Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Eden Gardens State Park - Point Washington, Florida


Located just off the beautiful white sand beaches of Northwest Florida's Emerald Coast in Point Washington, Eden Gardens State Park is a scenic treasure.

Surrounding a historic home built by lumberman William Henry Wesley in 1895, the gardens were established by wealthy publisher Lois Genevieve Maxon during the 1960s. She bought the home, which was once the center of a large sawmill community, in 1963 and turned it into a Gulf Coast showplace.

Just five years after acquiring the home, Maxon donated it to the people of Florida for use as a state park. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens of flowering plants, trees, fountains, reflecting pools, roses and statuary that she completed during her five years of ownership.

Maxon's generosity provided Northwest Florida with a spectacular state park that is beautiful year round, but particularly during late March when the gardens are in full bloom. Eden is located in Point Washington, just one mile off U.S. Highway 98 between Panama City and Destin.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/edengardens.

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