Summary
Perdido Key, Florida is an unincorporated community located
in Escambia County, Florida, between Pensacola, Florida and
Orange Beach, Alabama.[1] "Perdido" means "lost" in the
Spanish language, and Perdido Key is sometimes called "Lost
Key" by local residents and businesses.
The community is located on Perdido Key, a barrier island
located in extreme northwest Florida and southeast
Alabama.[2] The Florida district of the Gulf Islands
National Seashore is located at the east end of the
island.[3] No more than a few hundred yards wide in most
places, Perdido Key stretches some 16 miles from Perdido
Pass Bridge near Orange Beach, Alabama, to just across from
Santa Rosa Island near Pensacola, Florida.
History
From the beginning of the 17th century, Spanish and French
explorers, recognizing the potential riches in the vast New
World across the sea, began colonizing the northern coast
of the Gulf of Mexico. The Spaniards had settled on
Panzacola Bay. Some sources translate Panzacola as meaning
"the village of hairy people, referring to the Spanish. The
French were located above Maubila (Mobile). A natural
boundary was needed for their unsettled relationship so
that the groups from the two thriving seaports could live
in this region in relative peace and harmony. Explorers
from both countries had heard of a great mysterious body of
water to the west of Pensacola, but they were unable to
find the entrance.
In 1693 noted cartographer and scientist Don Carlos
Siquenza was sent by the Spanish government to locate the
entrance. Even after he located the mouth of the bay, he
was still unable to find a waterway deep enough to sail
through. According to legend, Siquenza's ship had been
blown off course as he was again searching for the pass
into the deep inland waters. The ship was spotted by an
Indian chief camped with his tribe at Bear Point. As the
chief was walking along the water he spotted Don Carlos
Siquenza attempting to reef his sails and offered to guide
Siquenza and his men to a connecting deep water channel
from the Gulf of Mexico into the more tranquil bay. When
the search party finally located the elusive bay, they
called it "Perdido", which in Spanish means "lost" or
"hidden".
Early maps indicate that, at the time, the pass was located
near where the FloraBama Lounge and Package Store stands
today. Hurricanes and other forces—natural as well as
man-made—have moved the pass back and forth several times
to where it lies now in Orange Beach, Alabama,
approximately 3 miles from the Florida boundary.[4]
Geography
Perdido Key is said to have once had an estimated 300
natural springs bubbling up from the sandy bottom. There
were so many around the bridge that when construction on
the high-rise bridge began, bridge engineers were appalled
to see pilings sinking down below the surface, following
the soft course of a natural spring. They had their work
cut out to build cofferdams to shore up the pilings to
prevent them from sinking.[citation needed]
It was not until about 1933 that Perdido Key became an
island. Before that time, the area was a small peninsula
just to the west of Pensacola, crossed by a large ditch
that was narrow enough to jump across, and sometimes filled
with alligators. This ditch would become the Intracoastal
Waterway in 1933.
An Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) that would connect Pensacola
to Mobile Bay, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, was started
during 1931 during the height of the Great Depression. The
digging that would connect Pensacola, Big Lagoon (also
known as Grande Lagoon), Perdido Bay, and Mobile Bay was
completed in 1933. Perdido Key Island is now about 16 miles
long with almost 60% of it (9.5 miles) located in federal
or state parks. In 1978 the National Park Service completed
purchase of over 1,000 acres (4 km²) of land on Perdido Key
from Johnson Beach to Pensacola Pass for about $8 million
dollars. For years this general area was called Gulf Beach,
and slowly it evolved into being called Perdido Key. Many
"old timers" still slip and call the area Gulf Beach.[5]
Environment
Environmentalists and outdoor enthusiasts enjoy Perdido Key
because it is one of the few remaining unblemished
stretches of wilderness in the Florida Panhandle. Miles of
preserves offer a wealth of opportunities for hiking,
kayaking, and bird watching. Dolphin watch excursions and
sailing tours are popular with tourists, as are moonlight
cruises on the bay. Perdido Key’s two state parks and an
expanse of National Seashore are ripe for spotting gray
foxes and blue herons in the wild. Local outfitters offer
guided tours, but self-guided nature trails at Big Lagoon
and Johnson Beach are perfect chances for solitude.
Perdido Key Beach Dune Habitat
The azure waters of the Gulf of Mexico frame the famed
white beaches of this very special place. These beaches and
their dune habitat play host to a variety of visitors and
residents throughout the year.
