Washington Oaks State Gardens
Real
Fun in the Real Florida
· A scenic, self-guiding trail leads along the marsh between the center and the picnic area. Ranger-guided walks are provided on weekends and by request.
· Picnicking and fishing are popular activities. A picnic area is located in a shady hammock south of the gardens.
· Surf fishing in the Atlantic Ocean for whiting, redfish, bluefish and pompano is a popular activity enjoyed here. A sea-wall is provided for fishing on the Intracoastal Waterway.
· Swimming is permitted at the beach. Because of coquina rocks in the surf, hazardous conditions sometimes exist. No life guards are provided.
· Some facilities and activities are accessible to people with disabilities. See a park ranger for special needs.
Directions to get to Washington Oaks
For more information, contact:
Washington Oaks State Gardens
6400 N. Oceanshore Blvd
Palm Coast, FL 32137
(904) 446-6780.
You can reach Washington Oaks either by exit 92 at Palm Coast then follow the main road over the bridge (paying a $.75 toll), right onto A1A North just a few miles.
or exit 91 Flagler Beach East towards beach Left onto A1A north travel 10 miles.
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Division of Recreation and Parks
· Florida state parks are managed to appear (as closely as possible) as they did when the first Europeans arrived. All plant and animal life is protected in state parks. Hunting, livestock grazing and timber removal are not permitted. Do not remove, deface, mutilate or molest any natural resources. For your safety, do not feed any animals. Intoxicants and firearms are prohibited. Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year. State museums are open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Many museums and historic sites are closed two days a week. Contact the park office prior to planning a special trip.
· Pets are not allowed on bathing beaches or in the gardens. Where pets are allowed, they must be kept on a six-foot, hand-held leash and be well-behaved at all times. Guide dogs for the deaf and blind are welcome in all areas of the park.
· Florida state parks are in various stages of accessibility, and are working to improve access to services and facilities. Should you need assistance to enable your full participation, please contact the individual park office as soon as possible. Sometimes as many as ten working days may be needed to schedule a particular accommodation.
· To discover and experience all of the Real Florida at Florida's 141 state parks, ask a park ranger where you can pick up a copy of the Florida State Park Guide, or visit our online Homepage at:
History
Extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Matanzas River,
Washington Oaks State Gardens preserves 400 acres of Florida's original
coastal scenery.
Ocean waves have washed away the sand,exposing a stratum of coquina rock
and creating a picturesque, boulder-strewn beach. At low tide, many species
of shore birds feed among the rocks while brown pelicans soar overhead.
Limpets and mussels cling to the rocks; and anemones, starfish and crabs
are common in the tidal pools.
Next to the beach is a coastal scrub community which is the preferred habitat of the Florida scrub jay, a colorful member of the crow family which faces an uncertain future because of the steady loss of its habitat. The stunted vegetation is adapted to surviving under the harsh, dry, desert-like conditions of the old dunes.
Moving westward across Florida A1A, the scrub gives way to the lush coastal hammock where towering live oaks, hickories and magnolias offer their welcome shade. This is the home of deer, raccoon, bobcat, fox, opossum, gray squirrel, pileated woodpecker and cardinal.
Bordering the hammock are scenic tidal marshes of the Matanzas River, where wadingbirds, waterfowl and sea gulls are often seen. Watching the sun set over these marshes is a memorable experience.
This land was part of Belie Vista Plantation owned by Gen. Joseph Hernandez, a Spanish Floridian. Hernandez was a militia general who commanded troops in this part of Florida during the Second Seminole War. A surveyor named George Washington, a relative of the first President of the United States, married Hernandez's daughter Louisa in 1845.
The gardens, groves and plantings were expanded when the place was purchased in 1936 by Mr. and Mrs. Owen D. Young. Young was chairman of the board of General Electric. The property was donated to the state in 1964 by Mrs. Young after his death. The donor's home at Washington Oaks has been converted into an interpretive center called "Young House," which features exhibits of the park.
A portion of the hammock contains the formal gardens where many species of exotic plants from around the world are displayed along footpaths and around reflecting pools. The gardens are well- known for their azaleas, camellias and roses.
The natural and cultural history of the area is presented in the interpretive center located at the edge of the gardens.
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