The Weedon Island Preserve is a 3,190 acre natural area situated along the western shore of Tampa Bay, and located on 1800 Weedon Drive NE.

St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. It is predominately an estuarine preserve composed of upland and aquatic ecosystems such as mangrove forests, pine/scrubby flatwoods, and maritime hammock, and is home to a variety of native wildlife. The preserve is also a designated archaeological area with several shell mounds identified on the property that provide evidence of early peoples who inhabited the land for thousands of years. On June 13, 1972, Weedon Island Preserve was added to the

U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

. In 1974 the state of Florida purchased Weedon Island and its surrounding islands and it officially opened for public use in December 1980. In 1993, the state created a lease agreement with

Pinellas County Pinellas County (, ) is a county located on the west central coast of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 959,107. The county is part of the Tampa–St. Petersburg– Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical ...

to manage and maintain the preserve. The county's Department of Parks and Conservation Resources presently manages the area. Weedon Island Preserve's name is derived from Tampa doctor and amateur archaeologist, Leslie Washington Weedon.

Recreational Activities

The preserve offers a total of 4.7 miles of nature trails for hiking with 2 miles out of the total as boardwalks and paved trails that are ADA accessible, and the remaining 2.7 miles as natural trail loops. The 3,000 foot Tower Boardwalk trail leads visitors to a 45-foot tall observation tower, the tallest of its kind in Pinellas County. With favorable weather conditions, one can see much of the Preserve and

Tampa Bay Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and shallow estuary connected to the Gulf of Mexico on the west-central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, McKay Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay. The largest freshwater ...

from this tower, as well as the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg. Three additional observation platforms along the trails offer opportunities for bird and wildlife viewing, and are ideal for photography. In addition to hiking, the preserve maintains a 4-mile, self-guided

canoe A canoe is a lightweight narrow water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle. In British English, the ter ...

ing/ kayaking loop called the South Paddling Trail. The path weaves through mangrove tunnels within the preserve and has access points to the bay. Visitors interested in exploring the paddling trail may bring their own vessels or take a tour throug
ECOmersionECOmersion
is a kayak tour company located in the area whose purpose is to get people outside and connected with nature
ECOmersion's
professional staff give tours when the tide is high for a once in a lifetime experience on Weedon Island Preserve. The tour leads through the tunnels of the iconic Florida mangroves on the preserve. Other activities available include

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...

from the Pier located at the end of Weedon Dr. NE and picnicking at any of designated picnic tables provided.

Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center

The Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center opened in the fall of 2002 through the support of the Friends of Weedon Island and is run by Pinellas County. The Center focuses on the natural, cultural and archaeological history of the preserve. The Exhibit Hall features interactive displays on the unique wildlife and habitats found on Weedon Island, and the ancient and present-day history of the preserve. Part of the collection of Native American artifacts from Weedon Island has been digitized and is available online as a virtual tour. The most recent addition to the Center is a dugout canoe that was found in the Weedon Island Preserve that is believed to be a Manasotan artifact. It estimated to be 1,100 years old.

Ecosystem

Programs and Events

Pinellas county staff and UF/IFAS Extension agents provide a wide variety of educational programs and events for the general public that are family-friendly and often free of charge. Monthly programs may include guided hikes, archaeology classes, speaker series, photography or birding meet ups, and environmental sustainability workshops. Program registration and an updated list of current offerings are available through the preserve's Eventbrite page.

Hours of Operations

The Preserve is open seven days a week, from dawn to dusk. The Cultural and Natural History Center is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and on Sundays from 11:00am to 4:00pm.

Gallery

Aerial view of Venetian Isles, St Petersburg, Florida.jpg, Aerial view of Venetian Isles, and Weedon Island Preserve (top) Weeden Island Culture Center.jpg, Entrance to Weedon Island Culture Center Weeden Island02.jpg, View of the boardwalk leading to the Preserve's observation tower Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center (Entrance).jpg, Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center (Entrance) Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center (view from the trail).jpg, Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center Airport Waiting Room Ruins Tarmac Side.jpg, Airport Waiting Room Ruins File:Airport Waiting Room Ruins.jpg, Airport Waiting Room Ruins (From the Trail) File:Paul L. Getting Nature Trail Dedication.jpg, View of the dedication of the Paul L. Getting nature trail dedication File:Elevated Boardwalk, Weedon Island Preserve.jpg, Elevated Boardwalk File:Veiw from the Boardwalk.jpg, View from the boardwalk File:Observation Tower, Weedon Island Preserve.jpg, Observation Tower File:Mangrove Hammock.jpg, Mangrove Hammock File:View of the Boardwalk from the Observation Tower.jpg, View of the Boardwalk from the Observation Tower File:Cabage Palms With Description.jpg, Cabbage palms, complete with some information about cabbage palms File:Pine Flatwoods, Weedon Island Preserve.jpg, A view of pine flatwoods from the nature trail

References

External links

Weedon Island Preserve official site
* Milanich, Jerald T., Ann S. Cordell and Vernon J. Knig. (1997) ''Archaeology of Northern Florida, A.D. 200-900: The McKeithen Weeden Island Culture'' University Press of Florida.
Pinellas County listings
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National Register of Historic PlacesFlorida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
*
Pinellas County listings

Weedon Island Preserve
{{authority control Weeden Island culture Archaeological sites in Florida Native American museums in Florida Nature centers in Florida Museums in Pinellas County, Florida Natural history museums in Florida Nature reserves in Florida Parks in Pinellas County, Florida National Register of Historic Places in Pinellas County, Florida Florida Native American Heritage Trail 1972 establishments in Florida Protected areas established in 1972