Koreshan State Park

This place is somewhat of a hidden gem! It is fascinating and worth a 2-hour stop. Ironically it's only a few feet from highway 41 and most people drive right by it. Beautiful picnic area, beautiful historic buildings and fascinating cult that occupied these grounds up until 1950 or so. If you like the Ford Edison museum in Fort Myers, you will love Koreshan and State Park. They also have a campground that is frequently available when others are not. Perfect location.

Nice little park with an interesting settlement. The park staff was super nice and helpful. The park was clean and had a lot of trails for walking even though the park isn't all that big. Saw plenty of wildlife, birds, turtles and the most beautiful rattlesnake.

$5 entrance for cars 2 -6 people. Great state park to walk, explore history and historical buildings, picnic, fish or camp. Pet friendly. We saw a small wedding while exploring. Spent about 3 hours here 2 adults, 2 teens. We all enjoyed a great walk after brunch.

Koreshan State Park is a hidden gem in Estero! The trails are beautifully shaded by trees, making it perfect for a peaceful walk or bike ride without worrying about overheating—especially for pets. The park runs along the river, offering scenic views and even kayaking opportunities. It feels very safe with a steady flow of visitors, and I highly recommend taking the historical tour of the old settlement homes on the grounds. It’s a great spot for a weekend hike, a relaxing nature escape, or a fun family outing. Definitely worth a visit!

What awesome history. We are staying in the park for 2 weeks. Had to check this out. A lot of history. The Rangers were very knowledgeable and friendly. I'm from Florida. So, I had to learn the history of this cult. They were very self-sufficient, it seems. We really enjoyed walking around the grounds, looking at all the buildings. They also have walking trails. Benches to sit by the water. We will be back Saturday night for the little concert. The campground is nice. A lot of privacy in between sites. Playground, boat ramp, and kayak launch. Sites have picnic tables and firepits.

Always a peaceful experience. Great location - markets/shopping and dinning are close to this clean and well maintained FL state park. We live near Fort Myers Beach and book here whenever for a "rv stay-cation" all the time and will continue to do so as long as we live here.

This place is amazing. We spent about 2 hours walking all over the park, including 2 beautiful nature trails. There were a lot of cool old buildings, machines and tools. Very interesting info about the cult that used to live there. Got a cool T-shirt at the gift shop. Beautiful plants and bridges. $5 entrance fee for one vehicle. We finally saw a gopher tortoise! Looks like a beautiful place to kayak.

It's always excellent, but today, they were even better a 5++. 👍😊 We arrived with just about 1.5 hours til close, yet they sped us thru our rental process and even assisted my two first-time kayackingn friends. 🛶🌊 We had not a lot of time, just about 1 hour, but I am thankful we weren't turned away. 🙏😇 We had a great time filled with adventure and laughs. 😂🤣 Thank you Koreshan Outfitters! We will be back! 🥳🎉

I have heard about the Koreshan State Park and the cult with the same name from my previous visits to the Bonita Springs area. But after reading the novel "The Magic Kingdom" written by Russell Banks recently (I do recommend) based on the history of the Koreshan cult, I wanted to visit the park during my next trip. And we did. The park is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. They have tours and demonstrations on the property. You can browse on your own of you want. We opted for a guided tour that starts at 10 am for $10/person, you can book online ahead of time or just pay and join on the spot. It was well worth it, our guide gave us a lot of interesting information (although she didn't know about the books), about Dr. Cyrus Teed, the guru of the Koreshan who started the religious cult in New York, moved it to Chicago, then to Estero Bay in Florida where they helped develop the area. Lots of fascinating stories about their settlement, religion concepts, work in the area, business, the role of women within the cult. We lingered afterword to browse some more, lots of memorabilia on display and we were lucky to witness some demonstrations. You need at least 2-3 hours to see everything. You can bring lunch, there are picnic tables. A lot of places and houses in this big park. Wear comfy shoes, bring a hat. You will also see cool plants and animals in the wild (cool lizards, small iguanas). It's worth checking out if you're looking for an activity that opens a big window into the history of the area!

