Exploring Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge

Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge – from Fort to Ruins

Fort Dade was built during the Spanish American War and remained in military control for many years. In 1974 the island was turned over to the State of Florida and became a state park in 1989. In 1974 the southern portion of the island became Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge (also a bird sanctuary). Visiting Egmont Key should only be done during fairly calm water. Because there are no docks, one needs to anchor a ways off of the island shoreline and dinghy to shore. The shoreline is quite open and unprotected.

After securing our dinghy we walked up onto what used to be a brick-lined boulevard of Fort Dade’s military base. Most of the housing, fire department, and general store structures are long gone. So it felt eerie walking the streets and walkways where a whole community of buildings once stood. There is still a manned lighthouse station on the island. Egmont Key’s lighthouse still operates as a guiding light for passage into and out of Tampa Bay. We walked past the lighthouse, waving to the Ranger on duty, as we worked our way to the west side of the island, to where the old remnants of Fort Dade remain. We stumbled onto many slow-moving gopher tortoises who make Egmont their home. Standing on top of where the gun turrets were mounted to guard the entrance to Tampa Bay we could easily see why. Way back in 1849, Robert E Lee thought this would be a good place for a fort. We especially enjoyed wandering around the ruins of Fort Dade.

   

   

   

   

   

Jim walked out on the beach with the binoculars to check on Kismet, anchored off the Egmont Key.

The remnants of the fort were beautifully weathered, and Lisa got some great photos of the old buildings.