The beach dune habitat of Perdido Key is characterized by
several rows of wind built sand dunes. "Frontal" or
"primary" dunes are vegetated with grasses including sea
oats, bunch grass, and beach grass. Among other plant
species growing in primary dunes are Florida rosemary,
railroad vine and beach morning glories. “Secondary” dunes,
further inland, support saw palmetto, slash and sand pines,
and scrubby shrubs and oaks. Growing between the dunes are
cordgrass, salt-grass, pine trees, purslane and, among
others, pennywort.
The scrub and grasses growing on dunes are vital to the
health of Perdido Key’s beach habitat.[6] The roots of
plants are the "fingers" which hold sand in place,
preventing it from blowing away in the wind or washing away
in the tidal surge of Hurricane or other storms. Without
the critical holding power of dunes and their plants our
beaches would blow and erode away.
Dune Plants benefiting from the dune restoration project on
Perdido Key[7] project on Perdido Key include the
following:
Dune Plants:
* sea oats (Uniola paniculata)
* saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens)
* coastal panicgrass (Panicum amarum)
Estuarine plants:
* turtle grass (Thallassia testudinum)
* salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)
* black needle rush (Juncus romerianus)
Wildlife
Perdido Key is home to the endangered Perdido Key Beach
Mouse.[8] The small white and gray mouse, weighing only
about a half ounce, blends in well with the white quartz
sand of northern Gulf coast beaches. While the Perdido Key
Beach Mouse feeds primarily on the seeds of sea oats and
bluestem, it will occasionally eat insects.
The Perdido Key beach mouse was listed as an endangered
species in 1985. Loss of habitat to development is
considered to be the main factor which led to the decline
of the species. Hurricanes have also taken their toll on
the endangered mouse.The beach mouse population at Perdido
Key was nearly wiped out in the mid-1990's when hurricanes
Erin and Opal ravaged Perdido Key’s beaches. Numbering less
than 40 after the storms, the mice have regenerated quite
well, with current population estimates near 500. While
populations appear to be growing, the Perdido Key Beach
Mouse will probably never make it off the endangered
species list because of continued habitat loss and
degradation.
The Perdido Key Beach Mouse isn’t the only endangered
animal to call Perdido Key’s dunes and beaches home. Other
species find the white sands attractive as seasonal homes
or for nesting before returning to sea. Two such visitors
are the piping plover and the sea turtle.
The sea turtle is another endangered visitor to Perdido
Key. Loggerhead, Leatherback, Ridley, and Green sea turtles
arrive between May and September to dig nest cavities in
the sand into which 100 or more eggs are laid. About two
months later, provided the nest hasn’t been washed away,
uncovered by high winds, or disturbed by predator or beach
visitors, turtle hatchlings emerge. Following the brightest
spot in the sky, which is usually the horizon over the
water, hatchlings scramble for the sea. Unfortunately, as
development on barrier islands has occurred, lights of
convenience stores, hotels and businesses (see Light
pollution ) have made the trek to the sea a confusing and
dangerous challenge. Few hatchlings are successful in their
live’s first adventure. Less than 1% of hatchlings survive
their first year and grow old enough to return to Perdido
Key to begin the cycle again.
Shorebirds including black skimmers, gulls, terns, and
brown pelicans are among the many different species of
birds which rest on the island, nest, or feed offshore.
Neotropical birds, such as warblers and Cedar Waxwings,
live in the tropics and travel to North America to breed,
stopping-over to feed and rest at Perdido Key. Monarch
butterflies migrating to and from South America stop-over,
finding refuge on the swaying stalks of sea oats growing
within the dune habitat of Perdido Key.
Local attractions
To the south of Perdido Key is the Gulf of Mexico with its
white sand beaches and clear blue waters. North of Perdido
Key is Old River and the Intercoastal Waterway. Just north
of Old River is the private Alabama island of Ono Island.
North of Ono and separated by the Intercoastal Waterway
(ICW) is a small area called Innerarity Point and
Innerarity Island, a small private gated island community
of mostly single family homes with a few townhomes at the
entrance.
Almost all of these waterways are accessible by boat and
can give passage to the Gulf of Mexico via the Alabama Pass
in Orange Beach or the major harbor entrance of Pensacola
pass. These waterways are: Old River, Intercoastal Waterway
(ICW), Perdido Bay, Pensacola Bay, Escambia Bay, Black
Water River, Perdido River, Styx River, and a myriad of
boatable canals, bayous and lakes. The inland waterways
have historically given protection from the storms and
hurricanes which have occurred in this area. This area has
many homes lining the waterfront.
