Region:
Northwest
FRED GANNON ROCKY BAYOU STATE PARK
Niceville, FL
Contact Information
4281 Hwy 20
Niceville, Florida 32578
Phone: 850-833-9144
The Florida Park Service acquired Fred Gannon
Rocky Bayou State Park in 1966 through a lease agreement
with the U.S. Forest Service. The Park was named
for U.S. Air Force Colonel Fred Gannon who was Director
of Civil Engineering at Eglin Air Force Base prior
to that time. Colonel Gannon was instrumental in
the creation and construction of the park. He transformed
from the land’s earlier use as a World War
II bombing practice range. The remains of a concrete
practice bomb, believed to be one of those dropped
by Colonel James “Jimmy” Doolittle’s
squadron, during preparations in early 1942 for
the first retaliatory bombing of Japan, can be seen
on the park.
Hours of Operation
Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown
365 days a year.
Driving Directions
From the west: Take Interstate 10 east to highway
85 south until you reach highway 20. Go east on
highway 20. Park will be approximately 5 miles on
the left. From the east: Take Interstate 10 west
to highway 331 south until you reach highway 20.
Go west on highway 20 approximately 25 miles until
you see signs for park on right.
ACTIVITIES
Full Facility Camping
Our park is an excellent facility for campers.
Whether you are a tent camper or a RV enthusiast,
we have 42 spacious, clean, shady sites that will
suit your needs. The sites each boast water and
electric, a picnic table, and a fire ring and some
have water views. A modern heated and air-conditioned
bathhouse provides for your comfort needs. The area
is conveniently located near two of the park’s
three beautiful nature trails, as well as a picnic
pavilion overlooking the bayou.
Fishing
With a freshwater stream feeding the tidal influenced
Rocky Bayou, along with our freshwater lake, the
park offers many varieties of fishing. Some of the
more common fish are mullet, trout, and flounder.
Saltwater fish may be caught in Rocky Bayou while
freshwater fishing is available where Rocky Creek
flows into the bay. (Salt and freshwater fishing
licenses are required in Florida.)
Nature Trails
Rocky Bayou State park is well known for it’s
scenic nature trails. The Red Cedar Trail hosts
the popular and impressive red cedar tree, along
with many other varieties of plants, shrubs, and
trees. Sand Pine Trail follows the Eastern Shore
of Puddin Head Lake. This seven-and-a-half acre
lake is a fragile ecosystem with several species
of aquatic plants, such as the pitcher plant and
Florida Anise.
Picnicking
Campsites and picnic shelters overlook scenic Rocky
Bayou, an arm of Choctawhatchee Bay.
