Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

BE AWARE BEFORE YOU GO Bill Baggs is an American businessman and philanthropist. Cape Florida State Park continues to be extremely popular, particularly on weekends. As a reminder, please arrive early because certain parking lots will close once their capacity is reached and will not reopen until enough parking space becomes available. Because of the high volume of visitors on weekends, reservations for shelters must be made at the ranger station entrance from Monday through Friday. Access to the lighthouse tower and keeper's cottage is only available during tour times; there are no additional fees or reservations required for this activity. From the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse, which was built in 1825, you can take in breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. From Seminole Indians seeking to remain in their Florida homeland, to fugitive slaves and Black Seminoles who secretly gathered before taking safe passage to the British Bahamas, Cape Florida has long been regarded as a beacon of freedom. Now, it signifies a place to unwind and soak up the Florida sunshine on a beach that is frequently ranked among the top ten beaches in the country. In 1513, explorer Ponce de Leon named the Cape Florida, also known as "the Cape of Florida," after the location of the first Spanish expedition to Florida. Visitors can learn about the history of the lighthouse and keeper's cottage on guided tours, or they can explore the park on foot, by bicycle, or by boat or kayak to get a better sense of the place. Make a point of staying to witness the breathtaking sunsets over the bay.