Koreshan State Historic Site Campground - Estero, FL

see all photos »

Koreshan State Historic Site Campground - Estero, FL

Campsite # 042

. Wednesday, May 14 – Koreshan State Historic Site – Site 42 -$23 plus tax

Last night riding around John Pennikamp we discovered two hot spots for the internet but it was too late to try to get on we were sitting in the dark on a picnic table trying to do it. Oh, well! We left this morning around 6 and heading north to try to pick up route 41 outside of Miami the Tamiami Trail (also known as Shark Valley in the Everglades) to go over to Naples on the west coast. We were 5 miles away when the police shut down the highway and had a bunch of illegals lined up on the roads since this road goes by miles and miles of farms ( many for sale to be divided up into developments – sad!). So they detoured us back east and it took us an extra 45 minutes to get back to where we wanted to go. Route 41 is very pretty with irrigation ditches and all the places for the boats into the Everglades and the Big Cypress Nature Preserve. We also went by a number of Indian reservations and signs to be aware of Panther crossings.

see all photos »

I did not know that Florida had panthers! Nice drive. We drove to Naples which has miles and miles of condos, shops, and beaches. Nice area! Headed towards Fort Meyers but stopped at Estero at the Koreshan State Historic site and campground.

.   Koreshan State Historic Site and Campground, Estero, Florida – 60 sites - $23 plus taxes  This campground is very interesting. The sites are all a good size with shade – water and electricity. Pretty campground. The restroom is in the center of the campground with a laundry and hot showers. There are grapefruit trees around and palm trees.  On the grounds there is also a playground, picnic area, boat area and you can rent canoes to travel the Estero River which used to be the main route for goods to be shipped before route 41 was built. It is right off route 41 and the bike trails along that route.

see all photos »

The rangers were very nice here and there is also the Koreshan Unity Settlement to visit on the park grounds. This is a must see and is a bike ride away from your site. This was a religious communal society established here in 1894. The grounds and many of its buildings were donated to the state of Florida in 1961. There are many buildings to visit and the walkways along the Estero River are quiet and peaceful.

This was a hard working group who believed in hard work, education, the arts and music, security, order and a sense of achievement. There is a self-guiding trail using guidesheets or sometimes a ranger or host takes people on a tour. The self-guiding one is free and the host led tour costs around $2.00. The buildings are furnished and they have put up glass so that you look in and see each one. Some of them you can walk through. It was a nice sunny day in May with a cool breeze so it was very enjoyable walking around.

see all photos »

    Tomorrow we head for Sanibel – can’t wait!