Henderson Beach State Park History
Named for its previous owners, the park was purchased in 1983 from the Henderson family estate and opened to the public on March 29, 1991. This was the first acquisition under the Save Our Coast Program, a land conservation program initiated by Governor Bob Graham in 1981. The Henderson family wanted the land preserved to protect the unique natural features of the area, and to provide the public with an opportunity to enjoy the surroundings.
The initial construction of the park included two picnic pavilions with restrooms, beach access boardwalks, an entrance station and park support facilities. In March of 2000, 30 campsites, a bathhouse, camping area playground, and an additional beach access boardwalk were added to provide visitors with a more unique experience of the park. Demand was so high for overnight accommodations that an additional 30 campsites and a campfire circle/interpretive site were added and opened to the public in March of 2002.
A Vital addition to the park was the development of the Friends of Henderson Beach State Park Citizen Support Organization in March of 2000. The Friends of Henderson Beach State Park are a not-for-profit volunteer organization that provides added volunteer positions and funding that help the park provide additional services and activities to park visitors and the local community.
A beautiful ¾ mile nature trail was built through this joint-partnership between the “Friends of Henderson Beach State Park” and the park itself. Using park staff and volunteers to construct the trail, as well as funding provided by donations and membership fees by the CSO, the trail was opened to the public in November of 2001. It now provides visitors with a rare view of some of the last remaining & endangered coastal scrub communities in the Florida panhandle.
Also surrounded by Henderson Beach State Park, The U.S. Air Force maintains a large tracking site known as the Clausen Tracking Site. This site was installed in 1951 to provide national security programs and rocketry testing programs in the United States. Remnants of the original tracking installations can be seen atop the hill adjacent to the Air Force property along the nature trail. Today a larger version of this tracking system provides a landmark for visitors throughout the park.
The initial construction of the park included two picnic pavilions with restrooms, beach access boardwalks, an entrance station and park support facilities. In March of 2000, 30 campsites, a bathhouse, camping area playground, and an additional beach access boardwalk were added to provide visitors with a more unique experience of the park. Demand was so high for overnight accommodations that an additional 30 campsites and a campfire circle/interpretive site were added and opened to the public in March of 2002.
A Vital addition to the park was the development of the Friends of Henderson Beach State Park Citizen Support Organization in March of 2000. The Friends of Henderson Beach State Park are a not-for-profit volunteer organization that provides added volunteer positions and funding that help the park provide additional services and activities to park visitors and the local community.
A beautiful ¾ mile nature trail was built through this joint-partnership between the “Friends of Henderson Beach State Park” and the park itself. Using park staff and volunteers to construct the trail, as well as funding provided by donations and membership fees by the CSO, the trail was opened to the public in November of 2001. It now provides visitors with a rare view of some of the last remaining & endangered coastal scrub communities in the Florida panhandle.
Also surrounded by Henderson Beach State Park, The U.S. Air Force maintains a large tracking site known as the Clausen Tracking Site. This site was installed in 1951 to provide national security programs and rocketry testing programs in the United States. Remnants of the original tracking installations can be seen atop the hill adjacent to the Air Force property along the nature trail. Today a larger version of this tracking system provides a landmark for visitors throughout the park.
