Most People Have No Idea This Historic $10 Ferry In Florida Even Exists

It's time for a little dose of history, Floridians. Perhaps this slice of history coming from the St. John's River is something you may not even have known existed! But fear not, these little pockets of the past are intended to be enjoyed and shared for years to come. The historic Fort Gates Ferry in Florida, also known as the Gateway Ferry, is one of the oldest ferry options remaining in the state. What began operation in 1853, the Fort Gates Ferry has an interesting history, including use throughout the American Civil War!

The Fort Gates Ferry is a historic automobile ferry that crosses the St. John’s River about a mile connecting with Forest Service Road 43.

This ferry first came into service back in 1853 and up until recently was the oldest operating ferry service in the entire state.

Unfortunately, Hurricane Irma destroyed the ferry just a few years ago, however, according to the Fort Gates Ferry Facebook Page, everything is on track to be back up and running within a few months!

The ferry, which is part of the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway, is not huge by any means - in fact, it’s a barge pushed by a tugboat that has a weight limit of 15 tonnes.

The ferry was once operated by the military back during the Civil War, being used to transport the Confederate Army over the river.

In addition, the ferry has been dubbed the “World’s Worst Commute” after an auto commercial in 1972 featuring Paul Newman poked fun at the route.

But all-in-all, this $10 ferry, which is privately-owned, is a slice of history and estimates a total of 1,500 vehicles per year.

To find out where the Fort Gates Ferry is in Florida, click here to open the map.

Did you know about the Fort Gates Ferry in Florida? Share with us your thoughts in the comments section! Or if you want to find out more about this ferry and how you can help contribute to the fundraising efforts, check out the Fort Gates Ferry Facebook Page.