Fort De Soto County Park
3500 Pinellas Bayway S.,
Tierra Verde, FL 33715 – Fort De Soto Park
If you visit the Tampa Bay area and love beaches, wildlife, and history, you must spend a day at Fort De Soto County Park. Located off St. Petersburg, Florida, Fort De Soto Park is the largest county park in Pinellas County and consists of 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected islands (keys). These keys are home to beach plants, mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods and scores of native plants. Each of these species plays a vital role in the preservation and protection of the natural environment.
More than 328 species of birds have been documented over 60 years by ornithologists. New species are being added to the list every year. The beach also provides refuge to the loggerhead sea turtle, which nests between April and September. The park receives over 2.7 million visitors a year viewing historical exhibits as well as lots of natural beauty. Today I’ll give you the highlights of the amenities of this beautiful park.
History
These keys were originally inhabited by the Tocobaga Native Americans from about 1000 to 1500 A.D. The first Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narváez investigated the barrier islands after his expedition landed somewhere between St. Pete Beach and Clearwater in 1529. He was followed by Hernando de Soto a few years later. The Tocobaga disappeared in violence and disease and the islands were used for navigation into Tampa Bay and periodically used for military purposes to guard entrance to Tampa Bay. Built after the Spanish American War, Fort De Soto was finished in 1900 and named for the Spanish explorer.
Even if you are not a history buff, you’ll find the remaining structures of Fort De Soto interesting. The fort was damaged by multiple hurricanes in the early 20th Century and of course the environment but still provides insight into the military presence on these keys. Just think of these men in concrete buildings with no air conditioning and mosquitoes 24 hours a day. Mosquito eradication programs were a later development.
- A visitor coming to Fort De Soto Park today can view the last four 12-inch M 1890-MI mortars remaining in North America (the only others remaining anywhere in the world are in the Philippines). The 12-inch mortar battery, located at the fort for which the park was named, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Markers showing the original building locations and a Quartermaster Storehouse Museum add to the park’s historic interest.
Nature
- Over 7 miles of waterfront, includes almost three miles of beautiful white sandy beaches.
- 800-foot-long boat launching facility with eleven floating docks.
- Camping – 238-site family camping area with facilities – check in and enjoy the view!
- Picnic areas with 15 picnic shelters
- Playgrounds
- Multipurpose trail – seven miles of paved trail connecting North Beach, East Beach, the boat ramp and the camping area. No motorized vehicles allowed.
- Two large swim centers including a food concession area located at the North Beach Swim Center.
- Two fishing piers – each pier has a food and bait concession – Gulf & Bay Pier Hours: 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- All of the beaches do not allow pets except for Dog Beach on designated Dog Days. Dog park Fort De Soto has the only dog park where dogs are allowed on the beach in a designated area. There are also 2 fenced-in areas near the beach for large and small dogs with water stations (beach entrance is at the far southwest corner of dog park).
- Please remember to follow the rules regarding wildlife and our impact on them. Do not feed birds and do not enter roped off areas that are protected for nesting birds or turtle eggs.
- Enjoy a canoe or kayak ride around the keys. Be sure to wear mosquito repellent around the mangroves.
- Be still and watch the birds. Wildlife is everywhere and you don’t have to be a great photographer to get photos. The park is a gateway site for the Great Florida Birding Trail. This gateway trail site is one of the most popular birding destinations in the United States.
From the end of East Beach, enjoy a view of Skyway Bridge in the distance – one of my favorite places on the west coast. This huge bridge spans the large Tampa Bay.
This park is a favorite of residents and visitors to the area and it has been named best park multiple times. Fort De Soto was named America’s Top Beach for 2009 by Trip Advisor, the world’s largest online travel community. In 2005, “Dr. Beach,” named Fort De Soto the nation’s #1 Beach.
If traveling to this area, be sure and plan and ahead as facilities book up quickly during our mild winter. See Fort De Soto Park site for all the information regarding current fees and booking.
