Fort Matanzas Developing General Management Plan

All parks in the National Park System (NPS) are required to periodically review their General Management Plans (GMP). These plans, which address resource protection, recreation, and interpretation, describe the general path the park intends to follow over the next 15 to 20 years and are made with input from NPS program managers, interested parties, and the general public.

In fall 2007 Fort Matanzas National Monument hosted two Public Open House Meetings as well as a meeting with state and county representatives. Comments from these meetings were used to guide the park management team in developing four alternatives for managing the park. 

With the NPS Southeast Regional Office in Atlanta approving the four alternatives, the public was once again invited to make comments.  This public comment period ended June 1, 2008.

Watch the St. Augustine Record newspaper and this web site for further updates.

You can view the four alternative plans at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkId=378&projectId=11093 

For additional information, contact Fort Matanzas at 904-471-0116 or

National Park Service
FOMA General Management Plan Team
Attention: David Libman
100 Alabama Street
1924 Building
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

New Dock and Boat Lift Construction Begins at Fort Matanzas

The long-awaited construction has begun on a three-phase project to improve the ferry operations and resource protection at Fort Matanzas National Monument. The first segment involves the installation of a boat lift on the visitor center dock. This will enable the John Harley, the park’s “back-up” boat to be stored out of the water so that there will be less hull maintenance. It will also enable both boats to be brought out of the water for engine repair.  This first stage is expected to last into early August; however, tours will be interrupted as little as possible.

The second construction phase involves the building of a whole new dock on the fort side of the river to replace the deteriorating thirty-year-old dock now in use. Made of aluminum, this new dock will be similar to the dock which was built on the visitor center side in 2001. This phase will last well into September. Ferry service will be shut down for 2-3 days while a temporary dock is put in at the fort. After that, tours are expected to continue on the regular schedule with minimal interruption.

The last phase of this project involves the re-building of the stone groins which provide shoreline protection on the visitor center side as well as the construction of a seawall on the fort side which will help protect the cultural heritage of the site. Work is expected to be completed by October.

These projects are financed through the Federal Fee Demo Program in which 80% of the park’s entrance fee stays at the park to help with large projects such as this. Although no entrance fee is charged at Fort Matanzas, the park is under the same administration as the Castillo de San Marcos so the park is able to share the fee money from the Castillo.