Overview
Located on the William Bartram Scenic Highway (SR 13), Beluthahatchee Park is a four (4) acre park located within the 70-acre tract of land purchased by Stetson Kennedy in 1948 after the 18 acre Beluthahatchee Lake was created by impounding Mill Creek in 1945. This lake meanders through a natural basin and is surrounded by high bluffs, currently owned by the Lake Dwellers Association, a non-profit Florida corporation formed by the lakefront residents.
The perimeter of the property is surrounded by a heavy canopy of native vegetation overstory consisting of mixed coniferous and hardwood defined by live oak, laurel oak, water oak, long leaf pine and cabbage palms. The native vegetation understory consists of saw palmetto, southern magnolia, water and laurel oak. The lake native vegetation overstory consists of pignut hickory, sweet gum and bald cypress and the understory consists of sweet gum, southern magnolia and swamp dogwood.
Much of the perimeter native vegetation has been preserved, despite intensive development around its border. The Beluthahatchee enclave provides wildlife habitat and continues to serve as a rookery and roosting place for ospreys, eagles, snowy egrets, tri-colored heron, white ibis, little blue heron, wood storks, black-crow night herons, wood ducks, anhingas, purple gallinules, bronze grackles, red-winged blackbirds and many other species.
Amenities
- Nature Trails
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Self-Guided Tours
- Wildlife Viewing
Related Content
![Stetson](https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/stetson-v1657728379.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=59a1a5d6a4d3c5f94febcc883a76ad55 225w)
Sundays at Stetson’s at Beluthahatchee Park
Presented by The Stetson Kennedy Foundation and St. Johns County Parks, this monthly folk music concert series features artists who…
![](https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Fort-matanzas-1920x1080-v1634843498.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=4ecb6015fbe103229e75fb1c9cb26de9 320w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Fort-matanzas-1920x1080-v1634843498.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=ea6e8a97cdba00d6cbed0a2b5d211d7e 540w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Fort-matanzas-1920x1080-v1634843498.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=768&s=3789e3139815cc37003a471d33969a0b 768w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Fort-matanzas-1920x1080-v1634843498.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1024&q=80&w=1024&s=bbefb5265a5d46bd619bb0ec2f4f64c7 1024w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Fort-matanzas-1920x1080-v1634843498.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&q=80&w=1200&s=b4d0df99f07b9fe3881cf7851bec1b28 1080w)
Taking the Scenic Routes on Florida’s Historic Coast Itinerary
Embark on an unforgettable journey along Florida’s Historic Coast, where scenic routes unveil the region’s natural beauty, historical landmarks, and…