Gulf Islands National Seashore / Rosamond
Johnson Beach
Located on the eastern end of Perdido Key. It is open from
8 a.m. to sunset. Picnic shelters, restrooms, showers, and
seasonal lifeguards. Fort McRee is located at the eastern
tip of Johnson Beach and is accessible by boat or foot
only. Sound side Nature Trail is a self guided nature trail
that winds past a salt marsh and through a maritime forest.
The nature trail is wheelchair accessible. The Johnson
Beach Road is an enjoyable place to walk, jog, bike and
view beautiful sunsets. There is a park fee of $8.00 per
car, which is good for 7 days and gets you into Fort
Pickens on Santa Rosa Island and the Naval Live Oaks
located in Gulf Breeze. Front Gate 850-492-7278.
If you plan to visit this area please be aware that the
environment can quickly become extremely dangerous and
inhospitable. Intense sunlight can temporarily blind
visitors who elect not to wear good quality sunglasses.
Insects such as midges and other biting flies inhabit the
areas around Langley Point and Redfish Point during certain
times of the year especially at or near dusk. Wear
sunscreen, bring insect repellent bring drinking water. The
sand along the Gulf of Mexico side of Johnson beach is
loose and difficult to walk in. Winds can reach 40 mph at
night and can blow over tents and scatter items left
unsecured. At night the temperature can drop to an
uncomfortable level even during midsummer. In the event of
inclement weather you should also be aware that it can take
up to an hour to reach the parking area or other shelter
due to walking in loose sand.
Visitors should make every effort to observe surf warnings
posted in the park.[9] Two red flags means the water is
closed to the public. A purple flag means dangerous sealife
such as sharks or jellyfish are present. Rip currents are
common due to shifting sands especially after tropical
storms. Visitors with small children should remain in the
main pavilion area under the supervision of the
lifeguard.[10]
Big Lagoon State Recreation Area
Derives its name from a bordering body of water called Big
Lagoon. The Park of 678 upland acres was opened in 1978 and
beckons visitors with all the recreational opportunities
expected at a Florida State Park. Follow the Cookie Trail,
maintained by the Girl Scouts. Natural habitat includes
numerous birds and animals – gray foxes, raccoons, skunks,
opossums, great blue herons and other waterfowl, in
addition to a variety of other birds. More than 75
campsites; five picnic areas with shelters, 500-seat
amphitheater; boat ramp with dock; boardwalks and nature
trails; and observation tower offering a panoramic view of
Big Lagoon, the park and Gulf Islands National Seashore
across the Intracoastal Waterway. Located at 12301 Gulf
Beach Highway, Pensacola, just north of Perdido Key.[11]
Perdido Key State Recreation Area
Perdido Key State Recreation Area encompasses 247 acres on
a barrier island, which buffers the mainland from winds and
threatening tides and provides habitat for shore birds and
other coastal animals. Saltwater fishing licenses required.
Occupied shells are alive and should be left alone. The
wide white sand beaches and the rolling dunes covered with
sea oats make this a pristine oasis along the rapidly
developing panhandle. Picnic shelters are between the Gulf
and the Old River, which bounds Perdido Key on the
north.[12]
Flora-Bama Lounge
Perdido Key is also home to the infamous Flora-Bama Lounge,
which is on the Florida-Alabama State line and is often
considered one of America's last great roadhouses. The
Flora-Bama Lounge hosts the annual "Interstate Mullet Toss'
[13]event where contestant throw fish across the state
lines.
References
1. ^ Perdido Chamber of Commerce.
Retrieved on 2007-05-29.
2. ^
www.funandsun.com/parks/PerdidoKey/perdidokey.html.
Retrieved on 2007-05-29.
3. ^ www.nps.gov/guis. Retrieved on
2007-05-29.
4. ^ Perdido Key Area Chamber of
Commerce - Perdido Key Florida - (850) 492-4660
5. ^ Holman Recounts the History of
Perdido Key. Retrieved on 2007-05-29.
6. ^
ttp://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/gothabitat/gothbt.htm.
Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
7. ^ www.gulfmex.org/crp5001.html.
Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
8. ^
www.fws.gov/endangered/i/a/saa8f.html. Retrieved on
2007-05-29.
9. ^ Man drowns at Gulf Shores -
Breaking News from the Press-Register - al.com
10. ^
http://www.fox10tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6575952
11. ^
www.floridastateparks.org/biglagoon/. Retrieved on
2007-05-29.
12. ^ Main Page - Perdido Key State
Park » Florida State Parks
13. ^ Mullet Toss & Gulf Coast's
Greatest Beach Party
** All information on this page compliments of the above
references and Wikipedia **