6. T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

County Road 30E

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, 2005

The opening of the park September 6, 1967, was the realization of a life-time dream of T.H. Stone to whom it was dedicated. T.H. Stone was the founder of Port St. Joe, its first postmaster, and mayor-commissioner for many years. This over 2,500-acre park has miles of sugar white sand beaches, high dunes, and sand pine scrub. Its beaches are consistently rated as among the most beautiful in the United States.

The park also has a rich history. For thousands of years, Native Americans enjoyed the natural bounty of the peninsula. Between 1747 the Spanish established and occupied the Presidio San Jose near the tip of the peninsula. A lighthouse was established in 1839 to guide ships to the ill-fated town of St. Joseph. Eagle Harbor was a popular bathing spot for residents of this early town. Residents of early Port St. Joe also enjoyed excursions across the bay to Eagle Harbor.

Before World War II, the St. Joseph Peninsula was considered worthless and only accessible by boat or on horseback. Captain Fred Maddox ran hogs and cattle—a combination of Brahman and native cows—on open range on the peninsula for many years. The cattle did very well except in September during dog fly season when they would go out in the bay and stand nose-deep in the water to get away from the flies. They wouldn’t leave the protection of the water to graze or to seek freshwater.

Captain Dave Maddox, 2005

Captain Dave Maddox, Fred’s son, recalls when the government took over the peninsula during World War II and again during the Korean War.

Listen to Dave Maddox's description of the peninsula's use during World War II>: Real Network Windows Media Player
Click here to read the text of the audio about the peninsula's use during World War II.

Listen to Dave Maddox's description of the peninsula's use during the Korean War: Real Network Windows Media Player
Click here to read the text of the audio about the peninsula's use during the Korean War.

After the World War II, Fred Maddox had to lease the land from the government to run his cattle on it. After the Korean War, the government bid off the land on the peninsula. Dave Maddox recalled how he, Jesse Stone, the son of T.H. Stone, and others were able to preserve the northern end of the peninsula for a state park. Other parcels on the island were sold to individuals who began building vacation homes.

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

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