Biscayne National Park (Episode 22)

Send us Fan MailBiscayne National Park is 95% water. Most people drive past it on the way to the Keys without stopping. That's a mistake.Beneath the surface of Biscayne Bay lies one of the most extraordinary ecosystems in America. And above the water is one of the most remarkable untold stories in the national park system: Israel Lafayette Jones — a Black man who in the early 1900s became the largest private landowner of what is now Biscayne National Park, guided four U.S. presidents on fishing trips, sold $40,000 a year in key limes to fuel the cocktail boom of the Roaring Twenties, and sold his land for $1.2 million on the condition that he could live there for the rest of his life.Gary Bremen, retired National Park Ranger with 29 years at Biscayne and naturalist at the Biscayne National Park Institute, joins The Parks Podcast to share everything.In this episode: — Why Biscayne National Park almost became a city of condos and marinas — and how it was saved — The Jones family — Israel, Moselle, Arthur, and Lancelot — and 90 years of remarkable history on these islands — The Teapot Dome scandal connection — the Coco Lobo Club and the people who were there — What a mangrove actually is — and why mangrove forests are the best in the world for fighting climate change — Coral spawning — what it is, why it matters, and what rangers do in the middle of the night to help — Jones Lagoon — Gary's favorite place in the park, why paddleboarding there is the best experience in South Florida — Snorkeling in mangroves — the unexpected experience that Gary's friend had to drag him into — When to visit, how to plan, what to book and how far in advance — The Saltwater Underground Railroad — escaping slavery by boat to the BahamasLinks mentioned: — Plan your visit: nps.gov/bisc — Biscayne National Park Institute (tours, kayaking, snorkeling): biscaynenationalparkinstitute.org — Everglades National Park: nps.gov/everSupport the show