Fort King National Historic Landmark and Visitor Center

05/08/2020

Marion County, the Fort King Heritage Teaching Garden is looking for seeds and their stories from this area. Do you or your family have seeds that you have been keeping? We would like this garden to speak to the local history that surrounds us. Almost more important than the seeds themselves, we would like to keep the story that goes with the seeds. Were these your great grandmother's, where did they come from, how long has your family been growing these? Please message us if you have seeds and stories you would like to be included in our garden so we can share with others. (These can be flowers, vegetables, or herbs)

05/08/2020

The first Zinnia in the garden has bloomed! Come check out everything that is growing.
Grounds are open sunrise to sunset 7 days a week!
The visitor center remains closed for the time being.

05/04/2020

Ranger Caroline has been putting a lot of time into the Fort King Garden and it shows. We will keep posting updates, but know that the garden, the fort, and our trails are still open if you want to get some air and sunshine. Please maintain social distancing while enjoying the park. The visitor center is closed till further notice.

05/01/2020

While our visitor center remains closed, our trails, garden and the fort remain OPEN!

Stop by anytime during the week from sunrise to sunset.

Please adhere to social distancing guidelines while visiting the park.

04/22/2020

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the garden is GROWING!
Stop by and explore the spring garden, trails and fort today!

04/17/2020

We miss you, and can't wait to open our Visitor Center doors once again. In this down time staff is working on lots of new stuff for the future. And don't forget that Fort King is still open for passive use. Come to the park to walk our nature trails, stroll around the fort, and see what we are up to in the garden. Just remember to keep at least 6 feet away from one another.

04/03/2020

Ocala Recreation and Parks

Lots of fun stuff happening in the garden at Fort King.

We are exploring the Fort King National Historic Landmark and Visitor Center Heritage Teaching Garden! Join us to learn how this garden is helping bring history to life! #StayAndPlayOcala

04/01/2020

Ocala Recreation and Parks

Ranger Caroline give a virtual tour of the Fort. The Fort and grounds are still open to the public, but the Visitor Center will be closed till further notice.

Come along with us for a virtual tour of Fort King National Historic Landmark and Visitor Center! Park Ranger Caroline takes us on a special walk through Fort King as part of our #StayAndPlayOcala series.

Check out our other Fort King video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=835293446966983

03/25/2020

Fort King National Historic Landmark and Visitor Center heritage garden just added some beautiful trellises as seen behind the bolting mustards in the picture. The trellis system will be covered in melons, gourds, and cucumbers.

03/21/2020

Ocala Recreation and Parks

#stayandplay

Check out this virtual tour of the Fort King National Historic Landmark and Visitor Center with Park Ranger Caroline!

#stayandplayocala #ocalarecpark

03/20/2020

We wanted to give a shout out to one of our Fort King Volunteers, Rollin Lain. Despite the visitor center being closed, Rollin still showed up to rake leafs and to keep the site looking great.
Thank you Rollin for your dedication!

As a reminder, our trails, garden and fort still remain open to the public.
Please come out to explore and get some fresh air!

03/19/2020

Stay tuned to the Ocala Recreation and Parks page to Stay and Play with us.

Stay & Play with us!

We know most of you are practicing social distancing by staying at home, but that doesn't mean we can't have some FUN. Our Recreation & Parks staff is here to help! Throughout the week we'll bring you a variety of live and pre-recorded videos of engaging activities, most of them you can do with us right from your own living room. Meet the critters and perform science experiments from the Discovery Center, get active with our quick fitness routines, explore the Fort King National Historic Landmark and learn about public art!

All you have to do is "LIKE" and "FOLLOW" us here on Facebook. For more information, call our office at 352-368-5517.

03/19/2020

While the Visitor Center is closed, staff is still working on projects. One of those projects includes getting the garden ready for Spring and Summer. We have all kinds of amazing plants starting, and are looking forward to a productive growing season. Gardening has not been canceled, if you are looking for something to do around the house, try growing some plants. It's fun for everyone.

