Heritage Park Museums Closed Indefinitely Due to Hurricane Damage

The museums of Heritage Park & Cultural Center, including the Indian Temple Mound Museum, are closed indefinitely after sustaining damage from a recent hurricane. The closure affects all museum buildings within the park.

This comes soon after the completion of a gallery renovation and the reopening of the museum and its new Museum Store. The expansion of the Indian Temple Mound Museum received support from donations by former City Councilwoman Chris Gibson and her family, along with funding from the Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department, and the Okaloosa County 0.5 cent sales tax.

Before the closure, the museums were open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with last admission sold 15 minutes before closing. Admission cost $5.00 for adults, $4.50 for seniors or military, and $3.00 for children ages 4-17. Children 3 and younger were admitted free. This admission granted access to the Indian Temple Mound Museum, Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, Garnier Post Office Museum, and the Civil War Exhibit Building.

The outdoor Fort Walton Temple Mound grounds were accessible from sunrise to sunset. Heritage Park & Cultural Center is located at 139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548. The center preserves and interprets the prehistory and history of the Fort Walton Beach community and Northwest Florida from 12,000 B.C. through the 1950s. Updates on the extent of the damage and reopening plans will be provided when available.