Fort Matanzas

Twice now we have tried to visit Fort Matanzas and been unable to do so.  Four years ago when we visited Florida in 2014 we drove by on our way to Orlando after visiting Castillo de San Marcos.  As the fort was built to protect the southern approaches to the Castillo it isn't that far away, and well positioned along the toll-free route to the Orlando area.  The fort itself is located on an island, across an inlet from the main highway in the area, so you have to take a ferry over to the fort itself in order to tour the grounds.

However, during our visit in 2014  a storm was rolling in and so the ferry from the visitor center to the fort wasn't running.

In 2018 it was a more serious and long-term issue that kept the ferry from running.  When Hurricane Irma swept through the area in the fall of 2017 it caused quite a bit of damage.  The website explains that "Hurricane Irma caused significant damage to the visitor center ferry dock making it unsafe for visitors. Repairs to the dock will take some time. Both ferry boats are still afloat, but also received some damage. Park staff are patiently working with contractors to arrange a time to finish repairs and resume tours to Fort Matanzas."

Someday I really want to visit the fort itself, but for now we just had to content ourselves with a tour of the small visitor center/gift shop and a walk on the trails.

 These massive trees cover much of the parking lot and provided a great place for the girls to run around and get some energy out.

 The visitor center/gift shop building isn't large (and actually much of it isn't open to the public).

 Out front you can see an excellent explanation of the damage caused by Irma.

 I remembered this display from the last time we visited.  It shows how the arches in the fortification were constructed using temporary wooden supports.

 This model shows the fort as it would have appeared in 1743.

Here you can see a description of the movements and battles that gave the area its name.  French colonists from Fort Caroline were massacred around this spot, leading to its naming of Matanzas, which is Spanish for massacre or slaughter.

 You can just see a glimpse of the fort across the water in this shot.

 The nature trail is not long at all and winds through beautiful woods.

Daniel was quite comfortable being carried along the trail.

 The girls enjoyed running.

 I even managed to find some flowers.

Before we left the girls climbed in the trees and I managed to grab this adorable picture.

All of the rest of the pictures from our brief stop can be found in this album.

~Matt