The fort is an important part of the areas history. Hernando county is the home of several forgotten forts. Fort dade on egmont key in the mouth of tampa bay, florida was established in 1898 during the spanish american war. Army post established 11 aug 1841 during the second seminole war by captain t. Egmont key ferry from fort desoto park hubbards marina. We have taken this step to protect public health in response to the ongoing threat of covid19 corona virus. Sitontop kayaks are easier to get on and off, even in deep water. Home page history for over 400 years, the tampa bay area of florida has attracted a wide variety of visitors to its shores. Some of the first were the tocobaga indians, who enjoyed the bounty of the harvest from tampa bay and the gulf of mexico. At ground level, enter old artillery holds and firing galleys that make up the base of the coquina shell fort. Relics of ford dade on egmont key, florida legends of america.
Desoto county was created in 1887 from manatee county. According to the book, the tampa triangle the flirty fisherman ghost is one such story. You can learn more about the history with a visit to the quartermaster. The first was established in pasco county in 1836 during the second seminole war but had been long abandoned by the time the egmont key post was founded. Pinellas county parks and conservation resources is canceling all park shelter reservations through april 30. Orlando to south florida bike tour by luxury coach. Nov 05, 2017 ft desoto sand bar shell key inlet st petersburg beach. Egmont key sate park is only accessibly by boat, so be sure to book ahead if you need a ride. Photographers flock to fort desoto bay soundingsbay. Home page history for over 400 years, the tampa bay area of. There are plenty of different spots to park at the beaches. Spa and wellness facilities including a fitness center and a hot tub are at guests disposal during their stay at fort desoto condo. Schell in his book, history of fort myers beach suggest that caloosas may have traveled by rafts from mexicos yucatan peninsula.
One is on the bay side and the other is on the gulf. In 1941, the property was sold back to the federal government to be used as a gunnery and bombing range during world war ii. Army engineers in 1849 for possible use as a coastal defense area and the engineers recommended both egmont and mullet keys for military utilization, however, nothing would be built for years. Fort cross was established around 1839 and closed in.
Petersburg man whose body was found at fort desoto park. The tocobaga indians belonged to the safety harbor culture period. The parks and conservation resources administrative office is located at 12520 ulmerton road in largo. Fort desoto park property changed hands several times in the 1930s and 40s. The islands finally became a state park in 1963 as an effort to preserve their long history, and provide a recreation area for locals. Fort desoto is a place thats been attracting campers and fishers for a long time. Fort desoto historical fort fort desoto tierra verde, fl.
Also, please follow the rules of the campground regarding the number of vehicles, people, etc. Beautiful beach, interesting history there with the forts and canons as well. The friends of fort desoto is a nonprofit organization whose mission is, supporting the preservation, conservation and promotion of ft. The largest island is mullet key, which is where the quartermaster storehouse museum is located. These keys are home to beach plants, mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods and scores of native plants. It was first purchased from the federal government in 1938. Several tour companies offer relatively cheap rides to and from the island, paired with snorkeling excursions at the ruins on the west side of the island. There are also boating events, like the watertribe everglades challenge, an annual race from the park to key largo in kayaks, canoes and small boats. Exploring the ruins of fort dade, egmont key state park.
We are all aware of fort desoto park located in pinellas county which is home to the fort established and was the entryway for spanish troops many centuries ago, and also named after the same explorer. Pinellas county sold the 271 acre tract back to the u. In addition to the lush, private campsites and the hundred activities you can enjoy at this beautiful beachfront park, the campground location is awesome. Dolphins, flying fish, manatee, sea turtles, sting ray, seabirds and other marine life often accompany paddlers on this trek. Rees, engineer officer in charge of construction, announced the completion of the. Fort desoto park 3500 pinellas bayway south tierra verde, fl 33715.
Peteclearwater international airport, 22 miles from the apartment. Fort desoto park has long been a popular beach destination for locals and tourists, and even earned the distinction of americas top beach in 2005 by dr. Diverse birds and landscapes attract photographers to fort desoto from around the world. The pinellas county sheriffs office has identified a st. Pinellas county, florida, park and conservation resources. Theres a sign like this past north beach iif you keep walking in ft. For 4 years now, i have been trying to reserve a campsite at fort desoto during the ec week. Dip your feet in the water or try fishing at the two piers, where you can also buy. The cockpit itself bails easily to prevent swamping but can be a wet ride due to scrupper holes, paddle drip and overspray. In the past, you paid up front for a week or so of parking at the ft.
Parents magazine the nations topselling parenting and family lifestyle magazine awarded the pristine park top honors on the magazines 2011 list of the 10 best beaches for. History at the beach spend a day at fort desoto and egmont key, historical sites and home to one of floridas awardwinning beaches. This is a top spot for bikini pleasures, happy hours, and watersports. Worth, commander of the tampa district, in may 1842. Finnerty often posts her stunning landscapes on the friends of fort desoto facebook page, a showcase for the parks photographers that has amassed more than 6,000 fans. Ec and um challenges are over and in the history books.
