Koreshan State Historic Site
| Koreshan State Historic Site | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 The Planetary Court | |
   | |
| Location | Lee County, Florida, United States |
| Nearest city | Estero, Florida |
| Coordinates | 26°26.0′N 81°49.0′W / 26.4333°N 81.8167°W / 26.4333; -81.8167 |
| Area | 135 acres (0.55 km2) |
| Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
The Koreshan State Historic Site is a state park in Estero, Florida located on U.S. Highway 41 at Corkscrew Road. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 4, 1976, under the designation of Koreshan Unity Settlement Historic District.
It contains areas of pine flatwoods habitat and the site of a religious colony, the Koreshan Unity, whose last members deeded the land to the state in 1961.[1]
Flora
The Koreshans imported a wide range of plant species from across the world, including: an Araucaria bidwillii (false monkey puzzle) tree, which is indigenous to Queensland, Australia, and drops seed pods as large as a football; a number of sausage trees, which are native to Africa and a favored food of giraffes; eucalyptus, mango and other fruit bearing trees; an extraordinary amount of Japanese bamboo that originally hails from the Edison and Ford Winter Estates; and many flowering trees and plants of a wide variety.
Fauna
Among the wildlife of the park are gopher tortoises, bobcats, gray foxes, North American river otters and American alligators. Birds spotted include swallow-tailed kites, bald eagles, northern bobwhites and red-shouldered hawks.
Recreational activities
Activities include fishing, picnicking, and boating, as well as camping, canoeing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Amenities include a campground, boat ramp, canoe rentals, trails and a picnic area on the Estero River. Beach activities along the Gulf, and kayak rentals on the river are available within a relatively short distance outside the park.
Hours
Florida state parks are open between 8 a.m. and sundown every day of the year (including holidays).
Gallery
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Founder's House.
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The Bamboo Landing.
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An ornamental bridge.
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A gopher tortoise in the park.
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An otter on the Estero River.
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Herons on the Estero.
References
- ^ "Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida".
External links
- Koreshan State Park at Florida State Parks
Media related to Koreshan State Historic Site at Wikimedia Commons