We enjoyed our first visit and camping trip to Koreshan State park. The RV sites are small and very sandy with only water and electric. Our site was very sunny with no shade so that was a bummer. We also thought it was odd that tent campers were taking up RV spots on both sides of us. No wonder RV'ers have such a hard time getting into state parks!! Very unfair. I did not like that at all. The Estero River was very easily accessible and we loved paddle boarding and kayaking. We road our bikes through out the park. There were no sidewalks but little traffic so we felt safe. The Koreshan Compound was very interesting. Unfortunately we got there a little late and the buildings were closed but we still got to walk around the grounds and read the history signs. We also saw some gopher tortoises! Another thing we liked about this park is that the closest beach is only 15min away. So loved being about to enjoy both the river and the beach. Tip: the ranger told us they are closing the camping section in May 2025 and it will be closed for a year for full renovations including new shower facilities (I thought they were fine btw)

A fascinating journey through the grounds of the history of the place. very informational, well laid out and owner of photo opportunities. You may want to bring bug spray, but well worth the visit!

I had heard of a Jr. Ranger program for kids at state parks, so i called on sun, 7/13/25 to inquire. (they are open til 5- i called at 10:46am) "Mike" answered the phone. He said they participate, but it would be best to come on a weekday. I asked what it entailed-he said they give you a packet of info. Okay...sounded like he did not want to be bothered while he was working! We did not go where we were not wanted. Totally ruined my daughters day by him discouraging us from coming. Isn't your job to encourage people to visit your park?? We will not be going to Koreshan.

Jimmy does an excellent job with my Mani n Pedi. He is very accommodating and very friendly. Speaks excellent English. I highly recommend. I go to him all the time.

I discovered this park while randomly navigating around on Google Maps looking for nearby parks to go to. I'm glad I found it! It's great for a little short day trip for those interested in religious / cult history and/or old settlements. I enjoyed reading about how this Koreshan settlement used to be in the past. The volunteers were all very friendly and helpful. The smaller buildings were kind of useless to look inside because they don't allow anyone to go inside, but at least we could go inside the larger buildings. It was so hot outside that I just wanted to go indoors / undercover in between each stop, but there's not much around to help with that especially in the northern section of the property. They should add more shady areas there, so people don't have to read the many plaques under direct sunlight...

Never knew about this place but since there were some popular geocaches here we decided to explore. It was a Sunday and there was a farmers' market going on (see separate review) that was average at best. There is a $5 entrance fee. We walked through the former religious colony and read many of the plaques - what is it with strange "religions" starting in western & central NY. Do some googling and you will find a few that were started in that region. Anyway an interesting slice of history. We also took advantage of their shady picnic area and took a hike on the river and the blue hiking paths. Also we heard that a nearby prescribed burn jumped the road near the campground and went a bit further than planned. Overall a nice park with a historical twist.

What a wonderful State Park. Super interesting history of Dr. Cyrus Teed (Koresh). A very unique place to visit or camp. On Sunday Koreshan State Park hosts a small farmers market on its Historic Site. There is a lot see and do at this park. Take a kayak ride down the peaceful Estero River or walk the 30 minute river trail. Visit the historic property with a guide or on your own. The park is clean and well maintained. The camp sites are a bit small but they are level and include water and electric. There is a dump station on the property. Estero is a fantastic location in Southwest Florida. The park is 2 miles off I-75. Very close to the Miromar Outlet Mall and the Coconut Outdoor Mall. Lots of shopping and restaurants are nearby. The staff is super friendly and helpful. I can't wait to come back.

Koreshan State Park is Great Overall. The Service is Nice. The Value is Good. The Ambiance is Fantastic. The Koreshan State Park is Great Overall.