In the past there has been and im assuming there will be this year, chief will put out full details at some point before the challenge. Flickr twitter instagram youtube face book list of pinellas county social. Go swimming, canoeing, hiking, cycling, or simply rest. But they are all very, very popular, and they book up quickly. This year, i had intended to reserve february 28 through.
Egmont key is a state park with a working light house, seabird sanctuary and ruins from the spanishamerican warera. Exploring the history of tampa bays haunted fort desoto. I live in tampa and am not 100% sure of the process, but thats the basic premiss. They lived on mullet key and other barrier islands in the area, thanks to the plentiful fish, clams, conch, oysters and whelks from the gulf of mexico, supplemented by occasional game food as well as the wild plants they gathered. Apply to delivery driver, executive assistant, stocker and more. Swim, walk along the beach, collect shells and look for shark teeth, or just relax with a good book while enjoying the view and sounds of waves its up to you. Once at the bay pier you will notice the awesome view of the sunshine skyway bridge to your left and looking out a little to your right you will see an island with a lighthouse on it that is egmont key. In 1940 the war department turned mullet key into a bombing range that was a subpost of macdill field in 1941. Desoto campground prior to the start of the 2019 florida watertribe events, you may reserve a space up to six months before. Caloosa artifacts displayed in a fort walton museum would be claimed as early mayan if displayed in mexico, schell wrote. Desoto county originally included several other presentday counties until 1921, when the florida legislature created the following new counties.
Rebecca genesis every year millions of visitors are drawn to the beautiful and scenic fort desoto park located on the central west coast of florida, its a perfect place to enjoy gorgeous white sand beaches and many other natural amenities. I have been about 2 miles or so off fort desoto before looking for kings and it was not so bad just make sure you can be seen by boats because they book it through that channel. Customer information center hours of operation mon. It fills me with beautiful things, said photographer kathleen finnerty, who spends part of almost every day there. Desoto campground reservations 5 posts 3 voices started 1 year ago by paddledancer.
During the spanishamerican war, the us navy began construction of a gun fort on mullet key, one of the islands in the mouth of tampa bay, to protect the entrance to the harbor. Petersburg junior college, eckerd college, usf, and most local public libraries in the tampa bay area. Site directions select the calendar icon below to choose the date of your reservation and check shelter availability. Both the fort and the story of the flirting fisherman were investigated by the team. The park is very well maintained and is a nice day getaway to just relax and watch the boats on the gulf as well as all the people fishing off the pier. Midday, enjoy a short boat ride from fort desoto st. Designed so that enemy ships would not be able to see the gun emplacements since the batteries facing the gulf of mexico were buried in sand and vegetation. There are many places here in florida that i like to go to photograph birds and wildlife, but ft. The purpose of these forts was to protect the early settlers from indian attacks and to provide a base from which the army could operate. At this familyfriendly park, spread over five islands, you can enjoy the awardwinning beaches, birdwatch on the great birding trail, rent bikes, go to the dog beach and more.
Fort desoto home of florida urban legends homestead. Walking to the fantastic shoreline at fort desoto beach. Florida has attracted a wide variety of visitors to its shores. Tampabayflorida tour historic fort desotoegmont key. Mar 03, 2012 join us for a day in our life at our fort desoto st. Desoto park is a pinellas county park located on mullet key, just south of tierra verde, florida. Desoto which the nudist either tried turning into their beach or it used to be one. Cancellations, changes, rescheduling or early departures require 48 hrs. Its not the best of 10, or 50, or even 100 beaches. Desoto to egmont key kayak fishing talk the online. Additionally, there is a large boat ramp just a few minutes from the campground.
A shelter is available for the day if it has a green circle adjacent to the shelter icon. The complexity of the ecology is not immediately apparent, but the park o. No person operating, directing, or responsible for any airplane, helicopter, drone, glider, hang glider, hot air balloon, dirigible, parachute or other aerial apparatus, including those radio controlled or otherwise unmanned, shall take off from or land in or on any countyowned or managed land, except for purposes of public safety or where written permission has been obtained from. Genealogy and history american indian histories and cultures american indian histories and cultures is a unique resource that makes available, for the first time, many rare and significant documents from the edward e. Desoto to egmont key or shell island is an adventure you wont soon forget. Fort desoto s campground is popular yeararound, but especially with wintering rvers, who religiously book reservations at the first opportunity six months in. Fort dade was built during the spanishamerican war to protect tampa bay from a spanish attack and was later used in world war i for training soldiers. Not much to see here but if you like history youll probably enjoy just walking around, taking in the scenery. The fort was the site of a meeting between seminole chiefs and colonel william j. Customers will receive a full refund without penalty. For more than 400 years, the tampa bay area of florida has attracted a wide variety of visitors to its shores. Ft desoto itself was built in 1898 during the spanish american war, and its remains can still be found there. The caloosas origins remain obscure but some scholars such as rolfe f. At the southernmost point of pinellas county, florida, fort desoto park is made up of five separate islands where.
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