Six Strange Florida State Parks You Need to See
With more than 175 state parks across Florida, a few are bound to stand out from the rest. From disappearing rivers to wild bison and a museum dedicated to the pioneer of air conditioning, here are six of the strangest Florida State Parks worth adding to your list.
1. John Gorrie Museum State Park
What makes it quirky: This small museum in historic Apalachicola honors Dr. John Gorrie, a physician credited as a pioneer of modern air conditioning and refrigeration.
Address: 46 Sixth St., Apalachicola FL 32320
2. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
What makes it quirky: This 22,000-acre preserve is the only place in Florida where visitors can see wild-roaming bison and horses. Just keep in mind: the park is massive, so sightings aren’t guaranteed.
3. Koreshan State park
What makes it quirky: The preserved settlement of the Koreshan Unity features historic buildings dating back to the late 1800s. The group believed the Earth was hollow and that humanity lived inside it, standing on its inner shell.
Address: 3800 Corkscrew Road, Estero FL 33928
4. O’Leno State Park & River River Preserve State Park
What makes it quirky: The Santa Fe River disappears underground at O'Leno State Park before re-emerging several miles away at River Rise Preserve State Park.
Address: O’Leno: 410 S.E. O'Leno Park Road, High Springs, FL 32643
River Rise: 373 U.S. 27, High Springs, FL 32643
5. Boneyard Beach at Big Talbot Island State Park
What makes it quirky: Boneyard Beach at Big Talbot Island State Park is lined with massive salt-washed skeletons of live oak and cedar trees, creating one of Florida’s eeriest landscapes.
Address: Follow A1A north. Access is on your right just before Sawpit Creek. Click here for GPS coordinates.
6. Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park
What makes it quirky: This massive sinkhole is 120 feet deep and nearly 500 feet wide, with 232 steps leading down to the bottom.
