The land here is formed of Key Largo limestone (fossilized coral) and was homesteaded by the Russell family in the mid-1800s. Sold to Florida East Coast Railroad in 1908, three quarries produced tons of fill for the railroad bed and bridge approaches of Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad.
At the Alison Fahrer Environmental Education Center are exhibits about the geology, quarries, and Overseas Railroad.
We began our hike on the Flagler Quarry Trail where you can see the 8’-high quarry walls. It is ancient coral reef that was formed 125,000 years ago. There is a large picnic area here as well.
The community of Quarry sprang up once the quarries were in operation. The ruins of the foundation of the railroad station can be seen. Keystone for railroad construction and building facades were loaded here.
Continuing on the Hammock Trail through the hardwoods, we saw lizards and many gumbo limbo trees (easily recognized by its peeling orange bark).
A large mangrove forest extends to the shoreline from the trail. Below are the roots of black mangroves. Also shown is some of the fossilized reef of the area.
The Windley Trail took us by old quarry machinery and eventually to Windley Quarry.
We meandered through the quarry and found the tree roots along the quarry wall pretty fascinating! Also shown is our sweet doggie, Sadie, who had a lot of fun sniffing around the park.
Next to the education center are the remains of a large machine used to cut slabs (weighing up to 10 tons) of coral. The technology enabled the quarry to produce decorative stone until the 1960s.
Admission to the park is $2.50/per person. We purchased an Florida State Park annual pass (25% discount for veterans) as we will be in the State until April, 2019. For additional information about Windley Key, go to: www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/windley-key-fossil-reef-geological-state-park.
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