Managing Organization: U.S. Coast Guard/Egmont Key State Park
Website: http://www.floridastateparks.org/egmontkey/
Notes: The station is within the Egmont Key State Park. The Egmont Key Alliance plans to install a lantern on the tower. Tower Height: 87 Height of Focal Plane: 85 Characteristic and Range: White flash every 15 seconds. Description of Tower: White, conical brick tower (lantern removed).
This light is operational
Earlier Towers? 1848 tower damaged in storms. Date Established: 1848 Date Present Tower Built: 1858 Date Automated: 1989 Optics: 1858 (?): Third order Fresnel lens; now DCB-24. Current Use: Active aid to navigation. Open To Public? Grounds only. Directions: Egmont Key is accessible by boat only. The grounds are open to the public and the base of the tower is open on occasional weekends. To visit Egmont Key State Park, contact one of the following ferry services for schedules and fees: Cortez Lady (941) 761-9777 ( departs from Cortez, south of Bradenton); Capt. Bill (727) 867-8168, Capt. Daves (727) 367-4336, Capt. Franks (727) 345-4500, Capt. Kidd (727) 360-2263, Dolphin Landing (727) 360-7411, Hubbards Sea Adventures (727) 398-6577 has a limited schedule between Fort De Soto and Egmont Key from September to February. They do not take reservations. To reach the ferry, follow the sign to Fort De Soto Park and the ferry signs. Once you enter the fort parking area there is a small kiosk at the first line of parking. This is important because it will tell you if the ferry is running that day and where you need to be to pick it up. The ride isn't long but you will be at Egmont Key for about four hours. From John Warnick: A view of this light is also available from Fort De Soto Park. No fee is charged to enter this park. Follow the signs to the old fort park and walk out on to the fishing pier. The light is southwest of the end of the pier. The ferry to the island stops running Nov. 26. Listed on the
National Register of Historic Places Keepers: Sherrod Edwards (1848-?), George V. Rickard (c. 1861), William S. Spencer (1866).
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