ESTERO, Fla. - More than a century ago, a group of settlers from Chicago set up a communal society on the banks of the Estero River. They built houses, built a sawmill, they built a store, and they powered it all with a massive generator. Today's daytrip takes us to the Koreshan State Historic Site.

Mike Heare, a park service specialist says, "This was a religious group. Their leader was Cyrus Reed Teed, later known as Koresh."

They settled in Estero with plans to build a 34-square mile city called the "New Jerusalem." They expected the city to be home one day to 10-million people. Clearly, that never happened. But much of the community has survived.

On our tour Heare shows us the century old buildings that reflect the history of early Lee County. "It feels like you're stepping back in time when you walk inside these buildings," he says. "I think one of the things that amazes me is the construction styles they have. They have the big overhanging porches to keep the sun out of the buildings, because they didn't have air conditioning back then."

No air conditioning, but they did have power. Heare explains, "The Koreshans actually generated their own electricity from the time electricity came to be, until 1946 when Florida Power and Light came in."

Jim Purcell is a volunteer and serves as the site's generator operator. Every week he and Ralph Dykstra fire up the 80 horsepower Fairbanks Morse twin cylinder diesel engine.

"I think we're doing something for the state in prolonging the history that went on here," says Purcell. He helped track down the 1929 model engine. It's a near replica of the original one used by the Koreshans. "They would run it until 10:00 at night. They would ring the dinner bell to let people know it was time to shut their power off, and he would shut the power off at that time."

Ringing the bell these days won't send anyone running for dinner since no one actually lives here anymore. The state took over the site back in 1961. But you can come out here seven days a week and check all of this out.

The park is located on U.S. 41 in Estero, across from Corkscrew Road and open from 8 am to sunset, 7 days a week.

Entrance to the park is $3 for a car with one person, $4 if you have 2 or more people. If you walk or ride a bike it is only $1.

The park is also offering tours everyday at 10:00 a.m. Those tours are $2 for adults and free for kids under 12.

The park is also hosting its annual Ghost Tours coming up January 25, January 26, February 1, and February 2. These tours start at 7:00 each evening and tickets are limited.

The park also has picnic areas, camping, and canoe rentals as well. You can find out all about the Koreshan State Historic Site online at http://www.floridastateparks.org/koreshan/

If you get the chance, head out and enjoy the all the park has to offer, and maybe take a walk back through time on this daytrip in Estero.