Located on the beach of the Gulf of Mexico and just 50 miles from historic New Orleans, Buccaneer State Park is a year-round vacation spot rich in coastal beauty and recreational opportunities. The area now encompassed by the park was frequented by pirates in the 1700s, and figures prominently in mysterious tales of smuggling and buried treasure. Today Buccaneer State Park is best known for its exciting wave pool, which provides a safe yet exciting setting for summer rafting and body surfing, and as a winter retreat where the mild temperatures allow outdoor recreation year-round.