The Port Boca Grande Lighthouse was the first lighthouse on the west coast of Florida to be automated.
The lighthouse museum features a Fresnel lens originally used to navigate ships through Boca Grande Pass.
Boca Grande Pass is one of the deepest natural inlets in Florida, reaching depths of up to 80 feet.
The park is a critical nesting site for loggerhead sea turtles during the summer months.
The island's unique geology and deep channel passage attract massive tarpon migrations every spring and summer.
The lighthouse was decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1966 before being restored for public use.
Gasparilla Island State Park occupies the southern tip of Gasparilla Island, featuring the historic Port Boca Grande Lighthouse built in 1890. The park encompasses two miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline known for turquoise waters and expansive white sand beaches. Visitors access the beach through boardwalks that protect the fragile dune system. The lighthouse currently houses a museum detailing the island’s history as a phosphate shipping hub and a fishing destination. The waters off the southern point are internationally recognized for tarpon fishing. The park provides dedicated areas for swimming, sunbathing, and shelling. Shelling is particularly productive after high tide or during winter months. Facilities include picnic pavilions and restrooms located near the main parking areas.
The elevated porch of the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse looking out over the Gulf.
Bring polarized sunglasses to better spot sea turtles and stingrays swimming in the shallows.
Wear water shoes, as shell fragments can be sharp along the tide line.
Carry a reusable water bottle, as potable water stations are limited to the parking and restroom areas.
Attempting to swim in the Boca Grande Pass, as the currents are extremely dangerous and unpredictable.
The lighthouse museum may be closed on certain holidays or Mondays depending on the season.
Stay on marked boardwalks to protect dune vegetation; do not disturb sea turtle nesting sites.
