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Perdido Key

Perdido Key History

   The literal translation of Perdido Key is "Lost Island," but many visitors find this beautiful beachfront location holds a trove of natural treasures.
   Spanish explorers first landed on the island in 1693 in search of gold and silver. Instead, they found crystal-white beaches surrounded by  emerald waters. Perdido Key is bordered by the Old River to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. The Gulf Islands National Seashore encompasses much of this thin barrier island, which is also home to the Perdido Key State Recreation Area and the Big Lagoon State Recreation Area.
   Although parks and preserves make up 61 percent of the island, it also has several entertainment and recreational facilities. Golf, fine dining and shopping can be found on Perdido Key, which has a small resident population. Because of its location near the "Flora-Bama" strip, Perdido is also a popular hangout for Spring Break revelers. Bridges link Perdido Key to the Florida mainland as well as neighboring Alabama. Those who make the short drive across the water will agree that this "Lost Island" is definitely worth discovering.

Activities

   Perdido Key is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, which was established through the National Park system. The seashore stretches 160 miles from Mississippi to the eastern tip of neighboring Santa Rosa Island. More than 80 percent of the seashore is under water, but the land areas provide ample opportunities for hiking, beach combing and wildlife viewing.
   Perdido Key State Recreation Area provides habitat for shore birds and other coastal animals. The 247-acre area also offers fishing, swimming areas and picnic shelters.
   Big Lagoon State Recreation Area has more than 75 campsites, five picnic areas, boardwalks and nature trails, a 500-seat amphitheater, and a panoramic observation tower. The area is located on Gulf Beach Highway, just north of Perdido Key.
   Golfers can hit the links at the Lost Key Golf Club, an Arnold Palmer-designed course offering 18 holes along the white sands of Perdido Key.
   History buffs should visit the ruins of Fort McCrae and its smaller brethren, Fort Pickens and Fort Morgan. These former strongholds helped to protect Pensacola Bay during the Spanish-American War and Civil War. Just offshore, divers can see the shipwreck of the USS Massachusetts, which was scuttled in 1921 as an artillery experiment.

Perdido Key Fast Facts

   Location: Perdido Key is located on a barrier island in the far northwest Florida Panhandle, just east of the Alabama state line.
  *Population: Perdido Key is unincorporated, but there are approximately 2,000 year-round residents.
   Average annual rainfall: 64.28 inches
   Average temperatures: 83ºF in summer, 55ºF in winter
*Information provided by 2000 Census

Schools

Homes

Maps of Perdido Key

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