Anastasia

Anastasia SP https://www.floridastateparks.org/anastasia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastasia_State_Park Anastasia State Park is on a peninsula on Anastasia Island across Matanzas Bay from downtown St. Augustine along the Atlantic coastal plain. This park has a variety of wildlife, birds and plants in a setting of beaches, tidal salt marsh, and marine and upland hammock. It is also home to the Old Spanish Coquina Quarries, an archaeological site from which the coquina stone used in the construction of the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine was mined, earning it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

HISTORY More than 300 years ago, sites such as the coquina quarries located within present-day Anastasia State Park were busy with workers, mostly Native Americans, hauling out blocks of rock. By the late 1700s, the Native American population had diminished and quarry workers were usually enslaved Africans and captured Europeans. With hand tools, they hewed out blocks of the soft shellstone and pried the squares loose along natural layers in the rock. The blocks were loaded onto ox-drawn carts then barged across Matanzas Bay to the town of St. Augustine, where they were used to construct the Castillo de San Marcos and many other buildings. From its founding in 1565, St. Augustine was a struggling outpost of Spain’s North American empire. Spanish soldiers built the fort and their homes out of the plentiful pine trees and palmetto. Time after time their wooden settlement was destroyed by storms or burned by pirates and other raiders. On Anastasia Island, the Spaniards discovered a better building material — deposits of a rock made of broken shells. As early as 1598, they dug enough to build a gunpowder storage magazine, but they lacked the workforce, the engineering skills and the tools to excavate enough for a large structure. In 1671, large-scale quarrying began in the stone pits. Coquina rock is relatively soft and easy to cut while in the ground and hardens when exposed to air. The Spanish learned to waterproof the stone walls by coating them with plaster and paint. When besieging ships bombarded the Castillo, the walls simply absorbed the cannon balls. Coquina continued to be a prized building material for the Spanish, British (1763-83) and the Americans (1821). ANASTASIA STATE PARK 300 Anastasia Park Road St. Augustine, FL 32080 904-461-2033 PARK GUIDELINES • • • • • • • • • Hours are 8 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year. An entrance fee is required. All plants, animals and park property are protected. Collection, destruction or disturbance is prohibited. Pets are prohibited on beaches, in buildings and on boardwalks. Pets must be kept on a handheld leash no longer than six feet and be well-behaved at all times. Fishing, boating, swimming and fires are allowed in designated areas only. A Florida fishing license may be required. Fireworks and hunting are prohibited in all Florida State Parks. Become a volunteer. Visit FloridaStateParks. org/volunteers for information. For camping information, contact Reserve America at 800-326-3521 or 866-I CAMP FL or TDD 888-433-0287 or visit ReserveAmerica.com. Florida State Parks are committed to providing all visitors accessible and reasonable accommodations to park facilities and programs. Should you need assistance to enable your participation, please contact the Ranger Station. Visit us online at FloridaStateParks.org Follow us on social media FloridaStateParks.org #FLStateParks ANASTASIA STATE PARK Paradise near historic St. Augustine Anastasia State Park Bird Island Salt Run EXPERIENCES & AMENITIES Anastasia’s beautiful beach attracts walkers, joggers, anglers, birders and nature-lovers. Beach breaks and seasonally warm water draw surfers and kayakers. Hike the beach and look for birds, dolphins and whales. Bicyclists enjoy more than 4 miles of beach and several miles of park roads. Island Beach Shop and Grill sells beach, camping and fishing supplies, and rents bicycles and surfboards. Anastasia Watersports rents canoes, kayaks, sailboats and stand-up paddleboards, and lessons on various watersports are available. Anastasia has three picnic areas with tables and restrooms, in addition to three playgrounds. Inquire at the Ranger Station about renting a pavilion for a group picnic. Anastasia’s full-facility campground features 139 sites with electric and water hookups for RVs and tents. A dump station is available at no extra charge. Hot water showers and laundry facilities are available. Wifi hotspots are available at Island Beach Shop and Grill as well as day use parking. Anastasia’s Bedtime Story Camper Lending Library for campers ages 4 to 9 offers picture books about the sights and sounds found in the park. Ask to check out a book at the ranger station. Directions From I-95 take exit 311. Go east on State Road 207. Turn right on State Road 312 (east). Turn left (north) on A1A. Travel approximately 1.5 miles north to main park entrance. Camping No Swimming Swimmers should exercise caution! Warnings are posted for your protection. Ranger Station Playground Showers Coquina Quarry Atlantic Ocean St. Augustine Amphitheater Restrooms Picnicking Parking Swimming Surfing Fishing Concession 00203_Rev_08.18 

