Dade Battlefield Historic State Park

Brian & Nicole Love

Beautiful park. We arrived shortly before sundown so we didn't have a chance to explore everything. Entrance of park - it's $3.00 and it's on the honor system. You will get a tag from the envelope to put on your dashboard. Grounds are well kept and very pretty. Not a huge park so I would say most people would be able to get through it. It is not a paved area other than the parking lot.

Greg Hamilton

This is a very well-kept park with lots of history of past wars against the Seminole Indians. A very nice park ranger stopped me and asked me if I had any questions and then directed us to a live oak tree that was well over 200 years old. Definitely worth the stop no

John M

Beautiful park! I did not know the history of the Seminole tribe adopting runaway slaves and protecting them from slave owners. It was the killing of the slave owners who were trying to reclaim their “property” that prompted Andrew Jackson to use military force against the Seminoles. When the Seminoles fought to stay in their home and defend their rights by attacking the invading troops that led to the US government declaring war.

Marnette Severance

We recently moved to Central Florida and made a visit to Dade Battlefield Historic State Park located in Bushnell, FL in Sumter County on CR 603 between I-75 and US Route 301 at 7200 Battlefield Parkway. "Commemorating the battle that started the Second Seminole War in 1835, this 80-acre state park protects the historic battlefield and also the natural communities as they existed during the war." It includes 40 acres of pine flatwoods and a live oak hammock. After Florida became a territory, the increase in settlers created tension among the native Seminole tribe also because they gave refuge to fugitive slaves. The conflict reached a high point in 1832 when several chiefs wanted to relocate the Seminole people west of the Mississippi to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. Many refused to go. On December 28, 1835, 107 officers and men under Major Francis Dade were en route to present-day Ocala. They were ambushed by 180 Seminole warriors in present day Bushnell who had watched them from a pine forest; the sentries were dismissed. All but three of the soldiers were killed; only six warriors died. This defeat started the the Second Seminole War which was the longest and most costly American Indian war in U.S. history. The park is a peaceful place with numerous well-marked and cleared trails. There are a few memorials marking the place where some of Dade's men fell in addition to a replica Benches dot the trails; restrooms are available near the playground. It was interesting to learn about controlled burns of the woods every 1-4 years. We walked around the elevated hill where the reenactments occur. Don't miss the well marked "Ancient Oak Tree." Also note the live oaks with the "resurrection ferns" which come to life on the tops of live oak branches after rain. Also of note are the reconstructed log redoubt and a replica of the cannon used by Dade (near the restroom area). There is a $3 vehicle entry fee up to 8 people; additional passengers pay $2 per person. Entrance fee for bicyclists and pedestrians is $2 per person. All fees are payable on the envelope honor system; no attendant is present. Parking is abundant perhaps because an annual reenactment normally occurs in early January. However, the 2021 event was canceled because of Covid. The museum at the Visitor Center is closed until further notice; summer day camps will not be held this year. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset 365 days a year. Several picnic pavilions are available for $53.50 per day including tax.