Torreya State Park was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and opened to the public in 1933. It is named after the rare, endangered torreya tree found only on the high bluffs along the Apalachicola River. The CCC, a work relief program established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, aimed to provide jobs during the Great Depression.
Over 300 men from across the country trained at the park between 1933 and 1939. The torreya tree, native to the Southeastern United States, was on the brink of extinction before the National Park System recognized its significance. The tree was declared a state tree of Florida in 1946, "and its protection is now managed by the state's forestry division." Preservation efforts have helped the tree recover... and the torreya tree --- an iconic landmark and natural wonder.
On a recent fall trip, magenta beautyberries dotted the curvy road, sultry summer temperatures had cooled ever so slightly, and amber and gold tinged the towering sweetgums throughout Torreya State Park. One of the original Florida state parks, opened to the public in 1935, the 13,000-acre expanse felt more like Georgia or North Carolina with its high plateaus, steep ravines, waterfalls, and seasonal foliage.
The park, created by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression, is named after the rare, endangered torreya tree found only on the high bluffs along the Apalachicola River.
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