Weedon Island Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weedon Island Preserve |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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View of the preserve from top of observation tower
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 Weedon Island Preserve
Location in Florida
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| Location | Pinellas County, Florida, US | ||||||||
| Nearest city | St. Petersburg, Florida | ||||||||
| Established | June 13, 1972 | ||||||||
| Governing body | Pinellas County Park Department | ||||||||
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The Weedon Island Preserve is a huge natural area in St. Petersburg, Florida. It covers about 3,190 acres along the western shore of Tampa Bay. This special place is mostly an estuary, which means it's where fresh water from land mixes with salty ocean water.
The preserve is home to many different plants and animals. You can find mangrove forests, pine flatwoods, and maritime hammocks here. It's also an important archaeological site. Scientists have found ancient shell mounds, showing that people lived here thousands of years ago.
Weedon Island Preserve became a protected area on June 13, 1972. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. In 1974, the state of Florida bought the island. It officially opened to the public in December 1980. Today, Pinellas County helps manage and care for this beautiful preserve.
The preserve gets its name from Leslie Washington Weedon. He was a doctor and an amateur archaeologist from Tampa.
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Fun Things to Do at Weedon Island Preserve
Weedon Island Preserve offers many ways to explore nature. You can hike, paddle, fish, and enjoy picnics. It's a great place for families to spend time outdoors.
Hiking and Nature Trails
The preserve has 4.7 miles of nature trails. About 2 miles are boardwalks and paved paths. These are easy to use for everyone. The other 2.7 miles are natural trails that wind through the preserve.
One popular trail is the 3,000-foot Tower Boardwalk. It leads to a 45-foot-tall observation tower. This is the tallest tower in Pinellas County. From the top, you can see much of the preserve and Tampa Bay. On clear days, you might even spot the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg. There are also three other platforms for watching birds and wildlife. They are perfect for taking photos.
Canoeing and Kayaking Adventures
You can explore the preserve by water too! There's a 4-mile self-guided canoeing and kayaking loop. It's called the South Paddling Trail. This path takes you through cool mangrove tunnels. You can also access the bay from here. Visitors can bring their own boats or join a guided tour.
Fishing and Picnics
If you like to fish, there's a pier at the end of Weedon Dr. NE. It's a great spot to cast a line. You can also enjoy a meal outdoors. The preserve has designated picnic tables where you can relax and eat.
Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center
The Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center opened in 2002. It teaches visitors about the preserve's nature, culture, and history. The center is supported by the Friends of Weedon Island. Pinellas County helps run it.
Discovering History and Nature
The Exhibit Hall has fun, interactive displays. You can learn about the unique wildlife and habitats on Weedon Island. It also covers the ancient and modern history of the area. Some Native American artifacts found here are available to view online. You can take a virtual tour to see them.
A special item at the center is a 40-foot dugout canoe. It was found right in the preserve. Experts believe it is about 1,100 years old. It likely belonged to the ancient Manasotan people.
Ecosystems of Weedon Island
Weedon Island Preserve is mostly wetlands. This includes about 1,100 acres of dry land habitats. The wetlands feature mangrove swamps. The dry land areas have pine and scrubby Flatwoods. You can also find coastal hammocks and coastal berms. Even the ancient shell mounds are part of the unique landscape.
Educational Programs and Events
The preserve offers many educational programs and events. These are often free and fun for the whole family. Pinellas County staff and UF/IFAS Extension agents lead these activities.
Learning About Nature and History
Monthly programs include guided hikes. You can also take archaeology classes. There are speaker series, photography meet-ups, and birding events. Environmental sustainability workshops teach you how to protect our planet. You can find a list of current offerings and register on the preserve's Eventbrite page.
Visiting Hours
The preserve is open every day from dawn until dusk. The Cultural and Natural History Center has different hours. It is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Sundays, it is open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Images for kids
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Aerial view of Venetian Isles, and Weedon Island Preserve (top)
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Entrance to Weedon Island Culture Center
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View of the boardwalk leading to the Preserve's observation tower
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Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center (Entrance)
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Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center
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Airport waiting room ruins
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Airport waiting room ruins (from the trail)
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View of the dedication of the Paul L. Getting Nature Trail dedication
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Elevated boardwalk
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View from the boardwalk
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Observation tower
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Mangrove hammock
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View of the boardwalk from the observation tower
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Cabbage palms, complete with some information about cabbage palms
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A view of pine flatwoods from the nature trail
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