"Turquoise Waters and White Sand Beach"
The men and women of the Tocobaga tribe were its
first recorded visitors. By 1530, Spanish explorers had
scanned the island's coast. For the next two
centuries, pirates, traders and fishermen came and went. The
Tocobagans, wiped out by foreign diseases, stayed. Their bones
reside in the low-lying mounds on the adjacent islands. With
the advent of exploration and settlement, the island's
metamorphosis quickened. By the 1830's, it was finally on the
map as Sand Island. The Hurricane of '48 drove five feet of
water over it, and a faltering hog farm was at least
successful enough for a name change to Hog Island by 1880. In
1921, another hurricane split the island, forming Hurricane
Pass and Caladesi Island to the south.
Americans got
their first glimpse of Honeymoon Island in the early 1940's
through newsreels and magazine ads which promised undiscovered
pleasures for newlyweds. The palm-thatched bungalows, or
cottages, subtropic climate and balmy breezes seemed perfect.
It was until Pearl Harbor. America went to war, factories
operated around the clock. A New Yorker who had purchased the
island in 1939 for $30,000 saw his vacation paradise re
commissioned as an R&R site for exhausted
workers.
By the 1950's, man was a major competitor in
the reshaping of what was now Honeymoon Island. A causeway
bridged the gap between Honeymoon and the mainland by 1964,
and the island passed through the hands of several development
corporations.
Visitors can observe one of the few
remaining south Florida virgin slash pine stands along the
island's northern loop trail. These large trees serve as
important nesting sites for the osprey.
Other important coastal plant communities found on
and around the island include mangrove swamps, seagrass beds,
salt marshes, tidal flats, and sand dunes. Honeymoon Island
has more than 208 species of plants and a variety of shore
birds, including several threatened and endangered species.
Resource management efforts include the removal of exotic
species of plants such as Brazilian pepper. Ecological burning
keeps accumulated fuels to a minimum and helps reduce exotic
plant life while preserving fire-tolerant native
species.
Café Honeymoon located inside Honeymoon Island
State Park features casual style beach fare. Our menu
includes: Fish and Chips, Best Island Burger, and Fruit
Smoothies. Relax and enjoy the view of the Gulf of Mexico and
pristine beach from our patio deck with a cold beer.
Café Honeymoon also offers an array of gifts,
souvenirs, and beach accessories! Looking to relax Café
Honeymoon offers Beach Chairs and Umbrellas and for the
adventurous, Ocean Kayaks are available for
rental.
Planning a special Party let Café Honeymoon
cater your event. Specializing in Island Parties, Sunset Beach Weddings and Casual get-togethers.
Café
Honeymoon
1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin, Fl
34698
Park closes
at sunset for the general public- for private events , special
arrangements can be made
727-260-5503
