Visit Fort Zachary Taylor During Your Key West Vacation

Key West is home to unique attractions made for the whole family, and our unbeatable family-friendly Key West rentals have you in the center of the action! You can venture into one of the shops, sit at one of the restaurants, or even hit the attractions. If you’re looking for an unforgettable day out with the family, then make sure you hit a Key West state park!

For history lovers, you can explore Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. It’s the perfect place for all to have a fun day out when you stay at a Key West waterfront rental! 

Where is Fort Zachary Taylor & How to Get There

Fort Zachary Taylor is located in Key West, right on Howard England Way. It isn’t far from landmarks like the Hemingway House. From your vacation rental, you can take Truman Avenue to Fort Street. It’s a super easy drive to get to the park from anywhere on Key West. You can spend the whole day lounging on the beach or exploring the fort. Parking can be found right on the premises, so you won’t struggle to look for a spot! 

Fort Zachary Taylor History

Fort Zachary Taylor is a perfect example of Florida’s rich history. This 54-acre park played a significant role in the development of early Florida. Throughout the 1850s, construction on the fort moved slowly because of yellow fever and shortages of materials and men. Hurricanes that blew through Florida also slowed the progress on the building of Fort Taylor. 

Before the Civil War, Captain John Brannan occupied the fortress, making it a Union fort. Fort Taylor served primarily as a headquarters for the U.S Navy’s East Gulf Coast blockade squadron. This little squadron would stop supply ships from reaching and leaving any Confederate ports in the Gulf of Mexico. Fort Taylor never saw any hostile action, but its role in the War of Rebellion was slowed and didn’t continue any longer than it did because of the fort. 

The fort has massive 10-inch Rodman and Columbiad cannons that wrap around the fort for three miles. These cannons prevented the Confederates from taking the fortress or Key West. This was a significant loss for the South, keeping Fort Taylor in Union hands throughout Civil War. The fort was finally finished in 1866. It became a three-story fort with many impressive features. Some of these features include sanitary facilities flushed by the sea, a desalination plant, 140 guns, and an ample supply of ammunition. 

The fort was then used in the Spanish-American War. In 1889, the fort was modernized, cutting down the top level to install all new guns. More sophisticated weapons and batteries were added to the fort in the 20th century. Radar was added as well as other devices to replace the weapons. In 1947, the Army gave the fort over to the Navy. 

In 1971, excavations found gun rooms filled with weaponry from the Civil War. This helped the fortress become designated as a National Historic Landmark. 

Things to Know 

If you’re planning on visiting the park, entry fees are based on the number of people in your vehicle. If you come alone, the park entry fee will cost you $4.50. For two people entering the park, it costs $6.50. Every extra person you take with you in your vehicle is an additional $0.50. If you are walking in or riding a bike, it is $2.50 a person. This also doubles as your parking pass. 

The park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to whenever the sun sets. This means that the park can be open longer depending on the time of the year. The fortress hours vary from the park hours. Fort Zachary Taylor opens from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

If you plan on spending the day at Fort Zachary Taylor, you can do so much in the park itself. You can rent umbrella sets with lounge chairs, an umbrella only, or lounge chairs to sit out and enjoy the beach. You can also rent snorkels with fins, masks, and fins at the Chickee Hut Beach. They help make your day at the beach the best it could be. 

What Can You Do Here? 

Besides exploring the fort itself, you can do so much more when you visit Fort Zachary Taylor. You can lounge out on the beach, snorkel in the water, or explore the tropical wildlife. The beach is a perfect place to play some beach sports in the sand like beach volleyball. You can even grill, read a book in a hammock, or lay in the sun. Water shoes are suggested if you walk in the water because the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor is coral. You can even bring a fishing pole and fish off the rock jetty.

The Cayo Hueso Cafe is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat. They serve up the finest beach cuisine. You can order some chips and salsa, Cheese Toast, or some Nacho Supreme. The Cayo Hueso also has sandwiches that are perfect for a picnic on the beach. They have Pulled Park BBQ sandwiches, Hamburgers or cheeseburgers, and salads.   

You can even have private events hosted on the beach if you want! Many hold their weddings right on the beach for a beautiful view as the lovely couple recites their vows. There are two excellent locations for your private event hosted here, The Point and East Beach. These are both perfect for small or large groups. You can even host your event at the fortress! 

If you are looking for Key West Tours, you can even take a guided tour of the fort! Your tour guide will lead you through the fort and narrate all you need to know about the fort’s construction and history. You’ll get to see Civil War-era cannons and more! 

Your Key West Vacation Rental 

After a long day of exploring Fort Zachary Taylor and lounging out at the beach, you deserve the best place to rest! Our Key West luxury rentals offer the most luxurious stays for your Key West vacation. Walk outside and witness the beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. All the rooms in your Key West rental are spacious and cozy enough to lounge out and relax after a long day of enjoying Key West. You can cook in your fantastic kitchen and then sit out on your patio as you enjoy the beautiful Florida weather. 

Are you ready to book your Key West vacation rental? Contact us today to get your vacation started!