An exploration of the diversity of natural beaches and unique history.
Entering into the Lower Keys after leaving the mainland of Florida is like leaving into another world. Bahia Honda is one of those jewels. Having existed as a State Park for almost 80 years and a through line for the Flagler Railroad before that, it has seen history come and go. Park Ranger Eric Kiefer talks to The Buzz about the natural structure, the inherent beauty and the connection many people have to the area.
The Buzz: Can you speak a little about your background and why this specific destination is so unique?
Eric Kiefer: I joined the Florida Parks Service as a park ranger back in 1994. I have worked at parks all across the state… the East Coast…the West Coast...up in the Panhandle. I finally landed here [at Bahia Honda] and I’m loving every minute of it. The Keys are really unique in the whole United States. It is just a long series of tropical islands [and] it really looks more what you think the Caribbean looks like than probably the rest of the country. There are a lot of small islands. Bahia Honda [specifically] is known for having natural beaches… whereas a lot of the Keys has beaches but a lot rockier. The Keys [overall], and the whole area itself…shallow water…clear water…coral reefs…it’s just a real different place down here.
The Buzz: Can you talk about the naturalism of the RV sites on the property?
EK: The whole island is fairly small as far as width goes. You’re within a quarter of a mile of the beach no matter where you’re at (chuckling)…that’s one thing. The campground itself is kind of in the middle of the island in what we call a “tropical hardwood hammock” using these tropical trees. The campground itself is cut back into this tropical hammock. [This creates] usually pretty nice bumpers around every site. And if you’re fortunate enough to get one of the waterfront sites then you’re actually looking right out your window onto the bayThe Buzz: Visitors also have a lot to keep them occupied.
EK: There’s lots to do here and in the surrounding area. Right here in the park, our biggest things are the beach…walking up and down, hanging out…collecting shells… just enjoying the sun. However, snorkeling is available at every beach and all around. We have some nice areas where you can go out and see soft corals. As far as fishing…it is allowed everywhere except in the swimming areas. Anything to do with boating or watersports…scuba diving…that is all available around the park and be accessed from within the park as well.
EK: One of the things we do have here which is kind of rare is that we have a “campers marina”. If you rent one of those campsites, there is a six slip marina available free of charge for you to park your boat in. It is on a first come/first serve basis so we don’t guarantee that there is going to be a space but it is always there free of use for campers. We also have [a] concessions [depot] here and they do a daily snorkeling tour, weather permitting, out to Looe Key Reef which is about 6 miles offshore They also rent kayaks and beach chairs…all the amenities…plus snorkel gear if you don’t have it. We offer everything you want to do in the water plus we are just 30 miles from Key West. We also do have the old historic bridge. Right now, half of it is closed off at the very end but you can still get way up high where the cars used to go and see quite a view all around.
The Buzz: The ecology of this area is also distinctly unique.
EK: The Keys themselves are all kind of isolated islands down through here which of course weren’t connected at all [before industrialization]. The big ships would sail into Key West. That was a big city. But any of these islands up here, including Bahia Honda were…there would be one or two people settling here and there but there wasn’t any way to access them until they built the railroad. After that, they put in the road itself. The whole area [like Miami] is basically limestone…an old coral reef. As sea levels dropped…the islands formed…and that is how they came to be. The interesting thing about this area is that we have plants down here that aren’t found anywhere else. We are famous for the silver palm which is found almost exclusively here at Bahia Honda State Park and nowhere else plus we have other rare and endangered plants and most of those are found just really only in the Florida Keys.
The Buzz: The kind of travelers you receive also ranges across the gamut from singles to couples to families to large caravans?
EK: It is very widespread. We get a lot of people from Europe…a lot from Asia. Of course, most of the people are from Florida coming down to the Keys because they are so special and different from the rest of the state. It is a great family park…and a great place to bring your kids. We have families and people here that have been coming here for 20 years. It is not uncommon at all for people to come up to me… a man as old as me in his 50s or 60s saying, “I have been coming here since I was 3 years old” or “I remember this when I was 10”. It is a park that a lot of people come back to and it creates a lot of great memories.
Tim Wassberg
A graduate of New York University's Tisch School Of The Arts with degrees in Film/TV Production & Film Criticism, Tim has written for magazines such as Moviemaker, Moving Pictures, Conde Nast Traveler UK and Casino Player. He enjoys traveling and distinct craft beers among other things.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Bahia Honda State Park, featuring an award winning beach and historic bridge at mile marker 37 in The Florida Keys. The park, encompassing over 500 acres and an offshore island offers some of the best snorkeling and beach combing in Florida...the perfect and quiet getaway for the entire family.