Episode 314: Tom Gaskins Cypress Knee Museum

Craig takes us to the little fishing village of Cortez on the Gulf side for his latest "Florida Phoenix" column.

Tom Gaskins Cypress Knee Museum was a popular roadside attraction in Palmdale during the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The business hung on until 1998, but Disney and the interstates have mostly disappeared these quirky, small, once-cherished tourist stops. Writer Amy Bennett-Williams from the Fort Meyers News-Press visited many times and met Gaskins. She shares her memories of the Cypress Knee Museum.

Bennett-Williams mentioned a Florida land conservation program called Preservation 2000. A recent episode of "As Bad As It Is In Florida" details the history of land conservation funding in Florida and how in this millennium, state government has mostly disobeyed the will of the people in defunding conservation land acquisition. Fabulous background for anyone passionate about conservation in Florida.