Koreshan is a former religious community based on the theory about the planet and the universe around earth is just a reflection of the earth. If you could not understand this theory you could never be saved. I have been here many times and honestly I will never be saved because it just messes up my mind. There was a thriving community in the late 1800's to the 1940's. It was once 7500 acres of ground now down to maybe 100 acres. Mr. Teed who founded this religion made sure that it was going to fail as the members had to be celibate. When one joins his community you give up all your possessions and then the community will support you (as long as you work). Mr. Teed was a great promoter of his religion and was very successful recruiting the widows of the civil war veterans. Some of the possessions given to the community are still on display. A Steinway piano valued at 3 million dollars today is on display. They had a very sophisticated electric power plant that supplied the community and the out lying areas with electric. The steam powered workshop with all the lathes and machinery was also a good money maker for them. As time went on and no children to carry on the religion it began to slowly designate into nothing. In 1969 when man landed on the moon Mr. Teed's religion was proven false and one of the last members quit the cult.

One of the worst FL state park campgrounds ever. Don't drop your toothbrush, horrible sand campsites that will have you cleaning sand off of everything for weeks. As of recently They've just allowed a third party company to come in and put "glamp" tents on some of the sites--air conditioned canvas tents with beds-- and it reduces the tent camping availability by half, these sites now cost a whopping 180 bucks and you have to book them through a third party!!!!!!!!!! I do not know how that was allowed to happen at a state park...... if anything with air conditioning should be added, it should be the bathhouses so you don't have to be drenched in sweat as you are leaving the shower....absolutely ridiculous. this campground is horrible. Do not recommend.

In the 1870s, the Koreshan United organization formed and the leader of this particular religious sect was Cyrus Teed. The Koreshans followed Teed's beliefs, a religion that came to be called Koreshanity. After some starts and stops in New York and Chicago, Teed and his followers came here to Estero Florida in 1894. They called their community New Jerusalem and at the peak in 1903-1908, there were some 250 residents. The property here built up the requirements for self-sufficiency including a power plant (because there was no electricity in the area) and extensively landscaped the grounds and built a farm, nursery and botanical garden. Their cultural activities included art and music though they were a celibate bunch. Membership declined heavily in 1908 when Teed passed and the last survivors passed on ownership of the property to the State of Florida to form the state park. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 4, 1976 under the designation of Koreshan Unity Settlement Historic District. Activities include fishing, picnicking, and boating, as well as camping, canoeing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Amenities include a campground, boat ramp, canoe rentals, trails and a picnic area on the Estero River. It is interesting to view the property, see the buildings and some of the pictures. It must have been quite the challenge when you consider that this area is pretty much nowhere, along side what is now US-41 the Tamiami Trail. Imagine the mosquitoes they must have been dealing with, before repellent chemicals were invented and available. [Review 15817 overall - 1396 in Florida - 1321 of 2021.]

Visited right at opening at 8am and walked the River Trail. We were amazed to find ourselves in a bamboo forest in SWFL! Very cool natural path to walk, which leads you to the historic site. Very cool to see the buildings inside and out and to learn about the history. We had a volunteer give us a wonderful little history lesson to give more color to what we were reading. After this we rented the tandem kayaks and journeyed out onto the Estero River. The kayak rental is cheaper than others, however at the river for launch you are on your own which was a first for me! We spent about seven hours (4 on the kayak) and had a wonderful day outside!

Great camping sights. Be careful of tree canopies for Class A's and 5th wheels. A bit tight in some area's. The village is really interesting to tour. Unusual beliefs they had, but obviously the community worked hard to build their Utopia in the woods along the river.

Right now - during the COVID Pandemic, activity is limited. No tour guides. No Kayak rentals, No Farmers Market. Can't go into any buildings. Interesting/crazy story behind the place. Convex? Hollow Earth? Really? Just goes to show you that "Fake News" existed - even back then. Walking trails are nice - but short. Property goes right along the Estero River, which will take you right out to the Gulf. If doing that in the summer, recommend you start early (9am) and finish before 2pm.

