Manager's Message

Ken Torres, Park Manager

Welcome to Sebastian Inlet State Park. This barrier island property has been divided by the Sebastian Inlet for the past 100 years. The inlet allows the waters of the Indian River Lagoon to mix with the Atlantic Ocean. I am continuously amazed by the thousands of plant and animal species that inhabit this park and the surrounding nutrient-rich waters.

Manatees, dolphins and immense schools of fish can be seen swimming through the inlet. Visibility is best in the summer months during an incoming tide. Great blue herons, wood storks, marsh rabbits, osprey, royal terns, bobcats, screech owls and otters all inhabit the area. Take a walk along the south shoreline and you may see a juvenile green sea turtle lift its head to take a breath as it swims in search of food. 

It’s hard to believe that there are still places along Florida’s coast where you can walk on the beach and not see another person anywhere. However, that is possible at Sebastian Inlet if you plan your visit for the early morning hours. This is my favorite time to be out in the park. I love to watch the sun rise over the ocean and see the colors reflect off the water. Here you may see ghost crabs, a variety of shorebirds resting in the sand or pelicans gliding inches above the water.

My favorite time of year at the park is the spring when hundreds of loggerhead, green and leatherback sea turtles arrive at our beaches where they are drawn to the warm sand to deposit their eggs. Thousands of hatchlings will eventually set out to make their journey from our shores. 

I feel privileged to be a part of protecting this amazing park for future generations. Come out to Sebastian Inlet State Park and experience why Florida State Parks are ...the Real Florida.