The Matanzas Pass (Wilderness) Preserve was dedicated on January 20, 1979 as a sanctuary for native plants and animals and as a learning resource for the Lee County Community. Matanzas, which contains one of the last maritime oak hammocks in the area, was one of the first four-wetland eco-systems to be found in Lee County. In 1974, Fort Myers Beach resident and nature photographer John Dunning, purchased the property from the Martha Redd estate and then donated 22-acres to The Nature Conservancy and offered to sell them the remaining acres. In 1994, the property was donated to Lee County by The Nature Conservancy at which time the word Wilderness was removed from the name of the Preserve. View the Land Stewardship (Management) Plan for the Park. The Friends of Matanzas Pass Preserve has since been formed to help protect and preserve the natural habitat of this unique natural environment on Fort Myers Beach.