ResortQuest Real Estate

Description

Un-crowded beaches, vast areas of Virgin wilderness ... an abundance of wildlife and related surroundings have helped the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva become one of the best known resort and retirement areas in the country. To understand exactly why the charm of these islands is so special, one needs to know something of their origin and their rich, romantic past, Suffice to say that once people become acquainted with Sanibel and Captiva, they will know why their beauty and serenity is so passionately protected through a realistic "Land Use Plan" for orderly and limited growth. What follows is a compilation of facts for first time visitors and islanders alike who want to know about these two tiny pearls in the strand of barrier islands that fringe the southwest coast of Florida. It includes a historical sketch of their evolution from the distant past to the islands we know today. History of the Islands Just off the Southwest Coast of Florida in a seemingly remote corner of the world is an island filled with peace and quiet. Where warm breezes off the Gulf of Mexico kiss shell-strewn beaches. The unspoiled barrier island of Sanibel nestles at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River, steeped in rich romantic history; an island that remains as quiet today as when it began ... a tiny speck of sand that collected with others around 3,000 B.C. to form what would eventually become a string of offshore islands stretching southward along Florida's Gulf coast. In contrast to the others, Sanibel extends out from the, Florida peninsula in an east to west direction, its crescent-shaped shoreline facing generally to the South and the Gulf waters. Between Sanibel's beaches and shell ridges were palm forests, marshes and prairies that spawned migrating wild birds, deer, turkeys, rabbits and quail. Offshore billions of sea lives grew and became food for larger sea life - giant groupers, silver kings, devilfish, sawfish, sharks and sea turtles. Eagles, pelicans and seabirds soared above. At some time lost to history, came human occupation. Between 500 B.C. and 1 A.D. came inhabitants known as the Mound People, the Pile Dwellers, and then, much later, those known as the Caloosas. Somewhere around 1,200 A.D., according to radiocarbon evidence, there was an extensive Indian civilization. At least a hundred shell mound cities existed where the people made great hauls of mullet and roe which was cleaned, salted and smoked with low-burning buttonwood fires in drying sheds of palm thatch. These people worshipped in temple mounds and buried there dead in shell banked sand mounds. So it was when Juan Ponce de Leon sought the sun drenched isle "that jutted out into the seas" some 450 years ago. The year was 1513. With two caravels and a brigantine, de Leon made his way along Sanibel's beaches through shoals of San Carlos Bay to what is now Fisherman Key. He is said to have spent 21 days on Pine Island searching for rumored treasure. Ponce de Leon considered the islands his by right of discovery under the rule and royal patent of King Ferdinand of Spain. Others visiting the islands after him seemed intent on conquest and taking of slaves.

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