for reservations accepted. Minimum 2 nights and maximum 7 nights. The cabins have 2 double beds, 1 sofa bed and 2 cots upon request. In addition, the cabins have central AC and heat, and boat accessibility.
Rates
Efficiency apartment: $50 year around.
Cabins from 12/15-9/14 $110.00
9/15-12/14 $85.00
BLUE SPRINGS STATE PARK
Star Route 3
Orange City, FL 32763
904/775-3663.
This park is located along the St. John’s River, in N Central Florida. For hundreds of years the Timucuan Indians lived at Blue Springs. The river and swamps and uplands are filled with game. In the 19th century, the area was a steamboat docking station, and you can still see the old riverboat pilings. The park is now noted for its swimming and canoeing, and the preservation of the manatee. Each winter these huge mammals gather in the 72-degree water at Blue Springs Run. Take a walk on the self-guided boardwalk through a hammock to Blue Springs, or fish in the St. John’s River. A ranger-guided canoe trip goes through sloughs and old logging canals. The historic Thursby House, built in 1850, shows life during the steamboat days; a tour of the house is fifty cents.
The park offers 6 furnished cabins, with linens and utensils provided. The cabins have AC, heat and a fireplace, but no fires allowed in the summer. Cabins are open year around. Each has 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom, screened porch, and outdoor grill. The living room sleeps 2.
Reservations more than 30 days in advance require 5 days minimum stay. Reservations less than 30 days in advance, 2 days minimum rental. Cabins rent for $50 a night. For reservations see Bahia Honda State Park. One cabin is equipped for the handicapped. Firewood is sold at the park.
CAYO COSTA STATE PARK
Box 1150
Boca Grande, FL 33921
941/964-0375.
Cayo Costa, one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands remaining in Florida, is located in the SW part of the state, and looks much as it did 500 years ago when the Spanish arrived. Many smaller islands and North Captiva Island are now part of the park. The features of the park include miles of beaches and dunes facing the Gulf of Mexico, pine forests and oak-palm hammocks in the interior, and mangrove swamps on the bayside of the islands. There are thousands of birds of different species on the island, including pelican rookeries, the largest in the state. Loggerhead sea turtles nest on the beaches in the summer. The park offers excellent saltwater fishing, shelling, swimming, hiking and uncrowded beaches. There are 12 primitive sleeping cabins in the park, with adjacent restrooms and shower facilities, for family use only. No electricity, hot water, utensils, stove or linens. Bring your own Coleman cookstove. Cabins sleep 6 persons each.. There is a commercial ferry service to the island for an additional charge. No vehicular traffic is allowed on the island.
The cabins rent for $20 per night, year around for these primitive accommodations.
GOLD HEAD BRANCH STATE PARK
Route 1, Box 545
Keystone Heights, FL 32656
904/473-4701
This 1,561-acre park lies on high, dry hills in the Central Ridge of North Florida. Springs issue from the sides of a deep ravine to form the Gold Head Branch stream, flowing into Lake Johnson, where all the cabins are situated. There are 4 lakes, with marsh and sand pine scrub for wildlife habitat; canoe rentals are available. A mill was formerly located on Gold Head Branch to grind meal and gin cotton. There is a trail system through this small, but beautiful park, away from the traffic. The 14 modern furnished cabins are located along a spring-fed lake. The cabins are equipped with 1 double bed, 2 hide-a-beds, and two rollaways in each cabin. Linens are furnished. Limit of 6 persons per cabin per night.
The Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site is open year around. Take a tour on the river on the 30-passenger Loxahatchee Queen. The park has 4 nature trails; bicycle, canoe, and rowboat rentals; and a camp store on the premises. There are 7 AC modern cabins, equipped with 2 bunk beds and 2 studio beds, which may be rented for 1 or 2 weeks, or daily when available.
Rates::
Cabins from 10/1-2/29 (if a leap year) rent for $35 per night except holidays. Block cabins rent for $50 from 3/1-9/30 including holidays. The CCC cabins rent for $40 from 3/1–9/30.
HONTOON ISLAND STATE PARK
904/736-5309
Contact Hontoon Island through Blue Springs State Park
The Timucuan Indians were the first people to live on Hontoon Island, located on the St. Johns River in N Florida, near Deland. Snails were an Indian diet staple, and over the years the discarded shells created the two mounds seen on the island. A large owl totem carved more than 600 years ago by the Indians was discovered in 1955. The 1,600-acre island has also been a pioneer homestead, boat yard, center for commercial fishing, a cattle ranch, and then a state park in 1967. Today, the park offers excellent fishing and many hiking trails. Hontoon Island is accessible only by private boat or passenger ferry, which operates free of charge from 9 am until one hour before sundown. No vehicle access on the island. The park offers primitive sleeping cabins, with adjacent restrooms and shower facilities. No utensils, stoves or linens provided. Two cabins sleep 4 persons and 4 cabins sleep 6 people. Cabins can be reserved more than 2 months in advance in person or by phone.
