At first glance, the Koreshan State Park in Corkscrew Rd. Estero, Florida is just what you would typically expect in state parks in Southwest Florida, a relaxing riverfront with thick vegetation on the sides, a cozy campsite and a few well-preserved historic buildings. But the unique part about this 300 acre state park in Fort Myers is its peculiar and somewhat creepy history. You see, this park used to be where a 19th century cult conducts their rituals, services and even served as their dwelling place for a time. Founded in 1894, the Koreshan Cult may have had a short-lived existence but they sure had some bizarre beliefs and practices while they were around.
The Koreshan Cult began when a man called Cyrus Teed introduced his writings to the public. In them, were his beliefs on astronomy, philosophy and even his own version of the earth’s geology. His teachings attracted many followers and soon they picked a new land in Fort Myers and started their own community there as pioneers on the then largely uninhabited region of Florida. The cult kept mostly to their own and made themselves sufficient by constructing their own buildings, operating a sawmill, a bakery, and even a printing press.
At its height, the Koreshan Cult had as many as 200 followers and they referred to Teed as “Koresh”, hence the cult’s name. The cult believed things like “The sun is an invisible electromagnetic battery revolving in the universe’s center on a 24-year cycle.”, and things like that. They also believed in the reincarnation of souls and “Koresh” himself even studied alchemy (a practice that combines science and religion to attain the “Elixir of Life”) for years.
The Koreshan people preserved their way of life and their beliefs until about 1908, when Cyrus Teed died. But his followers were devoted enough to not bury him, thinking that he will be resurrected eventually since apparently, he preached that he was some form of successor to Jesus, something that’s typical among cults. They kept his body unburied until the local county health department had to step in and had the body laid to rest. And so without a leader, the belief in the cult slowly died out and did not survive the passage of time. Fortunately in 1961, a couple of elderly, surviving members of the cult decided to hand over their former community land to the state.
Today, you can visit the restored version of this park. The buildings and the structures can still be found along with a tour that explains what happened during those times. There are great campsites for tent and RV and you can explore the park’s wonderful natural beauty either by foot or by kayaking through the Estero River while listening to the chirping of the birds.
For more beautiful state parks in Southwestern Florida, check out our website’s Articles page for some detailed accounts on what to expect. Also, visit our Tourist Guide page for the latest buzz around Naples, Florida. And for those who are already in downtown, you’re welcome to drop by our Visitor Center to get to know more about the Paradise Coast.
