Honeymoon Island State Park is a Florida State Park situated on Honeymoon Island, a barrier island throughout St. Joseph Sound from Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Ozona, and Crystal Beach. Text is on the market under the Artistic Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.Zero License; additional terms may apply. The beaches vary from sandy to lined in giant chunks of fossilized coral. Florida state parks are open between 8 a.m. In keeping with the Florida Park Service, Honeymoon Island was introduced to the American public within the early 1940s through newsreels and magazines. Whereas signage on the entrance to the park signifies a per-vehicle every day entrance fee of $8, single persons are solely charged $4, as of February 2015. There can be an annual move for individuals who want to save on frequent visits. Osprey and numerous species of tern, plover, herons, and wading birds reside on the island or stop during spring and fall migration. A causeway leading to the island was constructed in 1964. However, this plan was scrapped in 1969, when the developer’s permit expired and the state prevented them from renewing it. The ads promised undiscovered pleasures for newlyweds. Starfish, sand dollars and different marine invertebrates are commonly found within the shallow waters along the shore. The constructions have been soon worn down by the weather. The 1960s brought a developer with a plan to construct a large residential area on the island by increasing the island to 3,000 acres. On September 26, 2024, Honeymoon Island was struck by Hurricane Helene and has since remained closed by the state parks service for assessments. In the autumn of 2008, a pair of bald eagles made a nest on Osprey Trail within the park. Caladesi Island is easily accessible by walking from Clearwater Seashore, Florida, because it has been for many years, and it’s only separated by a “welcome sign” from the south. Honeymoon and neighboring Caladesi Island had been originally a part of a big barrier island that cut up in half during a significant hurricane in 1921. The waterway between the islands is called Hurricane Pass. After the US entered World War II, the thatched huts fell into disuse. Amenities include picnic pavilions, bathhouses, a park concession, nature trails, bird remark areas, a seashore for pets, and a passenger ferry to Caladesi Island State Park. This web page was last edited on 12 October 2024, at 20:18 (UTC). The state bought many of the island in 1974 and then bought the remaining quickly after. The barrier island park is a refuge for a number of species of plants and animals together with Florida slash pines, mangroves, and several other threatened and endangered species. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-revenue group. The island was initially inhabited by members of the Tocobaga chiefdom, the native inhabitants of the Tampa Bay area till the arrival of Spanish explorers in the mid-1500’s. Mosquitoes and Rattlesnakes are frequent to Honeymoon Island. Many species of fish, shark, stingray, and jellyfish habituate the waters surrounding the island as nicely. It lies on the western end of Causeway Boulevard, which becomes Curlew Highway east of Alternate US 19. Its deal with is 1 Causeway Blvd. Persistently receiving more than one million guests annually, it’s probably the most-visited state park in Florida. The park is 385 acres (1.6 km2) in land space with 2,400 acres (10 km2) submerged and 4 miles (6 km) of seaside. The cost to trip the ferry to Caladesi Island is $14 per grownup in addition to the park entrance payment. Honeymoon Island has two different concession areas: Café Honeymoon and the South Seaside Pavilion. One of many island’s companies, a ferry to Caladesi Island, is just for convenience to these within the Honeymoon Island area to reach Caladesi Island across Hurricane Move. Actions include birding, fishing, hiking and sunbathing. 10 miles off the coast is the veterans memorial Circle of Heroes. The Osprey Trail (2 miles long) and the Pelican Cove Trail (3/four miles long) circle the forested, jap aspect of the island. According to the Dunedin Museum (positioned in Dunedin, Florida on the mainland which lays declare to each Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island), Honeymoon Island was formerly often known as Hog Island. Building has been finished in parts of the beach close to the north concession space to mitigate in depth erosion which has taken place through the years. Some areas may have water puddles that emit a stench throughout certain months, but this doesn’t deter swimmers from using the beaches. On December 7, 1981, Honeymoon Island State Park was created. The Rotary Centennial Nature Center features exhibits about the natural and cultural historical past of Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands and an elevated observation deck. By using this site, you comply with the Terms of Use and Privacy Coverage. In the early 1940s, honeymoon-sort huts were built on the island for vacationing, and the title was modified. On these trails yow will discover palmetto timber, an eagle nest, slash pine, and on the Pelican Cove Trail, some sea life and wading birds. Dolphin pods are sometimes sighted within yards of the shore.