"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) 736-2132
