Many construction projects are underway at T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.
Two campground loops and two new day-use areas are being renovated or built. Additional projects will follow in the next few years.
In October 2018, Hurricane Michael severed the peninsula just 1 mile north of the park entrance, rendering 90% of the park inaccessible (2,470 of 2,790 acres). The majority of the park’s vital infrastructure was wholly destroyed, including the popular Gulf Breeze and Shady Pines campground loops and cabins.
Many construction projects are underway at T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. Cabin renovations, two campground loops and two new day-use areas are being renovated or built. Additional projects will follow in the next few years.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection welcomes opportunities to make improvements to the park facilities. We appreciate the patience and understanding of visitors. While these projects may present a temporary inconvenience, they will provide valuable amenity improvements and will symbolize the park’s resilience following a devastating storm.
Camping at the Park
In the future, the park will offer two camping loops.
The former Shady Pines Campground was washed out by Hurricane Michael and the bathhouses were destroyed. Much of the tree canopy was lost. The dune adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico was eroded.
The new Shady Pines campground will feature 36 standard-facility campsites and 10 tent-only campsites. Two new bathhouses will be built. Campers will have access to the gulf beach from the campground. The Shady Pines campground will open for reservations in mid-2023.
A new camping loop, the Bayview Campground, will be created on the site of the former boat trailer parking area. Campers will enjoy a scenic view over the waters of St. Joseph Bay. Approximately 19 standard-facility campsites will surround an area of natural scrubby flatwoods with a footpath to a bathhouse.
Please be patient and exercise caution, and do not enter the construction zone.
What's Available Now
Today, the park is open for day use from 8 a.m. to sundown and offers nearly 20 miles of beach and bay shoreline for recreation and wildlife habitat. Visitors can enjoy fishing, bicycling, birding, hiking, paddling, picnicking, shelling, swimming and wildlife viewing. Kayak, canoe and pontoon boat rentals are available at the Eagle Harbor Marina. The popular Maritime Hammock Nature Trail is open. The Gulf Breeze day-use area has reopened allowing visitors to explore an area of beach north of Eagle Harbor with a scenic backdrop of piney flatwoods and open marsh.
Eight vacation cabins are available for overnight stays in the park. Additionally, 14 primitive campsites are available in the Wilderness Preserve area of the park.
The beach provides opportunities for swimming, sunning and walking.
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The beach at TH Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.
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The boat ramp at Eagle Harbor Marina.
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The dock at Eagle Harbor Marina.
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Since 2018, several significant projects have been completed. Tons of debris and downed or hazardous timber have been removed from the park. The breach caused by Hurricane Michael has filled in and been stabilized, and a new road is in place. A beach renourishment project repaired the dunescape using an off-shore dredge site. The beach restroom has been remodeled, and sea oats have been planted to stabilize the dune and help prevent erosion. The Gulf Breeze day-use area parking area has been completed allowing beach access north of Eagle Harbor. Eagle Harbor Marina dredging and parking area improvements have been completed.
Sea oats have been planted to help stabilize the dunes.
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A new road is in place to stablish the area where the breach occurred.
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The completed lot at the Gulf Breeze day use area.
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Aerial view of the Gulf Breeze day use area.
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Cabin Renovations
Eight vacation cabins are available for overnight stays in the park. Each one bedroom/one bathroom cabin has sleeping accommodations for six people and a fabulous view of St. Joseph Bay. Boardwalks provide easy access to the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
Primitive Camping
Fourteen primitive campsites offer a remote experience in the Wilderness Preserve. This sensitive natural community was resilient to the impacts of Hurricane Michael. Contact the park for reservations to enjoy this pack-it-in, pack-it-out camping experience.
Day-Use Facilities
Park visitors will have access to two new day-use areas for picnicking and other recreation.
The Gulf Breeze Day-Use Area (former Gulf Breeze Campground) allows visitors to explore an area of beach north of Eagle Harbor with a scenic backdrop of piney flatwoods and open marsh that provide habitat for an abundance of wildlife. Additional amenities still underway at this location include a restroom, covered pavilions, and boardwalk to the beach.
Pavilions at the Bayview Day-Use Area will provide shade for picnickers. This area will be used by hikers on the Bayview Hiking Trail and paddlers for launching paddle craft and small watercraft.
The Eagle Harbor Day-Use Area provides access to the Gulf Beach and St. Joseph Bay. Marina dredging and parking area improvements have been completed.
The view from the future Bayview Day-Use area.
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Plants are recovering in the preserve.
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Pine seedling in the preserve.
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