03/16/2020

Effective immediately. The Fort King Visitor Center will be closed until further notice. The park grounds will remain open to the public.

03/03/2020

Saturday our Junior Rangers learned how to build survival shelters with minimal supplies. They also learned 4 survival knots and were certified as Smokey the Bear fire safety experts! Great job Junior Rangers!

02/25/2020

Thank you Ocala-Living for taking these great Photos of the GRIT event on Saturday. CrossFit Iron Legion really stepped up the game this year, presenting challenges that were open to all levels and innovatively harsh. It was not easy in the 1800's.

The GRIT Strength Challenge is a team based strength & fitness challenge utilizing primitive objects that were available during the Florida Seminole War period of 1817 thru 1858 held at Historic Fort King Park.

02/24/2020

This event is going to keep on growing. Thank you to all the volunteers, staff, and our partner CrossFit Iron Legion for making this happen. This event is a fundraiser for special programs and projects, this years proceeds will go to the Heritage Garden and building our new Cob Oven to cook the food we grow. Thank you all that participated, and we will see you next year, with new challenges!

It’s been less than a day. So you know we’re still talking about GRIT.
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Let’s hear your favorite part of yesterday’s event!
Sound off below!
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#event #ocala #ocalaflorida #ocalafl #fortking #fortkingnationallandmark #fort #1800s #crossfit #strong #strongman #strength #fitness #workout #wod #team #competition
📷 by @valkyrie.photography

02/23/2020

What a great event! Looking forward to next year.

A LOT can change in a year.
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We gone from just a handful of teams throwing down in the middle of the fort to doubling in size and being featured on the local news!
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Check out this video!

https://www.wcjb.com/content/news/Grit-challenge-mimics-1800s-soldier-training-568112101.html?jwsource=fb
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#event #grit #rugrit #griststrengthchallenge #ocala #ocalaflorida #ocalafl #fortking #fortkingnationalhistoriandmark #crossfit #fitness #workout #strong

02/13/2020

Programs In the Parks is back for the 3rd year!

These nature based programs are all FREE and no registration is required!

See ya there!

02/13/2020

Tomorrow, spend Valentines Day showing our pollinators the love they deserve! ❤️

Register at: https://apm.activecommunities.com/ocalamarioncounty/Activity_Search/wildlands-nature-adventures-bee-mine/6110

02/10/2020

GRIT Strength Challenge

This is in two weeks are you ready!!!!

Check out the footage from the 2019 Inagural GRIT Stregnth Challenge! Are you eady for 2020's challenge?

Sign your team up NOW at GritStrengthChallenge.com

Thanks to our sponsor Ocala/Marion County, Florida

02/08/2020

Not everyday when you get to see a Blimp over the Fort!

02/03/2020

It's time for you to register.

We have 11 opportunities to show off and earn points between the workouts, floaters and optional skills stations.
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We’re ready. Are you?
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#event #competition #fortking #fortkingnationalhistoriclandmark #crossfit #strongman #functionalfitness #team #teamcompetition

02/03/2020

Don't forget about our Volunteer Meet-up this Friday. IFAS extension agent Mark Bailey will be there to answer garden questions and talk about the Heritage Garden we are growing. Come by if you want to volunteer or just have interest. No registration required. Feb 7th 9:00am

02/01/2020

Junior Rangers 2020 has officially kicked off! Today, Junior Rangers learned all about Leave No Trace (they even learned how/where to dig cat holes).

There are still spots available, if you are thinking about signing your kids up now is the time!

Please call 352-368-5533 if you are interested.

01/28/2020

Our newest series of programs called Wildlands Nature Adventures has launched! Sign up for the first program in the series, “BEE MINE.”

