Fort Bengali: St. Augustine’s Strangest “Fort” and Forgotten Roadside Attraction
When you hear the word fort in St. Augustine, your mind probably jumps to centuries-old coquina walls, Spanish soldiers, and colonial history.
But Fort Bengali tells a very different story.
There are no cannons here. No colonial battles. No Spanish empire.
Instead, Fort Bengali is a relic of a much more recent and much stranger chapter of Florida history: the era of roadside attractions.
Not a Fort at All
Despite its name, Fort Bengali was never a military installation. It began in the late 1950s as a quirky tourist attraction created by Leon “Buddy” Hough, who originally marketed the site as the “Oldest Jail.”
This was classic mid-century Florida, when highways brought waves of tourists, and entrepreneurs built anything they could think of to get drivers to pull over.
Hough’s attraction even sparked local competition. Its name forced another nearby historic jail to rebrand itself as the “Authentic Oldest Jail” just to avoid confusion.
From Jail to Jungle: The Birth of Fort Bengali
By the 1970s, the attraction evolved and was rebranded as Fort Bengali, a name that hinted at something exotic and adventurous. In 1978, the property took an even more unusual turn when it reopened as a roadside zoo.
Visitors could see:
Bengal tigers
Lions and leopards
Monkeys and exotic birds
A mix of domestic and wild animals
For a brief moment, Fort Bengali became one of those uniquely Florida experiences; part theme park, part spectacle, part mystery.
A Short-Lived and Controversial Attraction
The zoo’s life was short—and troubled. In 1979, wildlife officials raided the property after receiving complaints. What they found was alarming:
Dozens of animals without proper food or water
Large predators confined in cramped cages
Signs of severe neglect
Authorities removed over 50 animals, effectively shutting down the zoo. The dream of Fort Bengali as a major attraction ended almost as quickly as it began.
Reinvention and Decline
Like many roadside attractions of the era, Fort Bengali didn’t disappear overnight, it tried to reinvent itself. In the early 1980s, the property became:
A flea market
A craft and souvenir destination
A venue for small events like car shows and concerts
But none of these ventures lasted. Eventually, the site was abandoned, and the structures began to decay, left behind as a ghost of Florida’s tourism past.
A Different Kind of Florida History
Fort Bengali stands in stark contrast to the older, more famous landmarks of St. Augustine like Castillo de San Marcos, which dates back to the 1600s and represents Spain’s colonial power.
While those forts tell stories of empires and warfare, Fort Bengali reflects something else entirely:
The boom of roadside tourism
The anything-goes creativity of mid-20th-century Florida
It’s a reminder that history doesn’t always come from centuries past. Sometimes it comes from faded billboards and abandoned attractions.
The End of the Road
For decades, Fort Bengali sat in quiet ruin along State Road 16, its cages rusting, its structures slowly collapsing into the surrounding landscape. Then, in 2023, the property was sold for redevelopment, marking the likely end of what remained of the site. What was once a strange roadside stop is now disappearing entirely, replaced by modern construction.
Further Reading:
TITLE: Fort Bengali
LOCATION: St. Augustine, Florida, United States
Print sizes available include 5"x7", 8"x10", and 11"x14".
Options include black or white mat board. If ordering a print with mat the outer will be larger.
Print Size: 5"x7"/ Outer Mat Size: 8"x10"
Print Size: 8"x10"/ Outer Mat Size: 11"x14"
Print Size: 11"x14"/ Outer Mat Size: 16"x20"
This stone tower puzzle invites quiet, contemplative moments. Assemble weathered masonry, soft sepia skies, and lichen-touched trees to reveal a serene corner of history. Each piece snaps into place with satisfaction, guiding you from scattered fragments to a complete scene that feels like a found postcard. Suited to stretched-out afternoons, family puzzle nights, or as a calming solo activity, it rewards patience with a gently nostalgic view.
Product features
- Choice of 120, 252, or 500 high-quality chipboard pieces
- Vibrant sublimated print with glossy finish
- Comes in a gift-ready paper box featuring the finished image
- Made from 100% chipboard pieces and 100% paper box
- Recommended for ages 9 and up; available in three sizes (box dimensions shown)
Care instructions
- Wipe the dirt or dust off gently with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
