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Cayo Costa offers unique working environment

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Vince Tapager, owner of Tropic Star and Friends of Cayo Costa treasurer, Chad Lach, Cayo Costa State Park manager and Bill Nash, Cayo Costa State Park assistant park manager. MEGHAN MCCOY
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John Dunnan, Cayo Costa State Park resident park ranger. MEGHAN MCCOY

The constant changes in tasks, duties, and the love of the water, is what keeps the attention of a few rangers of Cayo Costa State Park.

“It’s not the same ole mundane thing day after day,” Assistant Park Manager Bill Nash said of why he has enjoyed working on the island for the past two years. “It has its challenges, but has its rewards of the wind blowing through the trees and watching the sunsets.”

Although Nash works five days a week and has most weekends off if an event is not being held, he is on call for anything that happens after-hours, or an emergency arrises. In addition to overseeing Cayo Costa State Park, his responsibilities also include administrative work for Gasparilla Island State Park, Don Pedro Island State Park and Stump Pass Beach State Park.

Park Manager Chad Lach is stationed out of Boca Grande at Gasparilla Island State Park and oversees the two parks in Lee County and two in Charlotte County. He said he focuses on the needs of the parks, as well as the direction they want the parks to go.

The day-to-day operations of the park are the responsibility of John Dunnan, the resident park ranger who arrived on scene three years ago. With a schedule of working eight days on before having two days off, he lives on the island without a second home on the mainland.

Since transportation to the barrier island is solely by boat, Dunnan treats shopping as if he lived in the country buying everything he needs in great portions. One week he boats to the mainland to buy the basics, while the second week replenishes bigger items.

With two generators, the gentleman have air condition, two freezers, running water and satellite television to make their accommodations a little more bearable during the summer months, as well as winter months when the sunsets much earlier.

“Being a harsh environment, the elements takes a toll on everything. It’s hard to have preventative maintenance,” Dunnan explained.

Nash said they have to do everything in house using some of the equipment that has a permanent home on the island such as a fire truck, two John Deer tractors, small UTVs, a truck and golf carts.

Dunnan and Nash spend time maintaining the generators and wells that pump water out of the ground to trimming the vegetation along the almost seven miles of trails. Since the practice of prescribed burns, which are used as a preventative of fires, are hard to initiate at Cayo Costa because of the lack of staff and equipment needed, Dunnan and Nash spend time cutting and cleaning the vegetation from the trails on a consistent basis.

“It’s hard to care for the vegetation,” Dunnan said.

A crew boat shows up at 8 a.m. and leaves the island by 3:30 p.m., since the park closes at sunset, with two day rangers. He said although they hire people with different experiences, they receive most of their hands-on training once they arrive.

Lach said it is vitally important that the rangers hired feel comfortable running a boat in different weather conditions, as well as different emergencies.

Lach said since a typical Saturday at Cayo Costa State Park consists of Dunnan and one other ranger running the whole operation, volunteers are crucial.

During season, Lach said they can have as many as 30 volunteers lending a hand as a tram driver, getting rid of exotic plants, greeting people as they get off the boats, or working in the ranger station.

“We need volunteers in the summer to get ready for the busy time,” he said. “We can always find you something to do.”

Those interested can visit www.floridastateparks.org and click on the “get involved” tab, or call (941) 964-0375.

One of the focal points Dunnan has had since arriving to Cayo Costa State Park is making the trails open, so visitors see it as a park.

“It has a park theme” Dunnan said.

Part of the park theme includes 12 rustic cabins that sleeps six and 30 tent sites. There is no electricity or water to either the cabins, or tent site. However there are bath houses that include a bathroom and outdoor showers.

Individuals can reserve a cabin, or camp site by visiting www.reserveamerica.com.

Nash said from January through April everything is usually rented out.

Campers have the opportunity to now purchase ice, firewood and souvenirs, snacks and T-shirts from the camp store.

Nash said the majority of the campers are brought to the island from Pine Island, while the day campers are brought by boat from Captiva.

Cayo Costa State Park works with two volunteer groups – Barrier Island Parks Society and Friends of Cayo Costa – both groups help raise money for the park.

“They raise money for things we can’t purchase, or afford,” Lach said.

Vince Tapager, of Tropic Star on Pine Island, said he has been bringing people out to Cayo Costa since 1996 and saw a need for additional support.

“We want to improve the park,” he said.

His mother, Sally, and Margie Nanney began the Friends of Cayo Costa group five years ago.

Nanney said they pulled the resources together to make the friends group happen.

“It takes a lot to keep the island running,” she said about such items as batteries, and golf carts. “Cayo Costa has a special place in people’s heart.”

With Vince’s mother being dedicated to starting the friends group, he joined the board five or six years ago. As the treasurer, he said it’s not only about raising money for the island, but educating the public about its history.

On average, Vince’s business brings about 15,000 people to the park a year, which has expanded his fleet to two ferries and three small boats.

On Saturday, Nov. 5, Friends of Cayo Costa held its annual Cayo Costa Days. The event attracted more than 100 people, many of which had never visited the island before and decided to become a member of the friends group.

Captiva Cruises, Tropic Star and King Fisher Fleet donated the ticket revenue to the Friends of Cayo Costa.

Kevin Smith of Captiva Cruises said they brought 62 passengers to Cayo Costa the day of the event.

“All of the money from the tickets went to the friends group,” he said.

Captiva Cruises travels to Cayo Costa every day with both full and half days offered.

Keith Smith said they have offered trips to Cayo Costa State Park since Captiva Cruises opened 30 years ago.

Cayo Costa State Park is one of Florida’s largest unspoiled barrier islands with 2,420 acres. The early Spanish traders named the island, which means “Key by the Coast,” or barrier island.

Although 93 percent of the island is owned by the state, or county, there are 19 private homes that also grace the land.