Florida is a popular tourist destination, known for its sunny beaches, theme parks, and wildlife attractions. But there are also some places in the Sunshine State that are off-limits to the public, either for safety, security, or environmental reasons. Here are seven secret places you’re not allowed to visit in Florida, and why they are so mysterious.
1. Cape Romano Dome House
The Cape Romano Dome House is a futuristic-looking structure that was built in the 1980s by a retired oil tycoon as a vacation home. The house consists of six white domes connected by walkways, and was originally located on the shore of Cape Romano, an island off the coast of Marco Island.
However, due to erosion and rising sea levels, the house was abandoned in the 1990s and gradually submerged by the water. The domes are now part of a wildlife preserve and are only accessible by boat. They are a popular spot for kayakers and photographers, but trespassing is prohibited and can result in a fine.
2. Disney’s Discovery Island
Disney’s Discovery Island was an attraction in Walt Disney World that opened in 1974 and closed in 1999. The island, located in the middle of Bay Lake, featured a variety of exotic animals, plants, and exhibits. It was also home to a breeding program for endangered species, such as the Dusky Seaside Sparrow, which went extinct in 1987.
The island was closed due to declining attendance, high maintenance costs, and animal welfare concerns. Since then, the island has been left to nature and has become overgrown with vegetation. It is strictly off-limits to the public, and anyone caught trespassing can face criminal charges.
3. Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is a remote and beautiful park that encompasses seven islands and a massive 19th-century fort in the Gulf of Mexico. The park is famous for its coral reefs, marine life, and historical significance. However, it is also one of the most inaccessible national parks in the country, as it is located about 70 miles west of Key West and can only be reached by boat or seaplane.
The park has no roads, no fresh water, and no services, except for a small campground and a visitor center. Visitors need to bring their own supplies and follow strict rules to protect the fragile ecosystem. The park is open to the public, but only a limited number of people can visit each day, and reservations are required.
4. Kennedy Space Center
The Kennedy Space Center is the primary launch site for NASA’s human spaceflight missions, as well as a major tourist attraction. The center offers tours, exhibits, and attractions that showcase the history and achievements of the U.S. space program.
However, there are also some areas of the center that are restricted to the public, such as the launch pads, the Vehicle Assembly Building, and the Operations and Checkout Building. These areas are only accessible to authorized personnel, such as astronauts, engineers, and VIPs. Occasionally, the center offers special tours that allow visitors to see some of these areas, but they are very limited and expensive.
5. Monkey Island
Monkey Island is a small island in the Homosassa River that is home to a colony of spider monkeys. The monkeys were originally part of a roadside attraction in the 1960s, but were moved to the island by a local veterinarian who wanted to give them a better habitat.
The island is owned and maintained by the Homosassa Riverside Resort, which provides food and care for the monkeys. The island is visible from the resort and from a nearby wildlife park, but visitors are not allowed to set foot on the island or interact with the monkeys, as they are wild and can be aggressive.
6. Noyes Laboratory
The Noyes Laboratory is a former chemical research facility that was built in 1941 by the U.S. Army. The laboratory was used to develop and test chemical weapons, such as mustard gas, nerve agents, and incendiaries. The laboratory was closed in 1968 and declared a Superfund site in 1983, due to the contamination of the soil and groundwater by hazardous chemicals.
The laboratory is located on Pinecastle Jeep Range, a military training area in Orlando. The site is fenced off and guarded by security, and access is restricted to authorized personnel only. The site is also rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of the workers who died or suffered from the experiments.
7. Stiltsville
Stiltsville is a group of wooden houses that are built on stilts in the shallow waters of Biscayne Bay, near Miami. The houses date back to the 1930s and 1940s, when they were used as fishing camps, speakeasies, and gambling dens. The houses were also popular among celebrities, politicians, and socialites, who enjoyed the privacy and exclusivity of the offshore community.
However, the houses were damaged by hurricanes, fires, and vandalism over the years, and many of them were demolished by the government. Today, only seven houses remain, and they are part of the Biscayne National Park. The houses are not open to the public, and can only be visited by the members of the Stiltsville Trust, a nonprofit organization that preserves and maintains the houses.
Conclusion
Florida is a state full of surprises, and some of them are hidden from the public eye. These seven secret places are examples of the history, culture, and nature that make Florida unique, but also of the challenges and dangers that they face. Whether they are abandoned, restricted, or protected, these places are part of Florida’s mystery and allure, and they deserve to be respected and appreciated.