Every Sunday local vendors and demonstrations held in the old town area of the park. Live music today. Beautiful plant nursery, basket weaving vendor. Local produce and clothing vendors. Family and pet friendly. Summer rates started. Annual park passes are now tax free. There are a few picnic tables to rest and enjoy a cup of lemonade or coffee with fresh sweets.

If my friend had not taken me to this place, I would never have known such a place or park like this existed in Florida. Really really interesting to learn about this utopian community set up in the middle of swamp lands. While the rainy weather the day I visited sorta dampened the experience, it was still really cool to see how well the park managed to preserve everything. You really get a sense that despite how small the community was and how difficult of a situation they faced, they were very self-sufficient and tried to make the best of the situation they faced. It really is like stepping back in time when you walk around the park and see the houses and general store that they built. I think this is a great small piece of Florida history that is worthwhile to visit if you are down in the Fort Myers/Estero area :)

Glad my friend took me to this park as I had wanted to go there for a long time. The koreshan people had some strange beliefs and they all died off leaving us this beautiful park with their story. This is the story the outer level was made up of non-believers who were willing to work for the Unity. This group was called the Patrons of Equation, and allowed for marriage and participation in the secular aspects of the unity. The middle group, the Department of Equitable Administration, allowed for marriage, but sexual relationships were only to be for the purpose of reproduction. The inner, core, group (called The Pre-Eminent Unity) was the Celibate and Communal group, which did not allow marriage and practiced celibacy. what a boring life. Within each of these three levels were three distinct branches, the Secular System, the Commercial System, and the Educational System, with a total of nine groups. Community Eventually, Teed took his followers to Estero, Florida, to form his "New Jerusalem" in 1894. The community was at its peak 1903-1908, when it had over 250 residents. There were apparently another 4,000 believers around the country. Teed claimed he had a vision in which he was to establish a utopian city of 10,000,000 with streets up to 400 feet (120 m) wide. Membership declined following his death in 1908. The group built extensively, establishing a bakery, printing house (publishing their newspaper and other publications), the "World College of Life", a general store, concrete works, power plant (supplying power to the surrounding area years before it was available elsewhere in the region) and more. The colony was extensively landscaped. There has been work to document and preserve the grounds in Estero (a Florida State Park.)[2] Political party In 1906, the community formed the Progressive Liberal Party to run several candidates for county government against the local Democratic Party but were never successful. This Progressive Liberal Party consisted of Koreshans, socialists, Republicans, and dissatisfied Democrats. The Koreshans had already incorporated Estero and were seeking further political power in Lee County. After Teed died in 1908 the group went into decline. Several groups split off from the Unity. One such group was the Order of Theocracy that left in 1910 and moved to nearby Ft. Myers. This group lasted until 1931. The fact the Unity was celibatedid not help, although celibacy was not the real problem since there was a married status within the Unity. Celibates were the highest order. Without new members joining, the group slowly dwindled. It continued to publish the Flaming Sword until the printing press burned down in 1949. It also published the American Eagle, which began in 1906 and later became a horticulturalnewspaper. Followers The last remaining follower, Hedwig Michel, joined in 1940. She had learned of the Koreshans in Germany, and fled Nazi persecution. She ceded the main portion of the commune grounds to Florida to form a state park in 1961. The Koreshan State Park (now known as the Koreshan State Historic Site) was opened in 1967. Hedwig Michel continued to live in the building known as the "Planetary Court". She died in 1981. She is the only Koreshan buried within the park. Two other Koreshan cemeteries are nearby, one of which lies within a gated community and the other on land owned by the Audubon Society. Partly due to the Koreshan belief in a form of reincarnation, little, if anything, was done to care for these cemeteries. The only permanent grave stones were put in by family members. Unfortunately we did not have time to visit the graves but maybe next time. College The College of Life Foundation, formerly the Koreshan Unity Foundation, is now the owner/caretaker of the remaining Koreshan land and the extensive archives. After Michel's death, control of the Koreshan Unity Foundation passed to her secretary, Jo Bigelow, and most recently another individual, Charles Dauray. None of those controlling the College of Life Foundation are Koreshan believers.

