Lovers Key State Park

Lovers Key State Park is a spot for heavy bird activity. PHOTO BY NATHAN MAYBERG

Consisting of four barrier islands, Lovers Key State Park encompasses 1,616 acres that include a stretch of 2.5 miles of white sandy beaches, 744 acres of mangrove-fringed waterways, and 8 miles of hiking and nature trails that thread through the beaches and islands. Originally named after University of Florida engineering graduate Carl E. Johnson, who helped design and build the causeway that connects the park to Bonita Springs along County Road 865, the park is now commonly referred to simply as Lovers Key.

Like many of Florida’s state parks, Lovers Key is a day-use-only facility— opening every morning at 8 a.m. and closing at sunset 365 days a year. Because of

its strategic location between the urban centers of Naples to the south and Fort Myers/Cape Coral to the north, Lovers Key State Park is one of the most visited parks in the state, topped only by Honeymoon Island in Dunedin. Although no camping is allowed, the park is a great place for fishing, biking, hiking, sunbathing, picnicking, swimming, and more.

The name Lovers Key dates back to the turn of the last century when it was said that young couples favored the sunsets along the beach that extends between New Pass to the south and Big Carlos Pass to the north. In the early days Lovers Key was accessible only by boat, and the seclusion it offered was a welcome respite from the early Florida land boom of the 1920s. Black Island, which is where a 2.6-mile hiking loop and a 5-mile canoe and kayak trail are now located, was slated for a resort-style development in the late 1960s. The island was cleared of all native trees and mangroves and dredged in anticipation of this new subdivision. After a public outcry to halt the development, the state of Florida purchased almost all of the island and added its acreage to what was then the Carl E. Johnson State Park. Since the acquisition by the state, the mangroves and hardwood coastal hammocks have returned, and the land where houses were destined to rise is now covered in palm trees and native plants.

One unique feature of Lovers Key State Park is that it has a nice two-slot boat ramp located on the bay side of County Highway 865 where anglers and boaters can launch their vessels to explore the backwaters of Estero Bay (Florida’s first aquatic preserve) and the numerous surrounding passes. There is a launch fee per boat. There are also canoe and kayak launches in the park free to all paid park visitors. One section of the park is part of the Great Calusa Blueway.

Another great feature of Lovers Key is the picnic area and children’s playground located in the northeast corner of Black Island. Numerous picnic tables and covered kiosks are available for day-trippers. Because of its name and its 100-year-old reputation as a destination for romance, Lovers Key State Park is a particular favorite for beach weddings; a large covered gazebo and tram stop along the beach help to facilitate these events.

The sheer size of the park, coupled with its dredged canals, backwaters, and passes, make it one of the state’s top-rated parks for anglers. The south side of the park abutting New Pass is known for producing some of the largest record snook in the state. Other catches include redfish, sea trout, tarpon, and flounder, and visiting anglers are encouraged to try cast-netting for the plentiful black-striped mullet. Wildlife sightings may include roseate spoonbills, least terns, black skimmers, bald eagles, West Indian manatees, bottlenosed dolphins, and the diminutive marsh rabbit. Because of its location along the coast, Lovers Key has shelling comparable to that found on Sanibel Island.

A free tram ferries the visitors from the parking lot to the beaches and runs daily from the park’s opening until 5 p.m. Wildlife tours and presentations are offered during the winter season. Contact the park directly for updates on these events.

The concession company operating in the park offers food, beverages, ice cream, and bike, canoe, and kayak rentals along with an assortment of other amenities including guided sightseeing and fishing tours. The park has been working with Friends of Lovers Key (FOLKS, 239-4634588) to raise funds to build a visitors center near the main parking lot.

Lovers Key State Park remains nearly as untouched and beautiful today as it was 500 years ago. Several times over the past decade this beach has made it into the top 10 in all of Florida, and once you’ve experienced its white sandy beaches, you’ll understand why.

Lovers Key State Park at 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, between Big Carlos Pass and New Pass.