Camp Helen State Park, State park west of Panama City Beach, Bay County, Florida, United States.
Camp Helen State Park is a 180-acre Florida state park west of Panama City Beach, south of U.S. 98, bounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Powell. A white sand trail runs through tall marsh grasses, low bushes and scattered pines toward a wide beach and the open ocean.
Native American groups occupied this area for over 4,000 years, leaving behind shell mounds and other archaeological sites scattered throughout the park. These remains provide evidence of ancient coastal settlement in the region.
From 1945 to 1987 the site was a holiday camp for employees of Avondale Mills, a textile firm based in Alabama. Restored buildings from that period remain in the park, and the visitor center holds an interpretive exhibit on the camp and the earlier Native American occupation of the land.
The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, with entry fees charged per vehicle or person. Plan time to explore the trails and shoreline at a relaxed pace, and bring water since shade can be limited in some areas.
Camp Helen's 180 acres are bordered on three sides by the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Powell, one of the largest coastal dune lakes in Florida. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 24, 2012.
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