Mound Key Archaeological State Park
An island in Estero Bay made entirely of oyster shells, built by the Calusa people over 2,000 years. The Spanish built a mission here in 1566. Both are gone.
Mound Key is not a natural island. It is a midden — a pile of discarded oyster shells accumulated by the Calusa people over 2,000 years of occupation. The island rises 30 feet above sea level, which is extraordinary in Southwest Florida. The Calusa were the dominant culture in South Florida when the Spanish arrived, and they resisted European contact for 200 years.
Mound Key is accessible only by kayak or canoe from Koreshan State Historic Site or Lovers Key State Park. The paddle is about 3 miles. The island has a trail system and interpretive signs. No camping, no facilities. Bring water and bug spray.
Standing on top of the mound, you are standing on 2,000 years of accumulated meals. The view across Estero Bay is extraordinary. The Spanish mission is gone. The Calusa are gone. The oyster shells remain, and they are the whole story.