Spend valentine’s day showing your appreciation for natures best pollinators! Learn the life of pollinators and why pollinators are a crucial part of our ecosystem. Participants will make a Mason Bee house (natures gentle pollinators) out of all recycled materials. During this program participants will also help re-plant the butterfly garden at Scott Springs. They will each get to take home their bee house and a starter “Bee plant.”

Registration link: https://apm.activecommunities.com/ocalamarioncounty/Activity_Search/6110

01/28/2020

Junior Ranger begins this Saturday!

Don't miss your chance to sign up: http://apm.activecommunities.com/ocalamarioncounty/Activity_Search/6061

Come be a City of Ocala Junior Ranger. Open to kids 8-11yrs, this seven-part program will give an overview of wilderness skills, history, environmental stewardship, and Ranger knowledge to be able to take on the wild. Twice a month 10:00-12:00 (some exceptions) students will meet with City of Ocala Park Rangers and learn about a new topic. Junior Rangers will leave each workshop with a take-home item that relates to the subject matter learned. At the end of the program there will be a family camp-out inside Fort King National Historic Landmark to showcase all the skills that the Junior Rangers learned. Parents/guardians must sign their kids up for the entire program, each workshop builds on the other.

01/28/2020

Exciting News! Volunteer Harry Wiggins will be giving scheduled tours of Fort King a few times a month.

Harry has volunteered at Fort King for over 4 years and is a wealth of knowledge. We are very lucky to have him.

See flyer from times and date info.

01/24/2020

The Past in the Present: Fort King and the Second Seminole War

Check out Fort King's very own volunteer, Scott Wilkins on his new youtube channel!

He created a video about Fort King History: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TPFdxhxdIk

Way to go Scott! If you'd like to talk with Scott and get a tour of the fort he is here Thursdays 3-5.

Narrated and filmed on location in Ocala Florida telling a brief history of the role of Fort King in the Second Seminole War #FortKing #History #SecondSemino...

01/22/2020

Ocala Style Magazine

Thanks Ocala Style Magazine for this great piece.

“Ocala would not exist today if it were not for Fort King.” Our January In The Kitchen spotlight, Bill Rodriguez, goes in-depth on the annual A Fight For Freedom: Attack on Fort King reenactment. Read more about Bill in this month's issue: http://bit.ly/2ZGY5Fe.

#realpeople | #realstories | #realocala

Fort King National Historic Landmark and Visitor Center
City of Ocala Municipal Government
Ocala Cultural Arts

🎥: Carlos Ramos
Editing by: Patrikk Hammer

01/22/2020

Wildlands Junior Rangers

Junior Ranger begins in 10 days!
Sign up today to secure your spot: http://apm.activecommunities.com/ocalamarioncounty/Activity_Search/6061

Sponsorship opportunities are available, please contact Keifer Calkins 352-368-5535 for more information.

01/17/2020

Gators, Guts and Glory stories of adventures from the Florida Trail. With Lauralee Bliss at Fort King National Historic Landmark.

01/17/2020

Junior Ranger starts in less than two weeks!
There are spots still remaining, register today: http://apm.activecommunities.com/ocalamarioncounty/Activity_Search/6061

If you know of a child that is interested in this program, but does not have the means to participate please contact Keifer Calkins 352-368-5535. We may be able to help through sponsorship.

01/17/2020

Mark your calendars, this is gunna be huge.

Skill Stations are HERE!
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Grab your teammates. Start practicing with whatever you got. Bring you A game.
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It's going to get gritty out there.
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Post your questions below!
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#event #crossfit #strongman #fitness #ocala #ocalaflorida #skillstations #miniWOD #competition #team #centralflorida #fortking #fortkingnationalhistoriclandmark

Thanks to our sponsor Ocala/Marion County, Florida

01/15/2020

Junior Ranger begins on Feb. 1st! This program ends with a special experience of camping inside Fort King! You don't want to miss this, sign up today!

Register: http://apm.activecommunities.com/ocalamarioncounty/Activity_Search/6061