Rhiannon Hendricks
Honeymoon Island State Park is a Florida State Park located on Honeymoon Island, a barrier island across St. Joseph Sound from Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Ozona, and Crystal Beach. The island was originally inhabited by the Tocobaga, the native population of the Tampa Bay area, until Spanish explorers arrived in the mid-1500s. In the 1930s, a businessman bought the island and renamed it Honeymoon Island, intending to build honeymoon-style huts for vacationing couples. The island was introduced to the American public in the early 1940s through newsreels and magazines, promising undiscovered pleasures for newlyweds. The state of Florida purchased most of the island in 1974 and the rest soon after, and on December 7, 1981, Honeymoon Island State Park was officially created.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date Honeymoon Island became a state park | 7 December 1981 |
| Area of the park | 385 acres (1.6 km2) of land, 2,400 acres (10 km2) submerged, and 4 miles (6 km) of beach |
| Number of visitors | Over 1 million per year |
| Location | Dunedin, Florida, USA |
| Address | 1 Causeway Blvd |
| Admission fee | $8 per vehicle, $4 per single-occupant vehicle |
| Annual pass | Available |
| Opening hours | 8 a.m. to sundown daily |
| Activities | Hiking, sunbathing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, shelling, snorkelling, surfing, and biking |
| Wildlife | Osprey, black skimmers, royal terns, Caspian terns, American oystercatchers, snowy egrets, bald eagles, roseate spoonbills, gopher tortoises, armadillos, rattlesnakes, and sea turtles |
| Amenities | Restrooms, showers, a café, a gift shop, a visitor centre, picnic areas, a playground, a nature centre, a ferry to Caladesi Island, and bike and kayak rentals |
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What You'll Learn
Honeymoon Island's history
Honeymoon Island State Park is a Florida State Park located on Honeymoon Island, a barrier island across St. Joseph Sound from Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Ozona, and Crystal Beach. The island was originally inhabited by the Tocobaga chiefdom, the native population of the Tampa Bay area, until Spanish explorers arrived in the mid-1500s.
In 1921, a major hurricane hit the island, splitting it in two and creating a new waterway known as Hurricane Pass. The upper island became Honeymoon Island, while the lower portion became Caladesi Island. Before the hurricane, the two islands were a single spit of sand known as Hog Island.
In the late 1930s, a businessman named Clinton Washburn purchased the northern island with the vision of transforming it into a honeymoon destination. He built cottages on the island, which began to attract honeymooners in the early 1940s. However, the concept was short-lived as the United States' entry into World War II shifted the island's focus to defense purposes, and the cottages fell into disrepair.
In the 1960s, there were plans to develop the island into a large residential area by expanding it to 3,000 acres. A causeway leading to the island was constructed in 1964, but this development plan was ultimately scrapped in 1969 due to the expiration of the developer's permit and local environmentalists' efforts.
The State of Florida purchased most of the island in 1974 and the remaining portion soon after. On December 7, 1981, Honeymoon Island State Park was officially established, protecting the park's diverse plants, animals, and lands.
Today, Honeymoon Island State Park is one of Florida's most-visited state parks, offering over four miles of pristine beaches, a variety of wildlife, and a three-mile trail through one of the last remaining virgin slash pine forests. The park provides a range of amenities and activities for visitors, including hiking, sunbathing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, and shelling.
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The island's wildlife
Honeymoon Island State Park is a Florida State Park located on Honeymoon Island, a barrier island across St. Joseph Sound from Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Ozona, and Crystal Beach. The park is 385 acres (1.6 km2) in land area, with 2,400 acres (10 km2) submerged and 4 miles (6 km) of beach. The island was originally inhabited by the Tocobaga chiefdom, the native population of the Tampa Bay area until Spanish explorers arrived in the mid-1500s. In the early 1940s, the island, formerly known as Hog Island, was introduced to the American public through newsreels and magazines as a honeymoon destination, with thatched huts built for vacationing newlyweds. The name was changed to Honeymoon Island during this time.
The Rotary Centennial Nature Center is a valuable resource for visitors interested in learning about the park's natural history. It features exhibits about the natural and cultural history of Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands and offers insights into the island's wildlife and ecosystems. The Osprey Trail and the Pelican Cove Trail circle the forested eastern side of the island, providing up-close encounters with the island's flora and fauna. Along these trails, visitors can spot palmetto trees, eagle nests, and sea life, such as dolphins and manatees.
Mosquitoes and rattlesnakes are common on the island, and visitors are advised to take appropriate precautions. The park offers a range of amenities and activities, including birding, fishing, hiking, and sunbathing. The South Beach Pavilion provides bicycles and kayaks for rent, making it an ideal destination for those seeking outdoor recreation and a chance to explore the island's natural beauty.
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Activities on the island
Honeymoon Island State Park is a Florida State Park located on Honeymoon Island, a barrier island across St. Joseph Sound from Dunedin, Palm Harbour, Ozona, and Crystal Beach. The park offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy.
