Travels Without Charley: Enjoying Steinbeck's America: 10/13 T.H. Stone Memorial State Park, San Blas Peninsula

I camped here way back in 2014, and at that time, the campground was old and had no hookups other than electric. It was also hard to get into spots because of scrub that had grown up over the years. However, as with St. Andrews State Park Hurricane Michael hit this part of the Florida Panhandle in 2018 and changed everything. First, it broke across the long San Blas Peninsula where this state park is located, cutting the highway and all access for a long period until the roadway could be reconstructed and a storm buffer of big rocks installed. Almost everything on the peninsula, including homes, businesses, and utilities had to be replaced.

This meant that this state park also was closed for several years as it was completely reconstructed with new and much larger campsites and cabins, all brand-new and much more up to modern standards! I think it has become one of my favorite places now!

As you can see from the following photos I took as I drove in, you can see that there are only a few living Southern Pine trees and a lot of dead standing trees that have been left for birds and other wildlife. It might look a little barren and harsh until you notice how much of the undergrowth has regrown over the past few years. Thousands of young pine trees and palms have sprouted on their own and are now about 5-7' tall. In another ten years, it will look fully forested!

The tall dead trees, by the way, are used by ospreys during breeding seasons, and the pines are preferred by eagles. Other birds, like woodpeckers and owls like the dead trees as well, so the sparse trees still provide homes for wildlife.

ALL of the new campsites are large enough for the biggest RVs and include electric, water, and sewer! They are clean and well-designed, to say the least. This one was mine.

And as with all Florida state parks, there are modern restroom and shower facilities that also include a washer and dryer.

Just behind my site is a nature trail. Lots of young pines and other trees and shrubbery. None of this was planted, by the way. Some of the young plants survived the hurricane and others sprouted once the overgrowth was removed by the winds.

There is also a boardwalk down to the beach. It is only a few hundred feet, but as in many places in Florida, it is illegal to walk on the sand dunes because they protect the land from wind and surf during hurricanes.