Very special place. Haunted by the koreshans, but guarded and protected by the natives. Great fishing, kayaking on the estero river is beyond magical. Lots of wildlife

If you appreciate nature and/or history, I highly recommend a visit to Koreshan Park. We walked the trail and saw several lizards and turtles and a snake. Walking through the bamboo was an absolutely amazing experience! The history was really interesting. You can launch a kayak or boat and ride along the Estero River. Restrooms were extremely clean!

Been there many times for the Historic Park but last night was the 1st time camping. This place is clean and run well. Our campsite was raked, cleaned and pristine. The picnic table was also clean, no bird poop. The showers were well kept and the water was HOT! I will return!

Beautiful State Park! If you live in Fort Myers or Estero and looking for a big park to relax, BBQ with friends or go for kayaking, this is the right place. You can pay with card or cash at the entrance and it's 5$ per car or 4$ per person.

Absolutely beautiful! When you walk around in this park it's is like you are walking around in ancient times and feel like you are transformed back in time. The buildings have lovely history and they are lovely to take pictures near. Came here to do a photoshoot. The shoot was a Victorian empress shoot and this place really made us feel as though we went back in time. The staff is helpful and very friendly. It doesn't even cost that much per vehicle to come into the park. Roughly $5 so it's good. I just wish we could have gone up stairs in the houses. There are cute little bridges that you can feel you are walking into a fairy land. Absolutely stunning.

Whether you're a history buff, looking for a beautiful picnic spot, wanna go canoeing, or just need a park to let the kiddos play, this is it. I'm a local, have lived here all of my life. Koreshan is a hidden gem that not everyone knows about. Seriously check out the old school house. Pretty neat

Definitely a must visit if you are in the Estero area. They open everyday at 8 am, which I am sure many people would be happy if they opened earlier, and close at sunset. Parking cost $5 per car with 2 to 8 occupants, $4.00 per car with one single occupant, $2.00 per motorcycle and $2 per pedestrian and cyclists. You can also camp overnight at the park , the costs is $29 per night. There are kayak and canoes available for rent or you can bring your own as well. The cost for boat launches is $4 per boat. The Koreshan State Park is also host to a local farmer's market every Sunday from 9am to 1pm. From fresh fruits, local honey and delicious foods and drinks, there is something for everyone there. We bought local honey, a boldo tree (which I had been looking for quite some time) and some bags of local and freshly made kettle popcorn, which by the way were delicious and the best I've had in a long time. The place is a true paradise for photographers or anyone looking to have pictures with a beautiful nature background. The Estero River crosses right through the park and it's perfect for pictures in the water rather than the beach. Nature really thrives at the Koreshan, we saw many butterflies, birds, and a tortoise. There is always the possibility of seeing a gators, after all this is Florida but thankfully we did not lol I'd recommend this park to anyone, my husband and I enjoyed and so did our young children and we also saw many elderly folks enjoying themselves and the history of the place. Definitely check it out if you are interested in learning about the history of Estero and the people that were in charge of the Koreshan and if you simply enjoy beautiful nature and a good hike. Next time we go back, it won't be on a Sunday and we will be bringing our own food and drink and having a picnic. The park features several picnic tables and the place is perfect for it. Can't wait!

Lovely place for a tour by the volunteers and a walk around the old communal properties. Enjoyed reading about this unusual group dating back some time in Estero.

