Things to Do in Bonita Springs & Estero
Cyrus Reed Teed was an unlikely settler who brought followers to Estero in 1894 to build New Jerusalem for his new faith, Koreshanity. The Koreshan colony was known as the Koreshan Unity and believed that the entire universe existed within a giant, hollow sphere.
The Koreshan colony began fading after Teed´s death in 1908, and in 1961 the last four members deeded the land to the state of Florida. Today the Koreshan land is a state park where visitors can fish, picnic, boat, and hike where Teed´s visionaries once lived. It was one of the modern, original real estate settlements in Southwest Florida.
Koreshan State Historic Site offers a variety of things to do.
There is a boat ramp and canoe rental available. Visitors can take self-guided tours of the settlement or a ranger-guided tour.
Camping and overnight stays are permitted, as the park has a full-facility campground. Campers can enjoy campfire programs every Saturday night from January through March.
Self guided tours of the structures and grounds of Koreshan are available daily. There are long paths that meander along the Estero River from the camping area, thru fields of bamboo, to the settlement buildings. While some buildings are only availability to look thru windows, there are some open and a brief video about the Koreshan Unity playing in one of the buildings.
Koreshan State Historic Site has plenty of walking paths, both unpaved rugged and smoother lime rock. There is lush foliage, exotic trees and orchards and plenty to do outside. It’s a great family activity and fairly affordable, as the entrance fee is $5 per car. There are additional charges for guided tours, canoe rentals and camping services.
Koreshan State Historic Site is situated on US 41 – Tamiami Trail in Estero Florida at the northwest corner of Corkscrew Road. It is easily accessible by car or by bicycle.