Camping and Cabins Guide Florida State Parks FloridaStateParks.org • #FLStateParks Welcome When the setting sun paints the evening sky, where will you make your bed? Florida’s state parks offer you a variety of overnight accommodations. At a Florida state park, the day’s work is play, a walk on the beach, a hike through the woods, a swim, a bike ride. All you need is a fishing rod, a kayak, a book and a friend. What do you want to see when the sun rises on the new day? Choose a wooded campsite within walking distance of white sandy beaches or camp along the banks of a quietly moving river. Bring your boat or canoe, or fishing tackle and a rod, for a relaxing time with family and friends. Explore nature on the hiking trails, while at the same time leaving stress of the busy world behind. Attend a festival, a reenactment or simply do nothing. We are committed to providing a variety of accessible amenities for all visitors at Florida state parks, including campgrounds and cabins. 2 FloridaStateParks.org • #FLStateParks Family Camping Florida’s state parks offer more than 50 campgrounds statewide for tents, campers and RVs. Most campsites include water, electricity, a grill and picnic table. Centralized showers, restrooms and a dump station are also available. • One responsible person, 18 or older, must be present on each campsite or cabin. • Camping fees vary from park to park and include a maximum of eight people per site, not including children under 6 years old. • Check-in time is 3 p.m. Check-out time is 1 p.m. You are welcome to stay in the park through the end of the day. • Quiet time is from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. • Campsites are limited to two vehicles. Selected campsites may only allow one vehicle. FloridaStateParks.org • #FLStateParks 3 Cabins From modern to rustic, state park cabins provide overnight accommodations in a variety of settings—near beaches, rivers and lakes or peaceful wooded communities. Cabin styles vary from fully equipped modern cabins to hand-hewn, lumber or palm-log retreats. Cabin amenities may include a kitchen, fireplace and screened porch, complete with rocking chairs and porch swings. • Cabins may be reserved for one night during the week, Monday–Thursday, or a minimum of two nights on weekends and holidays, Friday and Saturday, departing Sunday, or Saturday and Sunday, departing Monday. Some exceptions apply. • Cabins can accommodate either four or six visitors. • Check-in time is 4 p.m. Check-out time is 11 a.m. • Quiet time is from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. 4 FloridaStateParks.org • #FLStateParks • Pets are not permitted in cabins or cabin areas. • Staff may assess cabin renters a damage fee if necessary to clean-up or repair any damage beyond ordinary cleaning, wear and tear. Fees may also be charged for lost/stolen items. Group, Primitive, Equestrian and Boat Many parks offer areas for youth and group camping. Backpackers may wish to hike to secluded areas for primitive camping. More than 15 state parks offer campsites and other amenities for equestrians and their horses. Owners of horses visiting state parks must provide proof of a negative Coggins test. Call the park to discuss availability, facilities, rules and fees. Five state parks provide boat slips with water and electricity. Boaters have access to the state park’s restrooms, showers, pump-outs and other amenities. Boaters can also anchor overnight at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. FloridaStateParks.org • #FLStateParks 5 Camping with Pets and Service Animals Pets are welcome at most Florida State Parks. Some campgrounds have designated sites for pets. All pets must be confined, leashed or otherwise under the physical control of a person at all times. Leashes may not exceed six feet in length. Pets must be well behaved. Owners must pick up after their pets and properly dispose of all pet droppings in trash receptacles. Pets are not permitted on beaches or playgrounds, or in bathing areas, cabins, park buildings or concession facilities. Individual parks may have specific areas prohibiting pets. Service animals in a working capacity are allowed in all public areas of state parks when accompanied by a visitor with a disability. Service animals should be harnessed, leashed or tethered unless such a device interferes with the service animal’s work or the visitor’s disability prevents the use of these devices. 6 FloridaStateParks.org • #FLStateParks Reservations Campsite and cabin reservations may be made from one day to 11 months in advance by calling (800) 326-3521, (866) I CAMP FL or TDD (888) 433-0287 or by visiting FloridaStateParks.ReserveAmerica.com. Call the park directly to reserve group or primitive campsites. Prices per night: Campsites $16 to $42 Cabins $30 to $160 Visitors pay a reservation fee of $6.70 *Prices subject to change. A 50 percent discount on base campsite fees is available to Florida citizens who are 65 years old or older, or Florida c