Gulf Coast Attractions
River otter © kretyen
Koreshan State Historic Site
In the dying years of the 19th century a former Civil War
surgeon, Dr Cyrus Teed, founded a pioneer settlement on the banks
of the Estero River south of Fort Myers where he led the community
to practice a religion he termed Koreshanity. Chief among his
beliefs was the equality of men and women and that the universe was
a hollow sphere containing everything within it. Planning to build
a utopian city, the community generated their own electricity,
built boats, established a general store and constructed numerous
buildings, of which 11 remain today to be explored by visitors. The
last four members of the sect donated the land to the State of
Florida in 1961 and it is now preserved as a park with a nature
trail, picnic tables and campsite. Guided tours of the Koreshan
buildings are offered.
Address: Intersection of U.S. 41 and Corkscrew Road, Estero;
Website: www.floridastateparks.org/koreshan;
Telephone: (239) 992 0311;
Opening time: Daily 8am until sunset;
Admission: $4 per vehicle holding up to 8 passengers; $3 for single occupant. Guided tours are also available for $2
