::. Cape San Blas

Cape San Blas is located east of Port St. Joe on the south end of the St. Joseph Bay Peninsula in Gulf County. The area features campgrounds, beach rentals and miles of beautiful white sand beaches. The beaches at Cape San Blas are acclaimed as one of the country's top three beaches by the University of Maryland's Dr. Steven Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach.). Favorite pastimes in this quiet secluded beach community include swimming, shell hunting, scalloping, boating, fishing and snorkeling. The adjacent area of Simmons Bayou features access to St. Joseph Bay which features summer recreational scalloping.

The Cape San Blas Lighthouse
The Cape San Blas Lighthouse is located on Cape San Blas and is one of the County's most significant historical sites. Originally built in 1847, the lighthouse has been rebuilt several times over the last 150 years. It has been blown down by hurricanes, twice ravaged during the Civil War and relocated to its present location overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

Confederate Saltworks
Until 1862, each day 150 bushels of salt were processed here by evaporation of seawater. A union ship destroyed the saltworks during the Civil War, further crippling the confederacy. All that remains is a historical marker and private rental cabins.

St. Joseph State Peninsula Park
Some of the state's largest sand dunes can be found at this park, located at the northern end of Gulf County's St. Joseph Peninsula. The park's beaches are consistently rated in the top five in the nation. Visitors here can crab, scallop, ski, hike, dive and more. Tent, cabin, RV camping and canoe rentals are available.

Cape Palms Park
Located on St. Joseph Peninsula, the park features a scenic picnic area.

Rish Park
Located on Cape San Blas, this handicapped accessible beach park features extensive boardwalks easily accessible by wheelchair. The park serves as home to the MDA summer camp.

Indian Pass
Located east of Cape San Blas along CR C30, Indian Pass is a narrow beachfront peninsula bordered on the south by the Gulf of Mexico and on the north by Indian Lagoon. A picturesque “old Florida” beachfront community with nostalgic charm, Indian Pass gained its name from the use of the natural pass from Apalachicola Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. The Cherokee, Creek, and Choctaw Indians who came to the coast to fish and harvest oysters first used the Pass. On the Gulf side of Indian Pass you can fish, shrimp and crab. On the bay side (Indian Lagoon) you can catch flounder, mullet and crabs. Indian Pass is also the nearest mainland point to the St. Vincent Refuge, a federally owned barrier island preserve.

St. Vincent Island
The St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge on St. Vincent Island is a primitive barrier island that offers the public the opportunity to observe and photograph wildlife in its natural habitat. Exotic species such as Sambar deer co-exist with native whitetail deer. Endangered and threatened species such as bald eagles and loggerhead turtles live here. Fourteen miles of beaches and 80 miles of sand roads invite fishing, hiking, photograph, bird watching and shell collecting. Access to the island is by boat during daylight hours only.

As on St. George Island, the predominant development pattern on Cape San Blas and Indian Pass has been single-family residential development. A substantial number of those beachfront and bayfront homes are in the rental market - making both areas an excellent investment opportunity. For more information about the Cape San Blas real estate market, click here to contact Jerry Thompson at Prudential Resort Realty.