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Location DB > United States > Florida > Miami > Chekika
 Name
Chekika
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by EvilSpork on 11/11/2008 2:53 AM
last modified by Emperor Wang on 6/5/2022 2:12 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
Park, abandoned artificial beach and swimming lake, and abandoned campground facility.
 Basic Information
Type: Outdoors
Status: Seasonally active
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
 Physical Information
Address
24200 SW 160 St.
Miami, Florida
United States
Owner: U.S. National Park Service
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • flooding
  • Poison ivy, wasps, mosquitoes, snakes, flooding, wandering alligators. Park ranger/caretaker staying on site in campground area.
  •  Interesting Features
    Abandoned campground, empty artificial lake and beach, remains of several small buildings and sewage treatment plant. Mystery trails leading to the west in the same direction as a closed road with powerlines along it. Do they connect?
     Security Measures
  • locked gates
  • Locked gate in front; park outside and walk in.
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1940
    Closed: 1999
     Required Equipment
  • long pants / sleeves
  • Insect repellent
  •  Recommended Equipment
    After Bite stick
     History
    This location, also known as Grossman Hammock, started out as a land holding owned by Mark Grossman. An attempt at drilling the site for oil yielded an artesian well from a high-sulfur source of underground water, flooding the site and immediately creating an artificial lake.

    In the 1940s, the site was opened as a private park with swimming facilities. The high sulfur content in the water gave it a distinct odor, but had good healing properties to the skin...

    In 1970, Mark Grossman sold his land to the State of Florida, which operated it as a state park until it was eventually given to the National Park Service. At this point, it was operated as Chekika as part of Everglades National Park. It continued to have a campground and swimming facilities until Hurricane Irene caused severe flooding in 1999. Since then, it's occasionally reopened in limited capacity, each time getting damaged and closed after a hurricane.

    The original spring was capped at some point in the 1980s, and replaced by a small well and pump station. When the power was off to the park, as it is now, the lakes eventually go dry.

    The park will be open to the public again from December 1, 2009, to April 30. Many parts of the park go under water during the summer months. Why it's going to be reopened is kind of a mystery; the park has no facilities, not even restrooms, and it's FAR disconnected from the main Everglades National Park access.
     Media Coverage
    http://sffma.com/sdtour_chekika.htm

    Detailed history from Mark Grossman's grandson (very interesting!)

    http://www.sffma.net/sdtour_chekika.htm
     Future Plans
    This park will be open seasonally. It hasn't been as popular among tourists due to its location, which is rather far isolated from the other facilities of Everglades National Park.
     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    November 2009
    Wed, Nov 25th, 2009
    posted by EvilSpork
    25 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    May 2010
    Sun, Jun 13th, 2010
    posted by BulletFL
    7 pictures


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Web Links
    https://www.abandonedfl.com/chekika/
     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    This location has not yet been rated by a moderator.
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Emperor Wang on 6/5/2022 2:12 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Jun 5 22 at 14:12, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Jun 5 22 at 14:12, Emperor Wang changed the following: Street Address, Media Coverage
  • on Jun 4 22 at 14:41, BulletFL changed the following: Web Links
  • on Apr 23 11 at 14:06, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Apr 23 11 at 12:03, BulletFL changed the following: Hazards
  • on Jun 13 10 at 18:28, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Jun 13 10 at 15:19, BulletFL added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Jun 13 10 at 14:41, BulletFL created a new gallery
  • on Nov 27 09 at 16:08, Steed validated this location
  • on Nov 27 09 at 8:14, EvilSpork changed the following: History, Status, Hazards, Interesting Features, Security Measures, Future Plans, Description
  •  Forum Threads about this Location
    New Thread
     SubjectStarted ByRepliesViewsLast Post
    You must log in for this feature to work.North on 237th Ave past the parkthoughtcriminal17882/25/2010 1:20 AM by EvilSpork
    You must log in for this feature to work.now openBulletFL17618/3/2009 7:16 AM by EvilSpork
    You must log in for this feature to work.no photos?Sirber171612/6/2008 4:10 AM by EvilSpork
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