One of the most popular activities on the island is spending time on the beach. The island has over four miles of white sand beaches, with clear waters that are great for swimming, fishing, and shelling. The southern portion of the beach contains a pet beach, where visitors can bring their dogs for a dip in the Gulf of America. The beach is also a great spot for birdwatching, with eagles, ospreys, and various species of terns, plovers, herons, and wading birds residing on the island or stopping during migration.
In addition to its beaches, Honeymoon Island State Park also features a three-mile trail through one of the last remaining virgin slash pine forests. Along the trail, visitors can spot ground animals such as gopher tortoises, raccoons, and armadillos, as well as palmetto trees and eagle nests. The Rotary Centennial Nature Center is also a great resource for learning about the park's history and natural resources, including the story behind the island's name.
For those looking for more active pursuits, the South Beach Pavilion offers bicycle and kayak rentals, and there are plenty of walking and hiking trails to explore. The island is also a great place for a peaceful stroll or to watch the sunset. Visitors can also take a passenger ferry to Caladesi Island State Park, another unspoiled island nearby.
With its variety of activities and amenities, including picnic pavilions, bathhouses, and concession stands, Honeymoon Island State Park is a perfect getaway for those seeking outdoor recreation and entertainment.
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The island's amenities
Honeymoon Island State Park is a Florida State Park located on Honeymoon Island, a barrier island across St. Joseph Sound from Dunedin, Palm Harbour, Ozona, and Crystal Beach. The island was introduced to the American public in the early 1940s through newsreels and magazines, which advertised its undiscovered pleasures for newlyweds. The state purchased most of the island in 1974 and Honeymoon Island State Park was created on December 7, 1981.
Honeymoon Island State Park offers a range of amenities to cater to the more than one million visitors it receives each year. The park has plenty of parking, restroom facilities, and a gift shop/visitor centre. There are also three ice carts and two concession areas: Café Honeymoon and the South Beach Pavilion, which provides bicycles and kayaks for rent.
The island features over four miles of beach, including a main beach with designated swimming areas, a pet beach on the south end, and great shelling and walking on the north end. There is a picnic area on the northern end of the island, with picnic tables, two covered pavilions, barbecue grills, and a playground. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited except at the restaurant in the park, or during park-sanctioned events within designated areas.
The island also offers three miles of walking trails through one of the last remaining virgin slash pine forests, where visitors can observe eagles, osprey, great horned owls, gopher tortoises, raccoons, and armadillos. The Rotary Centennial Nature Center is a great resource for learning about the park's history and natural resources, and it features an elevated observation deck. Other activities available at the park include birding, fishing, sunbathing, and surfing.
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Getting to Honeymoon Island
Honeymoon Island State Park is located in Florida, across St. Joseph Sound from Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Ozona, and Crystal Beach. The address is 1 Causeway Boulevard, at the western end of Causeway Boulevard, which becomes Curlew Road east of Alternate US 19.
The island was originally known as Hog Island and was inhabited by the Tocobaga chiefdom, the native population of the Tampa Bay area, until the arrival of Spanish explorers in the mid-1500s. In the early 1940s, honeymoon-style huts were constructed on the island, and it was renamed Honeymoon Island. The island was introduced to the American public through newsreels and magazines, which advertised it as an ideal destination for newlyweds.
You can get to Honeymoon Island State Park by car, trolley, bike, or ferry. There is only one entry/exit point to the island, so expect some traffic, especially during holidays and spring break. Once you're on the island, you can follow the signs to your desired area. There is ample parking available. The entry fee is $8 per vehicle, and $4 for single persons on foot. An annual pass is also available.
If you're coming from Clearwater Beach, you can take the Caladesi Island Ferry to reach Honeymoon Island. The ferry costs $14 per adult, in addition to the park entrance fee. Alternatively, you can get off the trolley on ALT 19 and rent a bike to cycle the rest of the way. It's a fantastic route for biking, and it costs $2 per person/bike to enter the State Park.
Honeymoon Island State Park offers a range of activities, including swimming, fishing, shelling, hiking, and bicycling. The park features over four miles of beach and a three-mile trail through a virgin slash pine forest. The South Beach Pavilion provides bicycle and kayak rentals, and Café Honeymoon offers casual beach fare and a small gift shop. The Rotary Centennial Nature Center is a great place to learn about the park's history and natural resources.
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Frequently asked questions
Honeymoon Island officially became a state park on December 7, 1981.
Honeymoon Island was originally known as Hog Island. The island was renamed in the early 1940s when a businessman bought the island and built honeymoon-type huts for vacationing newlyweds.
After World War II, the huts on Honeymoon Island fell into disrepair. In the 1960s, a developer planned to build a large residential area on the island, but their plan was scrapped in 1969. The state then purchased the island in 1974.
