South Beach
Dublin Core
Title
South Beach
Alternative Title
North Point
Anastasia Island State Park
Conch Island
Anastasia State Recreation Area
Anastasia State Park
Date Modified
1565
17th Century-18th Century
1947
1964
1980s
Type
This natural resource has man-made constructs on a map but flows seamlessly with the land around it.
Description
Located on the northern tip of Anastasia Island, Anastasia State Park contains a beach, lagoon, marshes, and 139 campsites. Hundreds of thousands of visitors visit the state park each year for the four miles of pristine white beaches where centuries of histories have unfolded dating back to 1565.
When St. Augustine was founded in 1565, Pedro Menendez de Aviles sailed through the northern edge of Anastasia Island State Park, through what was once known as the Salt Run. This land contains features of naturally-occuring coquina that were excavated and used to build various structures in 17th century St. Augustine, most famously, the Castillo de San Marcos.
During the Flagler Era (1883-1913), the future state park was known as South Beach and was a popular destination for winter tourists. A tram railway was built where the Bridge of Lions currently stands to carry passengers from downtown St. Augustine to the beach.
In 1947, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged an inlet further north to connect the Matanzas Bay with the Atlantic Ocean. The tip of this new peninsula was originally named North Point and changed to Conch Island, named after famous local fisherman Florence D. Edge, known as “the Conch.” Following Hurricane Dora in 1964, Conch Island became part of Anastasia Island.
In 1949, Anastasia State Park was formed, which included the historical coquina quarry. This quarry was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1972.
Before the 1980s, a section of A1A went directly through Anastasia Island State Park, following the coast and continuing to the St. Augustine Lighthouse. However, a series of storms took out these portions of the highway and it was built further west beyond park boundaries.
In 1999, an archeological dig uncovered a prehistoric artifact in the state park. The artifact, a ceramic shard, was dated to sometime between 700 BC and 1500 AD.
When St. Augustine was founded in 1565, Pedro Menendez de Aviles sailed through the northern edge of Anastasia Island State Park, through what was once known as the Salt Run. This land contains features of naturally-occuring coquina that were excavated and used to build various structures in 17th century St. Augustine, most famously, the Castillo de San Marcos.
During the Flagler Era (1883-1913), the future state park was known as South Beach and was a popular destination for winter tourists. A tram railway was built where the Bridge of Lions currently stands to carry passengers from downtown St. Augustine to the beach.
In 1947, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged an inlet further north to connect the Matanzas Bay with the Atlantic Ocean. The tip of this new peninsula was originally named North Point and changed to Conch Island, named after famous local fisherman Florence D. Edge, known as “the Conch.” Following Hurricane Dora in 1964, Conch Island became part of Anastasia Island.
In 1949, Anastasia State Park was formed, which included the historical coquina quarry. This quarry was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1972.
Before the 1980s, a section of A1A went directly through Anastasia Island State Park, following the coast and continuing to the St. Augustine Lighthouse. However, a series of storms took out these portions of the highway and it was built further west beyond park boundaries.
In 1999, an archeological dig uncovered a prehistoric artifact in the state park. The artifact, a ceramic shard, was dated to sometime between 700 BC and 1500 AD.
Has Part
Anastasia State Park is part of the barrier island, Anastasia Island.
Anastasia State Park is part of the Florida State Parks system.
Mediator
Anastasia State Park is open to the public. For access information and the current entry fee, please visit the park's website at Anastasia State Park.
Rights Holder
Relation
Anastasia State Park is located on Anastasia Island.
The coquina quarry is part of Anastasia State Park.
Source
The following books, articles, websites, and photographers were used to find the above photographs or illustrations:
Photograph 1 (1993): Adams, William R. and Paul L. Weaver, III. Historic Places of St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Visitor’s Guide. St. Augustine, FL: Southern Heritage Press, 1993.
Photograph 2 (2025): Zufelt, Holly. Anastasia State Park. July 25, 2025.
The following books, articles, and/or websites were used to find information about this location:
Adams, William R. and Paul L. Weaver, III. Historic Places of St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Visitor’s Guide. St. Augustine, FL: Southern Heritage Press, 1993.
Adams, William R. St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Historical Guide. Pineapple Press, 2009.
Florida State Parks: The Real Florida. “Spanish Coquina Quarries at Anastasia.” 2024. https://www.floridastateparks.org/Anastasia/spanish-coquina-quarries-anastasia.
Florida State Parks: The Real Florida. “Anastasia State Park.” 2024. https://www.floridastateparks.org/Anastasia.
Harvey, Karen G. St. Augustine Enters the Twenty-First Century. Virginia Beach, VA: The Donning Company, 2010.
Photograph 1 (1993): Adams, William R. and Paul L. Weaver, III. Historic Places of St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Visitor’s Guide. St. Augustine, FL: Southern Heritage Press, 1993.
Photograph 2 (2025): Zufelt, Holly. Anastasia State Park. July 25, 2025.
The following books, articles, and/or websites were used to find information about this location:
Adams, William R. and Paul L. Weaver, III. Historic Places of St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Visitor’s Guide. St. Augustine, FL: Southern Heritage Press, 1993.
Adams, William R. St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Historical Guide. Pineapple Press, 2009.
Florida State Parks: The Real Florida. “Spanish Coquina Quarries at Anastasia.” 2024. https://www.floridastateparks.org/Anastasia/spanish-coquina-quarries-anastasia.
Florida State Parks: The Real Florida. “Anastasia State Park.” 2024. https://www.floridastateparks.org/Anastasia.
Harvey, Karen G. St. Augustine Enters the Twenty-First Century. Virginia Beach, VA: The Donning Company, 2010.
Rights
Flagler College’s Rare Books, Floridiana & Institutional Repository are neither the original nor current copyright owner for the photographs. Please contact the publisher or source cited for each photograph to obtain a copy and/or permission to reproduce these items.
Is Referenced By
The following St. Augustine Fiction books feature this natural feature as a location:
Beautiful Dreamer
Blinding Tide
Black Blood
A Bone in Her Teeth
Cracker Cop
The Florida Snow Party
Golden Blood
Pure Blood
Storm and the Mermaid
There Is a Season
Beautiful Dreamer
Blinding Tide
Black Blood
A Bone in Her Teeth
Cracker Cop
The Florida Snow Party
Golden Blood
Pure Blood
Storm and the Mermaid
There Is a Season
Date Submitted
This record was last updated on September 3, 2025.
Collection
Citation
“South Beach,” St. Augustine Fiction, accessed February 17, 2026, https://staugustinefiction.omeka.net/items/show/288.