Fort De Soto County Park Images and Information:

  • On May 11, 1963 Fort De Soto Park was officially designated.
  • The Tocobaga Indians lived here and on surrounding barrier islands from 1,000 A.D. to approximately 1,500 A.D. The Tocobaga Indians belonged to the Safety Harbor culture period.
  • Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narváez landed on the west coast of Florida on April 15, 1528 some where in between St. Pete Beach and Clearwater and may have explored Mullet Key.
  • Hernando De Soto arrived in May of 1539 on a historical conquest that started in this area.
  • Fort De Soto park consists of 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected keys (islands).
  • Three hundred and twenty eight species of birds have been recorded at the park over a period of 60 years and new species are recorded every year.

Fort De Soto County Park map