Clinton County Daily News and Boone County Daily News just lucked into this story.
Each year Rick Mungeam spends 3 or 4 days creating a new sand sculpture for Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys. Each year’s design is unique and the sculpture will last six months or longer and can even endure hurricanes. In 2016 hurricane Irma could not destroy his sand sculpture at Bahia Honda.
What is his secret?
The sculpture is made ONLY of sand and water, but when each section of the sculpture is complete, Rick uses a spray mixture of water and Elmer’s Glue. The entire sculpture has an “egg shell” covering which gives the finished sculpture a durable coating against wind and weather as long as children and pets don’t climb on the creation.
In 2017 Rick decided to make that year’s sculpture from the remnants of sand Hurricane Irma left in her wake.
This year’s sculpture created by Rick was started February 3, 2022. The picture for this story was six days into his project plus add two days of prep work BEFORE he started February 3rd. Clinton County Daily News interviewed Rick and took these pictures about noon on February 9th.
Features of this year’s sculpture include an impressive sand castle, sailboat, pelican, a pair of dice (paradise…get it?). What else can you see?
Rick gives families “Sand Sculpture” lessons near Destin, Florida and other locations. You can see more of Rick’s creations at his website: CLICK HERE
The first train across the Keys through Bahia Honda came on January 22, 1912 according to Bahia Honda Park Ranger Doulas Diederich. According to Diederich, the Bahia Honda Channel and the 7 mile bridge just prior to reaching the island were the most challenging part of the Flagler train construction project. The entire railway was sometimes called the 8th wonder of the world before its demise in 1935.
The railway to Key West across the Keys from mainland Florida was destroyed in the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 and by 1938, the State of Florida purchased and used the remaining infrastructure of the destroyed railway to complete the Overseas Highway that exists to this day. Major rebuilds, renovations and brand new construction added to and enhanced the original highway constructed from the remains of the railway. 42 bridges connect the Keys to the mainland of Florida.
