DISCOVER THE
TREASURE COAST
If there’s one place you want to visit on
the Treasure Coast to imagine where
early humans congregate, go no farther
than Old Fort Park, less than a mile south
of Fort Pierce on South Indian River Drive.
Located on the banks of the Indian River,
the site once had a freshwater spring,
which made it attractive for the region’s
earliest settlers. The serenity of the site
enables you to imagine the Ais landing on
the shores of the Indian River Lagoon in
their dugouts with loads of sh and oysters,
the refuse from the oysters building
up the mound over centuries.
The site was the center of Ais territory,
which ranged from Cape Canaveral in the
north to Jupiter in the south. The culture
was dependent on the Rio de Ais, now
known as the Indian River. But by 1740, the
Ais were wiped out from disease, invasions
and enslavement by the Spanish and other
European nations.
The height of the mound and the panoramic
view it gave of the river — along
with the freshwater spring — undoubtedly
is the reason the Army made it the site
of a military outpost in 1838 during the
Second Seminole War. The fort was never
engaged in battle and deactivated in 1842
at the end of the war and was destroyed
by re in December 1843.
The site is covered with sabal palmettos
— used for the construction of the fort
and its fence — and mossy oaks. Steps
lead you up the mound and provide a terri
The place:
Old Fort Park
What: Old Fort Park
Where: South Indian River Drive,
Fort Pierce
Admission: Free
About: If there’s one place on the
Treasure Coast where early humans
undoubtedly gathered it is Old
Fort Park, just about a mile south
of downtown Fort Pierce on South
Indian River Drive.
Open: Daily until sunset
c vantage point for seeing what’s going
on in the Indian River. If you walk along
the shore, you can see where the stream,
now running underground through a system
of culverts, empties into the lagoon.
Today, all that remains of the days of the
Ais and the fort is the mound, and much
of that has been reduced. But the park has
several helpful illustrations and signs that
help you imagine what life was like both
during the days of the Ais and the Army.
Feature your attraction on this page by calling 772.940.9005 or emailing discover@indianrivermag.com
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