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The Mala Compra Plantation, ironically translated to "bad purchase," was constructed circa 1816 on the Matanzas River. It operated as a slave plantation owned by Joseph Marion Hernández for twenty years before it was burned by the Seminole Tribe during the Second Seminole War. Prior to the battle, the plantation included 1,500 orange trees, 80 slaves, a cotton plantation, cattle pens, oxen, and horses. The site left behind a remarkable 14,000 artifacts providing valuable insight into life in the region during the early 19th century. Excavations in 1999 were followed by inclusion of the site on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004, but little remains of the main building, which changed hands twice during the war and was destroyed by the tribe during the U.S. military's abandonment of the site in early 1836.
The Mala Compra Plantation Archeological Site is an archaeological site in Palm Coast, Florida, on the east bank of the Matanzas River. It is located west of the intersection of State Road A1A and Mala Compra Drive at Bings Landing County Park in Flagler County. On March 5, 2004, it was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places.
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Parking lot and bathrooms with beach access. Unrelated to the plantation site.
This park is famous for its formal gardens, but it also preserves the original habitat of a northeast Florida barrier island.
Birdwatching and beach access.
Palm Coast Marina
Slips at the marina are available for reservation via the website.
Situated on both sides of A1A, this county park offers beach access to the east and a maritime shrub landscape to the west, complete with hiking trails, picnic areas, and a launch for kayaks and canoes on the Matanzas River. Group camping is also available for a fee, call for reservations.
Marineland of Florida
Home to several dolphins that reside in a 1.3-million gallon habitat, this attraction lends the town its name and was one of Florida's first tourist attractions. Open daily, the facility offers a variety of interactive programs for guests, including the chance to take a dip and swim with the animals.