Captiva in Pine Island Sound...

February 8, 2023


We noted these houses in Pine island Sound which we found interesting.  After researching, we found these houses are called the Fish Shacks of Pine Island.  They are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and you can boat and kayak around the homes but not go into them as they are privately owned.  They lie on an oyster bar close to Captiva Pass.  In the early 1900's commercial fishermen lived in these homes with their families.  A boat would come out to deliver ice to the houses and pick up any fish caught and another boat would come out to pick up children for school which they would attend on Pine Island.  Around 1950's they homes were abandoned and some deteriorated from repeated storms and hurricanes.  There are 6 homes left.  In the 1980's, Florida considered them a navigational hazard and began to burn the houses.  One of the owners heard about the National Register of Historic Places and had paperwork completed on the remaining homes which have preserved them.  Pretty cool I think.  Due to the water depth, this is the closest, I could get Danny to get me to the houses to take pictures.


Leaving Cabbage Key, we had to be especially mindful of our arrival to Captiva due to the "skinny" water even not at low tide.  Danny wanted to leave as late as possible from Cabbage Key.  I wanted to leave by 10:30 to avoid dealing with the boats bringing people in for lunch.  The day we left, there were 350 people coming for lunch.  We did not leave at 10:30, we dealt with the boats coming in for lunch, and made out okay.  Our trip into Captiva was interesting in there were minutes where after our 4 foot draft under the water, we had only 1/2 foot.  We knew it would be shallow but given it was a rising tide and half way between low and high tide, we were surprised but just went very slowly as the bottom was a sandy bottom if we did run aground.  Once we arrived and cleaned the boat, we were able to enjoy the pool.  Prior to our dinner at the Old Captiva House, I went over to enjoy the sunset which was quite spectacular!


'Tween Waters Inn was founded by a couple in 1931 where the husband provided guided fishing trips and the wife provided entertainment and meals for those staying at the Inn.  Now the facility has tennis, a spa, pool, on the sound and steps from the beach.  We enjoyed our dinner- blackened snapper and shrimp with lobster risotto.  The next day, we rode bikes throughout Captiva to find nothing open.  I was hoping to go to the Captiva Museum.  They hopefully will open in May.  There is much construction and repairs occurring throughout Captiva.  We understood Sanibel was even worse from damage of Ian.  While riding bikes, we did ride towards Sanibel but we kept meeting large construction trucks on the very small 2 lane road and decided to turn back.  The one place we did find open was an English Pub called the Mucky Duck in Captiva.  Perfect location on the beach with chairs and picnic tables with unique umbrellas.  Danny enjoyed Red Stripe and I had Rum Punch splitting a hot dog looking out over the Gulf.  Walking back down the beach, we enjoyed another sunset.  What is pretty cool about this place is how it all happened.  This used to be called the Gulf View Inn.  With storms it had to be moved back 300 feet and ultimately closed to become a beach house.  A group of investors prepared to buy the property to be a rental property in 1974.  When they arrived in Lee County to do the paper work, they found out the property had an expired beer and wine license that could be reactivated for $100.00.  That night the investors while enjoying drinks and watching the sun set over the Gulf, decided to go forward with a place for everyone to enjoy.  The Mucky Duck ultimately opened in January, 1976.           

 


                                                   



In the morning, we will leave for Marco Island depending on the weather...


TOTAL MILES TRAVELLED   1158.2 miles
TOTAL DAYS 89





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