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Honeymoon Island sets attendance record
Article published on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 |
DUNEDIN - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Honeymoon Island State Park welcomed its one millionth visitor for the 2007-2008 fiscal year on June 10.
James Prater and company from Tennessee were the first guests to set the attendance record.
“Honeymoon Island has made history today as this is the first time this park has ever welcomed a million visitors in one year,” said Florida Park Service director Mike Bullock. “Parks throughout the state are enjoying record-setting attendance and continue to be a great place to experience …the Real Florida.”
James Prater, Jorga Prater and Deidre Caywood were welcomed by Park Manager Peter Krulder Tuesday morning. As the millionth visitor, Prater and guests received a ferry ride to Caladesi Island; complimentary chair and umbrella rentals at Café Honeymoon; a three-day and two-night stay at the nearby Best Western Yacht Harbor Inn; dinner for two at a choice of two local restaurants; a $50 gift certificate to the Rotary Centennial Nature Center at Honeymoon Island and a Florida State Parks Pass and Passport.
"It is important to us that we honor this milestone," Krulder said. “We want to celebrate the increase in attendance and park stewardship at Honeymoon Island.”
With four miles of pristine beach on the Gulf of Mexico, Honeymoon Island receives the highest visitation of any state park in Florida and is favored by both Floridians and out of state guests.
Last fiscal year the park reached nearly one million guests with 976,553 visitors. Honeymoon Island is an affordable, eco-friendly travel destination and offers many recreational opportunities such as interpretive tours, picnicking, surfing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and a nature trail for bird watching and nature observation.
Upon visiting Honeymoon Island, a ferry boat is available to transfer guests to nearby Caladesi Island State Park. Caladesi Island’s beach was ranked No. 1 in the country last month by Stephen Leatherman of Florida International University, otherwise known as “Dr. Beach.”
For more information on Honeymoon Island State Park, call 727-469-5942 or visit www.FloridaStateParks.org/HoneymoonIsland.
The park is located about six miles west of U.S. 19, 35 minutes west of Tampa on State Road 586 (Curlew Road). For more information on Florida State Parks, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org.
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Article published on Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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