Media Advisory: Oct. 13, 2017CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.usFort Zachary Taylor, John Pennekamp andCurry Hammock State Parks Reopen~Three state parks in Monroe County reopen for visitors to enjoy~TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service announces that three additional state parks in the Keys have reopened following the impacts of Hurricane Irma. Amenities and access to certain areas of the parks may be limited as park staff continue clean-up efforts. The following parks have reopened for day-use: Curry Hammock State Park Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park John Pennekamp Coral Reef State ParkThe following state parks and trails in the Keys are also open for visitors to enjoy: Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail - due to conditions and construction, sections of the trail may be closed. Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State ParkTo ensure visitor safety, five state parks remain closed, but crews are working to reopen them as quickly as possible. For a full list of park closures and for continuously updated information, please visit floridastateparks.org and the Florida State Parks Facebook page.

Note that ALL Florida State Parks that are open are only for day use, there is no camping in any State Park, even ones such as Big Lagoon at Pensacola, that were probably not affected to any degree by the storm.Charles

So many nice parks listed in the not open yet category!

I just spoke with a ranger from Rocky Bayou state park in Niceville about the camping. She told me that in the park that are listed as open for day use if you already have reservations they are honoring them. It is best to call the particular park to make sure they are doing the same thing if you already have reservations made

Check out the local news too. Depending what your destination is.The fish are dieing en mass and floating to the top and on shore and smelling, and the swamp gas is smelling, etc. Locals living near any body of water said it smells REAL BAD.They said this will subside but gave no time frame. And also advised not going into any body of water at this time.http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-hurricane-irma-stinky-smell-20170919-story.htmlhttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article29854051.html

It looks like John Pennekamp is opening for camping on Sept 29th. It appears the other 3 state park campgrounds in the keys, aren't opening for camping until January, unless things change. :@

Florida State Parks Status - 3 more open -UPDATED 10-13-17

Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Oct 13, 2017
OP updated 10-13-17

Fort Zachary Taylor, John Pennekamp and
Curry Hammock State Parks Reopen
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2017
Bump - OP update 10-9-17
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Sep 29, 2017
OP updated 9-29. Just 14 parks still closed, 160 open...
NCWriter
Explorer
Sep 28, 2017
We also had a res for Pennekamp in October. Got the canx refund notice from Reserve America today.

All our other October Keys state park res were canx a week or so ago,
Mich_F
Explorer
Sep 27, 2017
I was surprised last week when Reserve America showed Sept 29th as the day you could make reservations. I heard from a friend that works there, at one of the concessions, that they didn't get much damage at the park from Irma. Of course he is still out of work, and has no idea when the park will reopen.

I checked the Reserve America site last night and noticed that my reservation and a number of others still showed, but dates after those reservations showed Xs. I figured something was wrong.

I called Reserve America, after calling the park once yesterday and again today and getting no answer, and was told to wait a few days and I would be contacted by them, if the reservation was cancelled.

A couple of hours later I got the call that the reservation was cancelled.
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Sep 27, 2017
Mich F wrote:
On the 14th I was able (for some reason) to make a reservation at John Pennekamp starting on the 29th (this Fri). This morning I received an automated call saying the reservation was cancelled and the park was not expected to open before Oct 31st.

From the Parks Dept. press release in the OP:

"All other Florida State Parks are open at this time for day use only."

I have heard though, that some parks are honoring pre-existing current reservations. Best to call them and verify first...
Mich_F
Explorer
Sep 26, 2017
On the 14th I was able (for some reason) to make a reservation at John Pennekamp starting on the 29th (this Fri). This morning I received an automated call saying the reservation was cancelled and the park was not expected to open before Oct 31st.
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Sep 25, 2017
Thread starter updated...
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2017
And it's $17 to cancel or change.
Mich_F
Explorer
Sep 21, 2017
On Tuesday I made a reservation, through Reserve America, for a Florida state park. I was charged the normal $6.70 transaction fee.
I was under the impression that the fees charged on Reserve America were determined by the campground or agency that the reservation is for. I know the Florida state parks were reserved through Reserve America without any additional fees for a number of years, before the transaction fee was added, a few years ago.

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