Just A Bit Loopy

February 8, 2024

Our Islamorada adventures continue as we visit the Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park. Our tour involved trees that could ruin your day and ancient corals that had us feeling like time-traveling paleontologists.

The family and I strolled into Windley Key like we were explorers on a mission to uncover the secrets of the Jurassic (minus the T-Rex, thank goodness). The place is basically a nature wonderland disguised as a park.

First off, the paths – we embarked on a journey that made us feel like the modern-day Lewis and Clark, minus the compass mishaps. The variety of trees was mind-blowing. Like, who knew trees had such character? We were enjoying the greenery until we stumbled upon the infamous poison wood. Yeah, you read that right – poison. A tree with a vendetta. It had us side-eyeing every leaf, convinced they were plotting some revenge for all the treehouses we built as kids.

And let’s not forget the fossilized coral – the rockstars of Windley Key. They were like the ancient Instagram of marine life, capturing moments for us to marvel at centuries later. It’s amazing to realize that we were standing inside an ancient fossilized coral reef which once thrived 100,000-125,000 years ago!

Now, for a bit of history – Windley Key isn’t just a random pit stop for curious families like us. Back in the day, this place belonged to the Florida East Coast Railroad which used the stone to build Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad in the early 1900s. After the railroads were built, the quarry was used to produce decorative stone called Keystone.

The significance? Well, it’s like this chunk of land holds the secrets of a bygone era. You can practically hear the echoes of workers chiseling away at the rock, probably humming sea shanties and dreaming of retirement in the Florida sun.

So, there you have it – Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, where trees have vendettas, corals reefs are on land, and history is etched in every limestone nook and cranny. Next time you’re in the area, slap on some bug spray, grab your family, and dive into this geological time capsule. Just watch out for those sneaky poison trees – they’ve got a grudge, and they’re not afraid to leaf you hanging. Happy exploring!