If you are a voter in Osceola County check out this web site: SAVE Osceola If SAVE Osceola passes on Nov 2, 2004 the county will have funds to buy and maintain places like this.
About the Island
Historians believe this 130-acre island was once the home of Emathla, a powerful 19th century Seminole Indian chief, and Coacoochee, one of the last great Seminole chiefs in Florida. The island is mostly undeveloped, there is a port-a-potty and picnic tables but no running water. Be sure to spend some time exploring the island. A soft dirt trail runs around and through the center of the island. In season there are citrus trees to sample but much of the fruit is sour. There is a lot of wildlife on the Island; most is native but some remains from the exotic zoo that was once on the island. I usually bring the dogs but beware of alligators and water moccasins.
Animals that live or have visited Makinson Island:
White tail deer, Mara, Gopher tortoise, Rattlesnake, Indigo snake, Ringneck snake, King snake, Cottonmouth, Rat snake, Florida water snake, Mongolian sheep, Nine-banded armadillo, Ferrel hog, Florida Red-bellied Turtle, Peninsula Cooter, Florida Softshell Turtle, Striped Mud Turtle, Oppossum, Eastern mole raccoon, River otter, Leopard frog, Green anole, Six-lines racerunner, Five-lined skink.
A bobcat was released on the island but it has not been sighted in over a year, and they are unsure whether it has survived.
There are approximately 80 bird species
in the area including: Bald Eagles, Sandhill Cranes, Barred Owl, and Wild Turkeys
Two endagered species visit the island:
Snail Kite & Wood Stork
Two threatened speices:
Sandhill Crane &
American Alligator
Species of special concern:
Florida Snapping Turtle,
Little Blue Heron,
White Ibis,
Snowy Egret,
Tri-colored (green) Heron,
Roseate Spoonbill,
Limpkin
About the Cache
Your GPS will take you to the general area of the cache but may not work under the heavy tree cover. The cache is a disposable plastic container in a black plastic bag. The usual items are there; please use, but don’t take the camera.
Where to launch your boat
The easiest place to put in and then navigate to the island is a fish camp near the south end of Kings Highway N28°15.741' W81°23.063' they will charge a $1 to launch your boat.
You can also put in for free at a public park near downtown Kissimmee at N28°17.295' W81°24.393'. This is a very good deep ramp but you may have to follow the channel to the east side of the lake and then track back west on the north side of the island if the water level is low.
A 3rd place to put in is on Granada boulevard N28°13.567' W81°24.893' This is technically the closest launch to the Island but beware of aquatic weeds south of the island particularly on the west side of the lake.
Use the floating dock on the west side to acess the island. The approximate location of the landing dock is N28°14.843' W81°24.648'next to a white house.
Other places of interest
Shingle Creek
Makinson Island is the sister cache to Thlapachatchee Island (Florida)
You should be able to do both at the same time if you have a boat.
Lake Cypress & The Kissimmee Chain
If you have never been through a lock in a boat now is your chance. The lock and canal at Southport N28°08.411' W81°21.104' connects this lake to Lake Cypress and the rest of the Kissimmee chain. The lock is 30 by 60 feet, open 7 days a week and there is no charge.
At the lock entrance, you will find a signal horn to alert the lock tender of a request for passage. Upon signal from the tender, or when the signal light turns green, enter the lock. On each side of the lock interior, you will find safety lines hanging down. These are to be used to hold your boat in place as the water level of the lock is either lowered or raised. DO NOT tie these lines to the boat; hold them by hand. Boats exiting from the locks have the right-of-way.
Other
The Swimming Hole
is a virtual cache we did in North Florida (no boat required).
If you are a voter in Osceola County check out this web site: SAVE Osceola If SAVE Osceola passes on Nov 2, 2004 the county will have funds to buy and maintain places like this.