Oscar Scherer State Park - Florida State Park - Crescent Beach, Englewood, Forest Lakes, Meadows Village, Mid Venice

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Oscar Scherer State Park

State Park Information

State Park Overview

Camping
Full Facility Camping

Oscar Scherer State Park Full Facility Camping Oscar Scherer State Park is a Seasonal Camping Park. Nightly rate is $24.20 including tax, per night, per site for up to 4 persons. Additional Camping Related Fees Extra person fee (over 4 people) $2.00 per person/per night Extra car (non-towed vehicle) $3.00 per vehicle/ per night Electricity $2.00 per night Pet Fee $2.00 per pet/ per night (proof of Rabies Vaccination required) (State Sales Tax and Local Option Tax not included in above prices) Campsites are available for tent or RV camping with complete hook-ups for electric and water. Reservations may be made up to eleven months in advance. One nights camping fee deposit will be required (credit card only ? must be canceled within 24 hours of check-in time for refund). For more information on camping in our park simply click on the Reserve America link. Clicking on the park map or selecting one of the camping area links just below the park map will allow you to see a map of the individual campsite locations. Select any campsite icon to see a detailed description of the individual campsite and what it has to offer.

Group Camping

A separate camp area is available for organized youth and adult groups. Tents only. No pets allowed. Amenities include pavilion, campfire circle, restroom and cold water shower. No electric service available. Limited to 60 people. For reservations call the parks Ranger Station as Group Camp reservations are not yet made through Reserve America.

RV Camping

Campsites are available for RV camping with complete hook-ups for electric and water. Reservations may be made up to eleven months in advance. One night?s camping fee deposit will be required (credit card only – must be canceled within 24 hours of check-in time for refund). Campsites can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet.

Youth Camping

There are youth camping activities and accommodations available at the park. Please call the park at 941-483-5956 for more information.

Trails
Bicycling

The park offers several marked trails with a combined length of approximately 15 miles. Both hikers and bicyclists share these trails. Since much of the trails consist of fine loose " sugar sand" - mountain bike is recommended. The trails meander through two distinct plant communities and are a great way for visitors to get a closer look at the " Oscar Scherer Outback" . Due to the specific use of and width of the trails, please refrain from riding bikes on the Lester Finley Trail and the South Creek Nature Trail. Both trails are marked to show foot traffic only.

Nature Trails

Six marked hiking trails provide visitors an opportunity to explore various remote portions of the park. Numbered benches conveniently placed along the trails provide resting spots and, since the numbers correspond with numbers on the trail map, visitors can determine their exact location on the trail. Keep in mind that there are no restrooms or shelters on the trail. You may want to wear good hiking shoes, bring drinking water, wear a hat and use sunscreen and insect repellant. Make sure to request a trail map when entering the park. For information on what you might see along the trail, be sure to check out the Resources and Endangered Habitats section.

Picnicking

Boating

Swimming

Fishing and Hunting

History of the Area
In her will, Elsa Scherer Burrows (18842955) left the family?s 460 acre South Creek Ranch to the state in memory of her father Oscar Scherer (18562923), inventor of a process for dyeing shoe leather in 1872. After a year of preparation, Oscar Scherer State Park was opened to the public in 1956.

Sometime later the classification for parks? changed and it became Oscar Scherer State Recreation Area. Three decades later, Realtor and environmentalist Jon Thaxton began campaigning for the state to protect adjoining Florida Scrub-Jay territory. With help from the Nature Conservancy and wide public support, the state?s Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program used Preservation 2000 funds to purchase 922 acres of adjacent land from Palmer Ranch in 1991.

With the addition, the present Oscar Scherer State Park came into being. It now preserves more than two square miles of nature in a rapidly developing area and provides resource-based recreation for some 130,000 visitors annually.

More Info

Oscar Scherer State Park Trails Oscar Scherer State Park is officially designated as part of Florida?s Statewide System of Greenways
The Friends of Oscar Scherer State Park citizen support
...ar Scherer State Park University of Florida Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plant Information Retrieval System Contributions
to the Oscar Scherer State Park picture collection are welcome. Send
...ar Scherer State Park, Osprey, Information and Sarasota Florida history, daily updates of homes for sale.
landowner & businesswoman Oscar Scherer State Park Oscar Scherer State Park

E-Mail Dining Hotels Links Real Estate Search Shopping Weather Home Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey, Florida Oscar Scherer State Park offers visitors a number of recreational activities -s
...rida information. Online hotel reservations -ttractions and events. Florida State parks and
34229 (941) 483-5956 Driving Directions Oscar Scherer State Park is located on U.S.41, six miles
...dlife Viewing Site Oscar Scherer State Park Description Pine flatwoods and scrubby flatwoods are the typical plant communities in this park. You can float tidal South Creek and see marshes
...odel of Accessibility
Trail Family RVing Schooling Options for RVers Kartchner Caverns State Park Oscar Scherer State Park 10 RVing Tips for Newbies The Accessible RV Site Riding The Rails The

Enabled RVer is an access travel resource for the disabled rver.
Schooling Options for RVers Kartchner Caverns State Park Oscar Scherer State Park 10 RVing Tips for Newbies The Accessible RV

bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) RBWO2 Adult male Oscar Scherer State Park, Florida February 2001 ? Peter LaTourrette RBWO-2 Adult male Oscar Scherer State Park, Florida February 2001 ?
...e Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) BLJA2 Adult Oscar Scherer State Park, Florida February 2001 ? Peter LaTourrette BLJA-2 Adult Oscar Scherer State Park, Florida February 2001 ? Peter LaTourrette

Nature Programs