Get exclusive free printables & all the news straight to your mailbox!
[email-subscribers-advanced-form id=”1″]
Please see my Link Parties page for the parties where this post was shared.
Carol,
What a treasure!! Thanks so much for taking us on a tour!! It truly looks like an amazing park!! Beautiful photos!
Hugs,
Deb
Thanks Debbie for visiting and leaving your sweet comment. Have a beautiful day!
This looks like a beautiful, very user-friendly park. I think I would go wild with the nature elements! Beautiful!
Thanks Jeannie – have a beautiful Thursday!
This looks like my kind of place! Beautiful photos!
thanks Lisa – have a lovely day!
Carol I certainly understand why it was named best park It offers the best and quite a variety in a beautiful location.
thanks for the visit Mary – have a great day!
…it’s easy to see way it’s a popular spot.
That looks like a beautiful park!
Looks like there’s something for just about every history and outdoor lover! The beach at Fort de Soto Park is beautiful! I would have a hard time leaving.
The 2 beaches are indeed wonderful. Thanks for the visit Brooke.
Wow – what a fabulous place and your shots are just lovely!
Thanks Fiona.
That was a beautiful anthology of the De Soto Park. I’ve lived in Florida most of my life and have never been there. We never have explored the gulf coast, and I think it is time we did! This sounds like a wonderful place to explore. Thank you for sharing it with us. Have a blessed day.
Thanks so much for the great comment – do visit the park as it is wonderful!
love the old fort photos
Oh, how I love all the “tours” you take us on! Maybe some day I can actually visit them myself, for real! Thanks for being so faithful to link up each Friday – I’m sorry I’m not as faithful to visit. I can’t do it on my phone and I rarely sit down at the desk computer – I’ve got to start making myself do that and visit my friends, but….LIFE!!! Happy weekend to you!
I’m happy when you fit a visit into your life but understand when you can’t. Have a blessed weekend!
What a gorgeous place. Love all the birds!!
thanks Annie!
Sounds and looks like a wonderful place ~ and awesome photos ~ ^_^
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Such a great place for any sort of recreation! Great photos. I love learning a bit of history as I explore other blogs! Thanks so much for linking up to My Corner of the World!
What a great park! I love the shots of the white sand beaches. Looks like it offers something for everyone, and definitely a place I would like to visit!
I think you’d love it Peter – happy Saturday!
What a beautiful place to explore! I bet it would be lovely to camp out there and those sandy beaches look amazing.
Thanks for showing us around Carol. #MMBC
Hello, I have been to Fort Desoto park. It is a very nice park, lots of birds and pretty views. Great post and photos. Enjoy your day and have a great new week ahead!
Have a wonderful week Eileen!
So much to do and see. Thanks for sharing.
Fort Desoto is our favorite beach to explore. For so many years, it was like our own private beach.
I know you must love it like I do.
I’d never heard of this place, but it looks like a gem! Nice photos.
Thanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2019/01/bloomin-beauty.html
Looks fabulous
We stayed at Fort De Soto in November ….camping. It was something really special for sure. This was a great post about the park.
Lovely views. I live in Florida so we enjoy those sights, but I do miss not having a little winter. A/C is running as I type. Happy Weekend, Kippi
thanks Kippi – I don’t miss winter but I do miss spring flowers
Thanks for a lovely post Carol. I feel as though I know the park well enough to take a visit pre-armed with all the essential information. The authorities have done a great job in ensuring that all interests are catered for but not at the expense of others. I especially like those respect the birds notices. Not just “don’t” but a brief explanation of why. I am so jealous of your climate as we await Storm Gareth today.
My prayers are with you. I just went and read up on Storm Gareth. High winds and slashing rain is no treat. This summer when you are surrounded by warm weather and beautiful English gardens, I will be living in the steam tent known as a Florida summer with high heat and humidity and on watch for hurricanes out of the Caribbean.