Rates:
Primitive Cabins - 4 persons $20
Primitive Cabins – 6 persons $25
MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK
Route 1, Box 72
Sarasota, FL 33583
941/361-6511
There are over 28,000 acres in this largest Florida park, located near Sarasota. Myakka is noted for its lakes, river, marshes, hammocks, prairies and abundant wildlife. Deer, alligators, and wading birds are just a few of the species flourishing here. The interpretive center offers plant displays, a slide program, and guided walks and birdwatching seminars. A concessionaire boat tour is provided on Upper Myakka Lake. A tram provides tours of the hardwood hammock and river flood plain. A limited number of people are allowed to visit the wilderness preserve, encompassing 7,500 acres of hardwoods, seen as they were hundreds of years ago. There are numerous self-guided trails in the park. Registration at the park office is required for lengthy backpacking trips. Fish for bass, bream and catfish in the river and lake. A boat basin and dock is at the lake, with canoe rentals. Take a ride on the 70-passenger airboat, the worlds largest. Bicycles can be rented at the boat basin, and there are over 15 miles of horse trails available. There are 5 rustic log cabins, all furnished, with open fireplaces. Cabins have 2 double beds, l hide-a-bed, and electric kitchens, with a limit of 6 to a cabin. Reservations may be made 180 days in advance. Maximum stay is 7 nights, minimum stay is 2 nights. Reservations more than 30 days in advance require a 5-night stay. No utensils provided.
Rates:
The cabins rent for $55 a night year around.
OLETA RIVER State Recreation Area
305/919-1846
Rates: Primitive cabins are $35 per night, year around.
T.H. STONE MEMORIAL ST. JOSEPH PENINSULA STATE PARK
8899 Cape San Blas Road
Port St. Joe, FL 32456
850//227-1327.
The park is located on County Road 30-E, off U.S. 98 near Port St. Joe. This peninsula park is located on the Gulf of Mexico, and is well known for its miles of sandy beaches and forested interior. The 2,516-acre park is almost surrounded by the Gulf and St. Joseph Bay. The park has many salt and freshwater marshes and dunes. Indians used the peninsula for shelling. Over 209 species of birds make the park their home; observe migrating hawks here in the fall, or look for the endangered peregrine falcon.
The park offers seasonal guided walks and campfire programs. Eight remote, completely furnished cabins are located on the bayside; limit 7 per cabin, but 5 comfortably. Pets are not allowed in the cabins at any time, except guide dogs. Check-in is 4 pm and check-out is 11 am. Reservations accepted
Reservations: Accepted by telephone or in person, up to 11 months in advance. No tent camping in the cabin areas. You can moor boats in the cabin area only at Eagle Harbor or the marina. No motorized vessels are to be operated on the bay near the cabins. Vessels must maintain a no wake zone within 100 feet of land and maintain 300 feet from diver’s down flags.
Rates: The busiest season at the park is from March 1- Sept. 15. Cabins rent for $65-$85 a night, with a two night minimum, with a minimum stay of 5 nights from April 1—Sept 15. Two night stays may be made less than one month in advance, and one night stays within 14 days in advance.
There is an additional charge of $5 per person for any group over 4.
Amenities:
There is a limited supply of pots, pans, cooking utensils, dishes and flatware. The cabins provide blankets, sheets, pillows with cases and a small supply of towels. The cabins contain two queen beds, a futon sofa and day bed. Cribs and high chair are not provided. Most cabins have central heat and air. The fireplace is non operational from May 1-Sept. 30. Firewood is available at the entrance station. Each cabin has a screened porch and sitting area near the bayshore. The maximum stay is 14 nights, but may be extended with management approval. Bring extra towels, there is no maid serviceA deposit of two night’s rental fee is required within 10 days of a reservation. If the deposit is not received in time, the reservation cancels. Reservations taken 14 days or less in advance require no deposit, but reservations are cancelled at 5 pm if guests are not present. A full refund, less $15 handling fee, is made if reservation is cancelled no less than 14 days before occupancy, or if the cabin can be re-rented for the full or a portion of the period, but the handling fee is still charged.
The rates are $35 a night Sept. 16 - March 31, with a 2-night minimum. The cabins have 2 double beds, 1 sofa bed and 1 day bed. Each has central AC and heat, with fireplaces. Firewood can be purchased at the park office. The cabins have screened porches on the bay side, near the youth camping area, and each cabin has a boardwalk to St. Joseph Bay.