The 120-acre Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (JILONA) was designated by Congress in 2008 for the preservation, protection and enhancement of seven key resources and values reflecting the remarkable biodiversity and rich, 6,000 year history of the site. These are Historic, Natural, and Cultural Resources and Scientific, Educational, Recreational, and Scenic Values. The site is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Visitors to the site can enjoy exploring along marked trails, observing native plants and animals, or getting in the water along the shoreline.
All the ways we enjoy the shoreline and the ONA are part of a rich legacy of use of the area. People have been traveling and living in this area for 6,000 years, long before construction of the lighthouse on site. The areas strategic location rendered it as important throughout this time, from use by Indigenous groups like the Jeaga and Jobe, through to post World War II use of the site by the Coast Guard. Using our Trekking through Time app, you can learn what life would have been like in the past through augmented reality with our virtual tour guide, explore archaeological objects from the past, and imagine what this place might have looked like.