If you enjoy history, Koreshan State Historic site is a must visit in Lee County. This place is a bona-fide cult site started in late 1894 by Dr. Cyrus Teed from Chicago to pursue an alternative life style called Utopia with communal living and property. The main goal is everyone working for the good of all. They formed the "New Jerusalem" where by living without crime, tobacco or drugs. The community is fully self-sustaining with their own garden, baked bread, raising their own animals, printing facility, boat works, general store and ever generating their own electricity. Dr. Cyrus Teed was a good friend with Thomas Edison from Fort Myers for a number of years. Many members were in the field of music and theatre. They formed a marching band and give concert recitals and theatrical performance including plays and musicals. The colonists believed that the entire universe existed within a gaint, hollow sphere. Unfortunately, with the death of Dr. Cyrus Teed in 1908, the 200-member religious settlement began to decline. Finally, in 1961, the last remaining 4 members deeded the property to the State of Florida as a park and memorial. You can stroll through the settlement explore structures and gardens of 19th century religious settlement. Or take a guided tour for $2. There are eleven restored buildings ranging from the Damkohler house to Planetary court. Twice a week, during the months of January through March, demonstration of a working diesel engine just like the pioneer day. On 2/5/2017, a piano recital by Somang Shim was performed at the Art Hall. A nature trail along the Estero River with pines, palmettos, oaks, palms and bamboo overhanging. You can enjoy yourself with fishing, boating and kayaking. A boat ramp was provided to launch your boats as well 60+ camp sites with electricity and water. This is truly an amazing state park!

Great historic interest. Old Florida Very interesting to learn about. Good family outing. Recommend

As a lover of historic sites and a granddaughter who has never been too fond of southwest Florida, I was shocked and pleased to find such an amazing spot that we could have spent the entire day. First off, the location itself is really beautiful. Even if you're not into the interesting and quirky history of the Koreshan Unity settlement, you'll love to walk around and enjoy the scenery. While we didn't stay here to camp, my mom and I thought it would be a great spot to stay with kayak rentals and things like yoga classes offered. We thought the history was thoroughly interesting and the volunteer rangers were so friendly and knowledgeable. The settlement was run by seven women and they believed everyone was equal before women were even allowed to vote! I asked the ranger whether there were any people of color in the settlement but she didn't know - she did say however there was a Jewish woman (the only one buried in site) so she knew they believed all ethnicities were equal. If there were ever some sort of apocalypse (could be anytime these days! Beware the zombies) it would be an ideal place to live. They had really lovely utopian idealistic views (although the physics of the universe-earth thing was off) but didn't last because they were celibate. Luckily the settlement has become a historic site and is available for only $5 per vehicle of people. Totally worth a stop!

Too Many Ants I stayed in campsite 17 for 2 weeks. This is the area where all the tent camping is. There is also space for RV's close by. This 2 weeks was just such an awful experience for the following reasons. 1. There is not an ounce of privacy. Campgrounds are so close together. You can hear and see everything. You can hear everyone's burps, farts, radios, and chatter at 3:00am. There was a couple right next to us non stop blasting their tv all day and late at night. Quiet time is between 11:00pm - 7:00am; however, no one follows that. I tried calling the rangers for disturbances after sundown and they just seemed annoyed that I was calling. There was a family screaming and hitting their kid right next to us the entire time. That was really triggering and I debated calling the police. Just to much noise. Not peaceful. I wish the rangers could enforce peace and quiet more. 2. The stench is unbearable. I've seen around 6 rats on the rode and near our tents and I believe there were at least 2 dead rats in the nearby area. It's just the most sickening smell I've ever smelt in my life. Ungodly putrid dead rat stench. Made me and my brother sick. Why are there so many rats? 3. The campgrounds are so sandy. I understand it's Florida. The ground is sand but I feel like some rock or grass could help. I've been to other campgrounds and they have been a lot grassier. All the sand is causing literally trillions of ants and ant hills. It's a 5 star resort for ants. It is like being in a sand box. I had 2 major ant infestations in my tent. Not because of open food or anything literally just because there is an insane amount of ants. Maybe it was just site 17 that had that many ants but it was just to much. I've camped a lot and I'm used to ants but this was seriously like living in a bowl of ants. All different kinds and sizes. The amount of sand leaves you needing to rinse your feet every minute and battle ants. I'm gonna talk about the actual park now. The River trail is pretty and has beautiful bamboo, it's very short though. There is only one other trail. So not much to explore; however for quick hike it's nice. The main activity is kayaking or canoeing down the Estero river. We didn't get to do that but it looks relaxing. I have nothing to say about the historic site. This was definitely Native Americans land before any Koreshans were there. I couldn't care less about the Koreshans story. Overall the park is nice but the campgrounds are not enjoyable.

