Bahia Honda is often regarded as one of the most biologically rich locations in the Keys. It contains rare habitats and supports several endangered or threatened species. Marine Life and Coral Reefs The park is located near Looe Key Reef, part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. This reef is one of the most beautiful and accessible cor

On September 2, 1935, one of the most intense hurricanes in American history slammed into the Upper Keys with wind speeds exceeding 185 mph and a storm surge that destroyed miles of railway and claimed hundreds of lives. The Overseas Railroad was devastated. Sections of track, bridges, and entire communities were obliterated. The Florida East Co

From the 17th through the 19th centuries, the Florida Keys remained a dangerous yet vital route for shipping. The coral reefs around the Keys—now celebrated for their biodiversity—were once feared as graveyards of ships. Bahia Honda Channel, because of its depth, became an important anchorage for merchant ships, pirates, and wreckers alike.

Introduction Among the turquoise waters and coral reefs of the Florida Keys, there lies a place where natural beauty, engineering ambition, and ecological preservation converge—Bahia Honda State Park. Located on Bahia Honda Key, just south of Big Pine Key, this 524-acre state park is one of Florida’s most iconic natural treasures. But Bahia