Fort Myers Beach Estero Island

Over 1.8 million annual visitors enjoy the beaches, fishing, shopping, dinning, golf, tennis and entertainment on the sandy shores. The Beach gained a reputation as the World's Safest Beach because of no undertow and shallow water. People can walk the entire 7-mile length of the island along its sandy shores.

Turn the hourglass and watch the sands of time trickle back to the past of Fort Myers Beach. Return to the time when pirates buried treasure, Spaniards built forts, Indians hunted on the Beach, homesteaders staked their claims, shrimpers netted pink gold, a hurricane severed a land connection and mosquito hordes clouded the air.

The last homesteader staked his claim in Estero Island in 1914. Leroy Lemoreaux cleared his land and survived by growing vegetables and fishing.

Lemoreaux remembered bears stalking the island and panthers howling in the night. In the 1890's, the only weapon they had against the hordes of mosquitoes was smoke. Those were the days before bridge linked the island to the mainland of Fort Myers area. A wooden swing toll bridge was the first bridge built in 1921. The toll was 50 cents for five people. The 1926 hurricane washed it away and severed the slim neck of land attaching San Carlos to the mainland making it and island. Today, it's still called Hurricane Pass. In the 1870's, pirates plied their trade along the shores. That's how Black Island, south of Estero, got its name. After a defeat by the U.S. Navy, Black Augustus took his loot and settled on the island. The family of John Butterfield squatted on Mound Key in Estero Bay during that time and provisioned the aging pirate with sugar, coffee, grits and other luxuries in exchange for vegetables. When the pirate died, he showed the family where to dig up his booty. Perhaps more treasure is hidden along the shores. Rumors persist that pirates used to sink long boats laden with treasure to later recover.

And Pirates weren't the only sailors frequenting the island's waters. Juan Ponce de Leon may have sailed waters around Estero Island about 1513. Hernando de Soto may have also dropped anchor in front of Estero Island in 1539. Relics of skulls and other artifacts found on Mound Key suggest that Spanish conquistadors may have passed through the Beach and perhaps built a fort on the hill on Mound Key. But the aura of mystery surrounding Mound Key belongs to the first settlers, the Caloosa Indians. The Caloosa's origins remain obscure but some scholars such as Rolfe F. Schell in his book, History of Fort Myers Beach suggest that Caloosas may have traveled by rafts from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Caloosa artifacts displayed in a Fort Walton museum would be claimed as early Mayan if displayed in Mexico, Schell wrote.

There's little doubt of what caused their demise. Diseases such as measles brought by European explorers probably caused many of the Indian's deaths. The Caloosa (Calusa) Indians kitchen middens, containing shards and edible shellfish remains, were found at the end of Connecticut Avenue on Estero Island. Since these early people cannot speak for themselves, their artifacts tell tales of their lives. Reverse the hourglass and return to our times. Today, the Beach's tourist industry flourishes. Thousands of people come to dine on "pink gold" shrimp and celebrate the industry and the blessing of the fleet with a week long Shrimp Festival, usually held in March.

Events

The Beach hosts an Annual International Sand Sculpting Contest in November and the Shrimp Festival in March draws thousands to the Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet. A 5-K run precedes the event. A July 4 Fireworks Display and Old Fashioned Family Day sparks the annual Independence Day Festival. Golf tournaments, Taste of the Beach, Annual New Year's Eve Celebrations, Offshore Powerboat Races and other sporting events liven life on the Beach. Santa rides his boat along the Shoreline in the Christmas Holiday Boat Parade. A Christmas light decoration contest for homes, businesses and boats is included in the festivities. Facilities that provide entertainment for the whole family include the Fort Myers Beach community pool (open to the public) and the Beach Movie Theater.

Fort Myers Beaches Parks and Recreation

GOLF

Florida Golf    

Golf Link

World Golf

GEOGRAPHY
Fort Myers Beach is located at 26°26'19?N, 81°55'32?W (26.438676, -81.925620). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.0 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.4 km²) of it is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it (53.41%) is water. The town is situated across the barrier islands of Estero and San Carlos. Estero Island and its sister island, San Carlos, make up the community of Fort Myers Beach.

Helpful numbers

EMERGENCY: 911
Fire,Ambulance,andSheriff: 911
CoastGuardRescueStation: 239-463-5754
24-HourCrisis/AbuseHotline: 800-962-2873
Poison Control: 800-282-3171

FIRE DEPARTMENT (non-emergency): 239-463-6163

HIGHWAY PATROL: 239-278-7100

Fort Myers Beach Post Office: 239-463-9151

AAA:Ft.Myers: 239-939-6500
Emergency Road Service: 800-365-0933