Very beautiful park In Heart of Fort Myers! Easily can spent 2-3 hours to go around and enjoy of this piece of heaven specially if you wanna do kayaking! Right now they don't offer kayaks cause of pandemic but you can brings own and enjoy it.

This is one of the weirdest places in South Florida (another is Coral Castle, South of Miami). The plaques and docents will fill you in about the history and beliefs. Some of the buildings have been restored to give you an idea of how this community lived about 100 years ago. Actually, they brought a lot of culture and civilization to an area that was very undeveloped. You can visit for a couple of hours or camp and go boating, but just go!

An incredibly unique and beautiful state park! Absolutely love the history of this state park and the guides are very friendly and happy to share more details about the community. Such a great spot for everything from a picnic to kayaking adventures to camping to family/engagement photoshoots! Keep on the lookout for gopher tortoises, alligators, and red shouldered hawks! Defintely miss the farmer's market and traditional Koreshan cooking! Can't wait to see it brought back after COVID!

I went there to do a little bit of Canoë. We rented one for 2 people and 1 hour for about $5. It was really nice. The river is wild. The Canoë spacious. You can see turtles everywhere. You river is really long so you end up staying 2 hours. Overall nice activity. I recommend it.

Solid park for many occasions. I can see it as a good birthday party place. For our purposes, and for what seemed like everyone else's that day, it was to take pictures. I saw at least 3 other photographers setting up or already taking pics. Might have to get there early? Who knows. I agreed to take pictures for a friend and her littles ones for a Christmas card or something like that. It seems like the big draws are the houses and their porches/steps. They also have two bridges that I saw and a bunch of great trees to snap pics under. I imagine all sorts of events go on here. There is $5 charge to park which is reasonable. I can't say I'll be here all the time because it's a bit of a drive for me from the Cape but it's a great contender for pictures compared to Lakes Park in ft Myers.

This review is for motorhome camping. The day use area of the park is nice as is the boat ramp area, no complaints there. Employees were courteous. Be warned- the spaces are very narrow. They really need to widen the spaces by removing a few shrubs at most sites. It was clostrophobic to go in and out of our rig as the door opened into the bushes and we could not extend our awning. I looked and this was the case at most of the sites. While long enough, they are far too narrow. So much so that the fire ring and table are at the back of most sites..

When I went to visit family for the weekend we decided to stop here because we read about how beautiful the park is and the history behind it. Entry into the park is pretty cheap so we pay to get in in the front entrance worker was ridiculously friendly explaining what they have and where everything is located and what time certain things were open until. There are many signs to show you exactly where everything is located so it is very easy Define everything. The history behind the park is wonderful because they tell you how and why people settled there. There are different buildings that you can go into and see how the group lived when they first settled down there. The scenery around the park is gorgeous and there are many different animals just roaming around. One really cool thing about this part is that you can camp there and if I was in the mood and could talk everyone into it we definitely would have. I definitely can't wait to go back!

Really cool! If you're interested in seeing the building methods and technology that powered society in the late 19th century you won't be disappointed. This place is basically a time capsule of the Koreshan cult who were a completely self sufficient society at the time. All the buildings have been well preserved and restored. The river walk was also very pretty!

This is a pretty interesting place to visit. Not only is it part of the history of this area, it also offers many outdoor adventures. We walked through the historical site but the tour was already in session. Our timing wasn't as good as it could have been. However, that wasn't a problem. What's great about this place is that you can do a self-tour. Information is posted along the way plus pamphlets available. It's a beautiful place place. There is also a campground in a beautiful area or you can hike through the many trails. Better than that is it sits on the Estero River giving you a wonderful opportunity to kayak or even fish. Heading east it is calm through the mangroves. I'm not sure the distance you can head east but quite a ways. Eventually, the water gets shallow and it's best to turn around and head in the other direction. Heading west the river widens as it goes towards the gulf. We put our kayaks in at the boat ramp. Along the way we saw turtles and interesting birds. It's a wonderful place to kayak and we may just be back.

