Royal Palm State Park was a protected hammock in the Everglades west of Homestead, centered on an island of hardwood forest called Paradise Key. It was dedicated on November 23, 1916, and is generally described as Florida's first state park. For three decades it was the main protected place in the southern Everglades. When Everglades National Park was dedicated on December 6, 1947, the state park became part of it, and the site is now the park's Royal Palm area, home to the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo trails, about four miles from the main entrance near Homestead.
Paradise Key before the park
A federal surveyor noted Paradise Key in 1847. It was a hammock, a slightly raised island of tropical hardwoods surrounded by sawgrass marsh, and it was known for a stand of native royal palms that towered above the canopy. As the railroad pushed south and settlers arrived in the early 1900s, naturalists worried that plant collectors, hunters and fire would destroy places like this. Plume hunting for wading birds had already devastated rookeries across South Florida.
How the park was created
The push to protect Paradise Key came largely from the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs, a statewide organization whose leadership at the time included May Mann Jennings, wife of former governor William Sherman Jennings. The state legislature granted 960 acres to the federation, a step described as the first conservation action approved by the state. Mary Lily Kenan Flagler, widow of the railroad builder Henry Flagler, matched the grant, bringing the park to 1,920 acres. Later state donations brought it to about 4,000 acres by 1921.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1847 | Paradise Key recorded by a federal surveyor |
| March 1916 | A caretaker and his family arrive at the site |
| November 23, 1916 | Royal Palm State Park is dedicated; the Ingraham Highway is dedicated the same day |
| 1917 | A U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist surveys the southern Everglades and describes Paradise Key as a remarkable subtropical jungle |
| 1919 | The three-story Royal Palm Lodge is completed |
| 1921 | The park reaches about 4,000 acres; the state approves a small recurring appropriation |
| 1926 | After the Miami hurricane and Everglades fires, the state provides restoration money |
| 1933–1934 | An Emergency Conservation Work camp operates in the park |
| December 6, 1947 | President Truman dedicates Everglades National Park, and the state park becomes part of it |
Life at the park
The early park was remote. The Ingraham Highway, dedicated on the same day as the park, gave visitors a rough road west from Homestead, and the lodge offered a place to stay. A resident caretaker patrolled against poachers and fire. Botanists and birdwatchers came to see the royal palms, orchids, ferns and air plants of the hammock, along with alligators and wading birds in the surrounding marsh. Fire and drought were constant threats, especially as drainage canals lowered water levels across the Everglades. The 1926 hurricane and fires that year caused serious damage that required state money to repair.
From state park to national park
By the 1920s, advocates were calling for a much larger national park in the Everglades. Congress authorized Everglades National Park in 1934, but land acquisition took more than a decade. When the park was finally dedicated in December 1947, Royal Palm State Park ceased to exist as a separate unit, and the site of the old park became the location of the national park's first visitor center. The wider story of the national park, and of Biscayne National Park to the east, is on the page about the history behind Homestead's two national parks.
Visiting Royal Palm today
The Royal Palm area is one of the most visited spots in the Everglades and an easy first stop for anyone coming from Homestead.
| Feature | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | About four miles from the main park entrance and the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center |
| Anhinga Trail | About 0.8 miles round trip on pavement and boardwalk; wheelchair accessible; known for alligators, anhingas, herons and turtles |
| Gumbo Limbo Trail | A short, shaded loop through the hardwood hammock, starting at the same area |
| Historic listing | The Anhinga Trail was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 |
| Best season | The winter dry season, roughly December through April, when wildlife gathers near water |
| Seasonal transit | The City of Homestead has run a seasonal trolley to the park in winter; check current service |
Entrance fees apply inside the park gate. Check the official Everglades National Park website at nps.gov/ever for current fees, hours, closures and ranger programs before you go. Vultures in the Royal Palm parking area have been known to damage rubber parts on cars, and the park has at times offered tarps to cover vehicles.
What to look for on the trails
- Royal palms. Tall, smooth gray trunks with a green crownshaft at the top; the species the park was named for.
- Gumbo limbo trees. Red, peeling bark that gives the second trail its name.
- Epiphytes. Air plants, ferns and orchids growing on tree branches in the hammock.
- Taylor Slough. The Anhinga Trail runs along this slow-moving channel of water, which draws wildlife in the dry season.
Combining Royal Palm with other history stops
Royal Palm fits easily into a day that also includes the Cold War-era Nike missile site in the park, which has offered ranger-led tours in winter, and a walk through historic downtown Homestead on the way back. For the town's own story, start with the Homestead history timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Royal Palm Florida's first state park?
Yes, it is generally described as Florida's first state park. It was dedicated on November 23, 1916, and protected Paradise Key, a hardwood hammock west of Homestead.
Who created Royal Palm State Park?
The Florida Federation of Women's Clubs led the effort. The state legislature granted the federation 960 acres, and Mary Lily Kenan Flagler matched that land, for a total of 1,920 acres at the start.
What happened to Royal Palm State Park?
It became part of Everglades National Park when the national park was dedicated on December 6, 1947. The site is now the park's Royal Palm area and visitor center.
How far is Royal Palm from the Everglades entrance?
The Royal Palm Visitor Center is about four miles from the main park entrance and the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center west of Homestead.
How long is the Anhinga Trail?
The Anhinga Trail is about 0.8 miles round trip and is wheelchair accessible. Most visitors spend 30 minutes to an hour on it, longer when wildlife is active.