Visitors looking for a change from the sun and sand of the beaches will find a different kind of Florida at Eden Gardens State Park. Located between Destin and Panama City Beach in Northwest Florida, Eden Gardens State Park offers a variety of activities that include a nature trail, picnicking, and learning some Florida history.
Eden Gardens Grounds
Although Eden Gardens State park is a small Florida park, only 161 acres, the grounds are well kept, accessible, and enjoyable year round. Camellias, magnolias, azaleas, and ancient moss-covered live oaks, are some of the plants found here. There is also a heritage rose garden, a butterfly garden, and a reflecting pond filled with Koi and lilies. A three quarter mile nature trail meanders through the woods, and a wide concrete path leads to the house.
An expansive lawn running down to peaceful Tucker Bayou is a great place to turn the kids loose to run off some energy. In fact, a celebration of children and youth can be found in a number of sculptures scattered around the grounds that depict children at play. Just north of the reflecting pond is the so called Wedding Tree, a 600 year old oak that is a popular spot for bridal vows.
Wesley Historic House
The original house was built in 1897 by William Henry Wesley and his wife Katie. Wesley was a lumber baron who owned three sawmills and the house was built of the native yellow heart pine that was sawn at his sawmills. It had eight bedrooms to house the couple’s nine children and Wesley added a cupola so he could keep an eye on his thriving lumber business.
Nothing belonging to the Wesley family remains today, but the house is filled with a vast collection of antique furniture that was donated to the Florida park system by the second owner, Lois Maxon. When Ms. Maxon purchased the house and ten acres for $12,000 in 1963, it had been abandoned for ten years after Katie Wesley’s death. Ms. Maxon redesigned portions of the house and filled it with antiques from all over the world.
Lois Maxon only lived at Eden for five years. In 1968, in poor health, she donated the land, the house and all of its contents to the Florida park system. Today, this historic house represents not only the history of the area, it houses the second largest collection in the country of Louis XVI antique furniture.
Panama City Beach and Other Florida Beaches
Eden Gardens State Park is located about 15 miles west of Panama City Beach in South Walton County, or SoWal, the heart of the Northwest Florida beaches. Local beaches include the new urbanism of Seaside and Rosemary Beach as well as historic beaches like Grayton Beach and Santa Rosa Beach.
The Eden Gardens State Park grounds, gardens and picnic area are open daily from 8 a.m. until sundown. The house is open for hourly guided tours from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. A nominal fee is charged for tours. For more information, visit the Florida State Parks website at Eden Gardens State Park or call 850-267-8320.
Pamela Watson - I first hit the road at the tender age of three weeks when my career-Army dad packed up my mom and me and moved us from Indiana to New ...
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