Mound Key Archaeological State Park

About Mound Key Archaeological State Park

The Mound Key shell ridge is nestled in a mangrove forest and is believed to have been the ceremonial center of the Calusa Indians when the Spanish first attempted to colonize southwest Florida. Prehistoric Indians are credited with creating one of Florida's most important cultural and religious sites. The Spanish governor in Florida built a fortress and settlement on the island in 1566.

The settlement was abandoned in the mid-19th century, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Florida Department of Natural Resources.

The only access to the island is by boat, and the interpreter boards can be found along a path that spans the width of the islands. Located in the Bay of Estero, the hotel is a popular destination for tourists, lovers of all ages and locals. The complex is located a short walk from the main entrance of the park, which is located on the east side of Esterso beach.

Dolphins and manatees are not uncommon on the islands, and the observation of birds and marine fauna is boundless, as are a variety of other bird species.

Mound Key Archaeological Park is an archaeological island managed directly by the Koreshan State Historical Site. The 125 hectare island is located in the Bay of Estero and was founded over 2000 years ago by the Kalusa, an indigenous tribe of the grim population.

The state began acquiring Mound Key in 1961, and the park system manages 113 acres as part of the Koreshan State Historical Site, the largest archaeological park in the United States.

The Kalusa were made up of shellfish and fish, as the composition of the hills that make up the island's structures proves. The substrate of this whole island is a composition and remains of an amazing culture. Calusa was the largest and most diverse population group that inhabited the entire coast of southwest Florida and formed the basis for a variety of features that still exist today.

Archaeologists use the intact state of these hills to tell the story of their culture, although it is important not to disturb the particularities of the island. The hills were built by the Calusa, and the mountains of rubbish are called "mountains of rubbish" because the waste from the islands they created found its way into the ocean. There is not enough water to use them all, so the hills are built on top of each other, except for a small part of a hill on the west side of Mount Key.

Mound Key was considered the centre of the Kingdom of Calusa and they knew it as Calos, hence it became known to them as "Calos." The kingdom consisted of hundreds of islands to which an extensive network of shells and islands was added. They ruled the area until they were hit by Europeans in the 15th century, which ultimately led to their demise.

Mound Key was inhabited by the Calusa and was also the site of the first Jesuit mission, known for a short time in 1566 as San Antonio de Carlos. There were also many groups of settlers, such as the Koreshans, who used the islands that the locals had created. In 1566 John F. Kennedy, a Jesuit priest from the Dominican Republic, was appointed the first governor of Florida on the hill Key.

Saltwater fishing has always been a popular pastime in the bay, and there are several places along the river where you can canoe fish. The Estero River is one of the most popular fishing rivers in Florida and the second largest in North America. Freshwater fishing is also popular along this river, but there is a wide variety of fish species, such as bluefish, mackerel, tuna, redfish and other species.

About 3 miles downstream of the canoe lies Estero Bay, and you can find freshwater perch as you paddle inland from the Gulf.

The bay is home to bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles and a variety of other fish species, as well as birds, birds of prey and other wildlife. The beach at Estero Bay State Park, just a short walk from the canoe, offers opportunities to observe wildlife. Pets are welcome, but please keep them on a leash at a distance of six meters from your hand and are always well behaved and well cared for.

Mound Key is managed by the State Historical Site in Koreshan and is located at junction 123 of the I75.

The entrance to Koreshans is at the intersection of Corkscrew Rd and the north side of Mound Key Road, west of the I75. Go west on Corkcrew Road and then south on the south side to Mounds Key.

We also have a boat ramp that can be used as a starting point, but Mound Key is only about 3.5 miles from the boat ramps to the island. After crossing the Estero River, you can reach Mounds Key and Koreshans State Park by taking the north side of Corkscrew Road and the south side of Corkcrew Rd.

They will be about three to three and a half miles south of the river and another three to five miles west of Mounded Key.