Who Would Have Known: Koreshan State Park

by Alisha Diaz

Do you know the local history of your town? Estero, Florida has a state park set up to preserve some of their town's history. The park has a nice river, trails, and a camping area, but they also have history displays and buildings. Koreshan State Park not the biggest park, but it is a fun place to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

(Link: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Koreshan)

   

If I explain this correctly, it was actually the property of a self-sustaining cult. A cult!? That sounds scary! It wasn't so bad, at least from what was recorded. They believed the earth is contained on the inside of a sphere, instead of believing the earth is a sphere in the universe. They did not communicate with the outside world. They built, sew, and grew everything they needed. They did not use money either. Everyone worked for the common goal, and someone was in charge of distributing the good according to each family's needs. They had a leader, and he prophesied that he would resurrect when he died. They kept his body in a tomb hoping it was true. A Florida hurricane swept it away, and their leader never did return. (This is my personal opinion/summary, and I tried to explain as well as possible.)

Throughout the park there are old preserved buildings on display. You can enter some of them and see how they lived and worked in them. They are actually quite beautiful and many people visit the park for photography purposes. One of the buildings has a television set up with a documentary of the cult. Another one of them is actually used a lot for performances or concerts.

My favorite part of the park is the trails. They are mainly walked by the locals. It runs along the river and is a beautiful sight. There is a section of bamboo that many people have carved their names or initials into. It's nice to see how many people have been at this same spot. Remember to bring your bugs pray when you head out on these paths. Watch your step as well. You could come across a snake or a tortoise.

Though I have never done it, paddle boarding, kayaking, and canoeing is available. The prices are very reasonable, and I know many that have tried it. This park also doubles as a camping site. There are bathrooms, open areas, playgrounds, and everything you'd need to have a camp out. You would need to provide your own tent or camper, of course.

The cost to enter the park is $5.00 per vehicle. That is pretty standard for a Florida park. I think that is a reasonable price to be able to explore the outdoors and view some beautiful scenery. Moises and I love to go there every once in a while to stretch our legs and go for a walk. Some great friends of ours are wanting to check it out, and hopefully we can plan a day there soon. If you are looking for more specific information, I suggest checking out their website. We hope you give the park a shot.