A Little Less Adventure at Jonathan Dickinson: Store, Rentals and River Tours Remain Closed
There was something wonderfully simple about a day at Jonathan Dickinson State Park: rent a kayak, head out onto the Loxahatchee River, and pick up a cold drink when you returned. Or leave the paddling to someone else and take a boat tour upriver to the place Trapper Nelson called home.
Those options are missing now.
Florida State Parks currently lists the park’s concessions as unavailable, effective June 30, 2026. The closure includes canoe, kayak and bicycle rentals, boat tours, and the general concessions selling food, drinks, ice and souvenirs. CBS12 also reported the closure of the concession store and food truck.
For people around Jupiter, Tequesta and Hobe Sound, that leaves a disappointing gap in a favorite local escape.
A rental counter and a little store might seem like small amenities. But they made a river outing possible without owning a boat, finding somewhere to store a kayak, or figuring out how to transport one. You could arrive with a sense of adventure and work out the rest once you got there.
Without those services, a spontaneous afternoon on the water takes considerably more planning.
What happened?
WPTV reported in July that park officials attributed the closure to the concession vendor’s contract expiring. Officials said they were seeking a new operator and warned that the approval process could take months. CBS12 separately reported that a request for proposals had been issued for a replacement concessionaire.
As of October 18, the official park website still carries the closure notice. No confirmed reopening date was found in the sources reviewed for this article.
Missing the ride to Trapper Nelson’s
The loss of the river tours feels especially unfortunate because the destination is such an unusual piece of local history.
The Loxahatchee became Florida’s first federally designated Wild and Scenic River in 1985. Its upper stretches wind beneath old cypress trees, offering a glimpse of a landscape that feels far removed from the busy roads nearby.
Upriver sits the restored homestead of Trapper Nelson, who settled in the area in the 1930s, supported himself through trapping and selling furs, and became known as the “Wildman of the Loxahatchee.” He later opened his Jungle Gardens and Wildlife Zoo to visitors. His former home is now preserved as the Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site.
The Loxahatchee Queen tour gave visitors a way to travel the river and visit that historic setting without having to paddle themselves. Its suspension removes an especially valuable option for families and anyone unable to make the trip by kayak or canoe.
Trapper Nelson’s homestead itself remains open. The park currently lists access by visitors’ own watercraft Wednesday through Monday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the site closed Tuesdays. Visitors should confirm conditions and hours before setting out.
Hoping for a return
Jonathan Dickinson State Park remains open, with opportunities to hike, bike, picnic and explore its natural landscapes.
Still, the store, rental boats and river tours helped turn a visit into a full day of discovery. They connected people to the water and to a chapter of Florida history that deserves to be experienced.
Their absence is worth lamenting—and their return would be worth celebrating.
For now, pack your own refreshments and check the park’s current alerts before making plans around an on-site rental or river tour.
The river is still there. It would be good to make reaching it that easy again.