Part of the legacy of Florida's antebellum period, Bulow Plantation's history mirrors the rise and fall of the sugar plantations of East Florida. Visitors today can walk the same paths plantation owners, slaves and Seminoles traversed in the 1800's. Located on pristine Bulow Creek, the ruins of the sugar mill and plantation house make a fascinating trek back in time. An Interpretive Center features artifacts of the era, and a 6-mile hiking trail meanders past the ruins and along Bulow Creek. Bulow Creek itself offers some of the best canoeing in the state.

Major Charles Bulow founded Bulow Plantation on 4,675 acres in 1821. Using slave labor, 2,200 acres were cleared and planted with sugar cane, cotton, rice and indigo. After Major Bulow's death in 1823, his son John returned from Paris to manage the growing plantation. John made quite a success of the business until January 1836 when a band of Seminole Indians looted and burned the property during the Second Seminole War. The mill walls and chimneys, made of local "coquina" rock, survived the fire and stand to this day. The foundation of the original plantation house and some of the slave quarters are also still visible amidst the oak hammock that surrounds the original property. Signs amid the ruins and artifacts at the Interpretive Center recount the history of this once noble plantation.

For the hiker and history buff alike, a 6-mile hiking trail runs from the plantation ruins to nearby Bulow Creek State Park. The trail crosses open woods and then enters oak hammock where the shaded path winds around the massive trunks of live oaks. Camping is available, with a camping permit, at a primitive campsite located along the trail. There are no facilities and water and supplies must be packed in. Bulow Creek, a State Canoe Trail, offers the canoeist the chance to view breathtaking natural scenery and abundant wildlife. Bald eagles, swallow-tailed kites, and Florida manatees have all been seen in the park. A small picnic area located along the banks of Bulow Creek offers a beautiful setting for an open-air meal.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., 365 days a year

DETAILED DIRECTIONS:

From Melbourne, take I-95 north to the SR-100 Exit. Turn left onto SR-100 and travel 8-9/10 miles to CR2001. Turn south on CR-2001 and travel to park entrance.

ACTIVITIES:

Historic site, hiking, canoeing, picnicking, primitive camping, fishing

INFORMATION:

Bulow Plantation Ruins State Historic Site
P.O. Box 655
Bunnel, FL 32110
(904) 517-2084