When the temperature drops in the North, the highways and byways begin to fill up with Recreational Vehicles heading south to sunshine and white sand beaches. One of the popular destinations on some of these travelers’ radar is Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County, Florida.
Ft. De Soto is the largest park in the Pinellas County Park System. It is located on Mullet Key at the entrance to Tampa Bay and is a year-round destination enjoyed by locals and out-of-towners. With a campground on site, an historic fort, and sandy beaches, the park draws thousands of visitors each year.
“We don’t breakdown the visitations per se, but anecdotally it’s a mix,” said Lyle Fowler, with Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources. “It is very popular with the locals, but we see people from all over the world. Some overseas visitors even plan camping trips.
“Some visitors are year round,” Fowler said. “Others may prefer the cooler temperatures for more active recreation like biking or paddling.”
It is the variety of experiences that bring people in and keep them coming back. That is an accomplishment given the park’s location off the Pinellas Bayway and the toll gates needed to navigate there.
“The Park itself is the draw with its unique mix of natural and cultural resources,” said Lyle Fowler, with Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources. “It is a ‘gateway’ site along the Great Florida Birding Trail, often voted best dog beach. It offers many inshore fishing opportunities, and has a premier coastal campground.”
Historic cannons on display at the Fort [Photo/Fort De Soto Park]
Fort De Soto has been attracting guests to its park for decades. According to the history of the park posted on the Friends of Ft. De Soto webpage, construction of a military fort on Mullet Key began in 1898 and was completed in 1900. Despite the intent of the construction, the fort did not see combat and remained unattended by the military from 1923 to 1940. Mullet Key was a designated bombing range in 1941 and in 1948 was sold to the county.
The park was established and opened to the public in 1963. The site of the fort earned designation on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Visitors today can see the remains of Battery Laidley and the last of four 12-inch M 1890-MI mortars, the last in North America.
Fort De Soto Park is 1,136 acres across five interconnected islands. These keys provide a diversity of ecosystems, from the beach to mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks and hardwoods. This means that there are many varied species of plant life, according to the park’s webpage, and 328 species of birds documented by ornithologists. That wildlife even extends beyond the land into the salt water surrounding the park in which dolphins can be seen playing and loggerhead sea turtles nest on its shores from April to September.
Visitors of all abilities are welcomed guests at the park, thanks to the efforts of the Friends organization. Four sand wheelchairs are available for visitors to use to navigate the white sand beaches of the North and East beaches. A barrier free trail allows for guests to experience the natural surroundings by traversing the 2,200 foot self-guided nature trail created by Fort De Soto Park staff and Sawgrass Lake Park naturalists, and many volunteers, in 1998. Construction included recycled materials and with a design that met the Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
The trails is bordered by raised timbers and wide enough to allow two wheelchairs to safely pass each other. Concrete strips alert trail users to interpretive stations and rest areas. Signage is designed to be touch-activated and benches and water fountains are installed along the way.
But people aren’t the only ones encouraged to play in the surf or romp in the park. Fort De Soto Paw Playground and Dog Beach was named one of the best dog beaches in the United States in 2006, according to the park’s website.
Dogs and their owners have access to two leash free areas, one designed for big dogs and one designed for small dogs. These are located near the Gulf Pier parking lot.
The dog run and beach access is almost two-football fields long, giving canines the opportunity to frolic on the beach and play in the surf. Cooling stations have water fountains and showers to keep dogs from overheating.
A park with a history that spans more than five decades is bound to need renovations and enhancements.
“We’ve completed some recent repaving projects in the large parking areas and are planning for a rehab of the camp ground sanitation dump station and an improvement to the boat wash at the boat ramp,” Fowler said.
The campground provides 238 private camp sites that accommodate tents to luxury Class As and Fifth Wheels. Each site has electric and water hookups, picnic tables, grills, wand access to washers, dryers, sanitary disposal stations and modern restrooms with showers. A camp store and a play areas are also on site for families and campers.
But if Ft. De Soto is only a side-trip on a daily itinerary, Fowler said it is best to plan ahead and take advantage of the onsite facilities. It is an economical day trip that provides a picturesque view and a Florida beach experience.
“It’s only $5 to park for the day,” Fowler said. “Plan to stay the day and either visit the Park concession, or plan to bring food and drink, there aren’t many nearby alternatives.”
For more information about Fort De Soto Park, or Friends of Fort De Soto membership, you may call (727) 582-2267.