Great staff and lovely park. Quite campground and great hosts. Settlement is to see and must do your

Took a tour with a volunteer guide. He was informative and friendly. The history is interesting, as are some of the trees. I'm glad they're keeping up some of the buildings. Dade County Pine is beautiful. The fee is only $5 per carload and $2 pp for the tour. Certain days during the week they turn on the generator which could be interesting. I'm not much of a history buff, but in case you're wondering, this has nothing to do with David Koresh in Waco, TX (I didn't do a lot of research beforehand). It turns out they both chose that name for completely different reasons and are unrelated.

Worth a visit. Intriguing story behind the inhabitants, and sad awakening to reality by the last few that still lived there when the USA landed on the moon....ask about it. Great tour for all ages.

This state park located in Estero FL, between Fort Meyers and Naples, is definitely worth the visit and I am glad that I stopped there. The site was once home to the Koreshan religious community, a new religious movement operating in the later 1800s and which believed that the earth was located on the interior and not exterior of the planet. At the state park down the original homes of the community are preserved along with the bakery, industrial center and the impressive planetary house. The land is beautiful with nature trails, rivers and camping facilities. The guides on hand do a great job of explaining the history and significance of the park. I am so glad that efforts have been made to preserve the historical integrity of the site and that it is open and accessible to the public. The site is accessible by car ($ 4 fee) bike and by foot (couple of dollars fee). I will be returning here and bringing some of my friends too.

A lovely place to go if you have a burning desire for adventure! Lots of good places to go!! And, wait for it, you only have to pay five dollars!

Absolutely gorgeous historic grounds . A must see, beautiful nature walk if you are into that . Nice boat ramp they provide as well.not expensive at all . They have kayaks there . It's a real nice experience if you wanna spend time with the family !

I am so glad we found this hidden jewel! While the campsites are fairly close together, the natural vegetation separates them. The only downside is not having sewage on site. Some have complained about the width however it is wide enough that we were able to use the slide and the awning! We will definitely be back!

such a beautiful area. the river is an amazing ride but the river trail is awesome too. the bamboo forest has a euphoric feeling to it and is like you are in the past walking through the town. during the right time of year you can find mangos around

This is camping review. Very cramped and sandy site. Not wide and thick woods on 3 sides. My feet literally sunk inches into sand trying to walk around site. The trailer did also. Not a very stable base. Bathhouse (there was 1) was ugly, dated and dirty. Shower stalls were so tiny a person could barely fit without touching walls. We checked in, set up, and sat down outside trailer. That is when a rat ran out of woods up on our rug, looked at us and went back to edge of woods, where he stayed. No fear of people! So 2 hours from check in and set up - WE LEFT! Reserved for 3 days, but stayed for 2 hours.

Looking for a great campsite in the Estero area that also offers fishing and kayaking, amongst many other features? Hit up Koreshan for a cheap and very accessible campground with more amenities than you'd think are available. Of course, reservations are a must and completed easily online. Most of the campsites are made for camping vehicles, but plenty of sites for tents at 2 tents max. Potable water and electricity are available at each site, fire rings and picnic tables as well. Tent areas seem to be more shaded than most of the vehicle spots. Bring your hammocks as most of the campsites have hookups, too. An ample communal bath house is centrally located with showers, bathrooms, vending, volleyball court and two campsite hosts at all times. Take a walk or a ride on your bike down to the historic area to see how the Koreshan Unity lived and what they believed in. One last plus is that camping here is easy if you run short on creature comforts like ice and food of your choice, because even after dusk and gates closed, a key code is provided for re entry if you leave at night. I can't wait to go back again.