Lignumvitae

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park

A tropical island hideaway covered in hardwood hammock and surrounded by turquoise waters

Hours

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday

Fees

$2.50 per person visitor fee, $2 per person tour fee

See all fees

Location

77200 Overseas Highway
Islamorada FL 33036

Get directions

Contact Info

305-664-2540

Welcome to Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park

The virgin tropical hardwood hammock that thrives on this island was once common on most of Florida's Upper Keys.


In 1919, William J. Matheson, a wealthy Miami chemist, bought this tiny island and built a caretaker's home with a windmill for electricity and a cistern for rainwater. Today, his hideaway is the visitor center for this island forest.

Ranger-guided tours are currently unavailable. However, there is a self-guided tour brochure that visitors can use to learn about the home and other features that dot the lawn.

Lignumvitae Key is accessible by boat or kayak only. Boat and kayak rentals are available through local vendors.

Ferry Service to the Island

Boat Rentals

Island Boat Tour Operators

Kayak Rental Providers

Plan Your Visit

Picture of Lu Dodson Park Manager of Indian Key
Learn

Manager's Message

Accessible only by boat, Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park is place of wonders, dense with endangered plants, protected insects and birds as well as being the location of the historic Matheson home, mysterious ruins and Native American cultural sites.
Trail leading into the hardwood hammock on Lignumvitae Key
Learn

Lignumvitae Key Island Tour

Experience island living 1930s style. Take a self-guided tour of the historic Matheson house and hardwood hammock.
Kayaking in a Mangrove Channel at Lignumvitae Key State Park
Learn

Kayaking Lignumvitae Key

Lignumvitae Key is 10,000 acres of paddling paradise. Explore the mangrove creeks of lower Matecumbe or paddle over to Lignumvitae Key for a fun day filled with adventure.

Experiences

Boat Tours
Boat Tours
Boating
Boating
Fishing
Fishing
Paddling
Paddling
Snorkeling
Snorkeling
Swimming
Swimming
Tours
Tours

Amenities

Accessible Amenities
Accessible Amenities
Historic Site
Historic Site
Visitor Center
Visitor Center

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park Photo Gallery

Matheson House Interior at Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
Lignumvitae
Matheson House
Rock Wall at Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
Crocodile Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
A cannon sits by a tree on the lawn of the Matheson House.
Old truck in the yard of the Matheson House
view from the house showing the coconut palms, walkway and blue water.
Meadow of Turtle Grass
Learn

Seagrass Ecosystem of Lignumvitae Key

Have you ever heard the saying "Brown, brown, run aground”? Shallow water in the nearshore environments of the Florida Keys can look brown due to light reflecting off a substrate of seagrass. While the seagrass flats may not look like much to the casual observer, seagrass is vital to the Florida Keys ecosystem.
Matheson House and Cistern
Learn

Historic Home on Lignumvitae Key

Built in 1919 by William J. Matheson, this two-story historic home is the showpiece of Lignumvitae Key State Park. Self-guided tours transport visitors back in time to experience 1930s island living.

People Make the Parks

Park Ranger Garin Nopp standing in front of greenery

Staff Spotlight

A commercial angler turned park ranger, Garin is our go-to repairman.
Florida Keys Sea Base Boy Scout Troops

Volunteer Spotlight

This group is the recipient of the 2023 Volunteer Award for a Short Project in Natural Resources.
Friends Logo

Friends of the Islamorada Area State Parks

Friends groups meet the critical needs of individual parks and the system of state parks. They share one thing in common – passion for parks.

Park Map

More Places You Might Like

See all parks
Indian Key Dock

Indian Key Historic State Park

The forgotten shores and ancient relics tell of the storied past of this tiny piece of paradise. Accessible only by boat, the park welcomes visitors who come here to swim, sunbathe and hike.

Offshore Island
Islamorada FL 33036

The Barnacle Historic

The Barnacle Historic State Park

This beautiful house with a whimsical name dates to a simpler time. Built in 1891, The Barnacle offers a glimpse of frontier life during the Era of the Bay, when all travel to and from Miami was by boat.

3485 Main Highway
Miami FL 33133

View from side of Fort Zachary Taylor

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Literally the last stop in Florida before stepping off into the Gulf of America, few parks of any kind can match both the historical and natural significance of Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.

601 Howard England Way
Key West FL 33040