Useppa Island
May 16, 2022 13:37:04 #
genocolo
Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island
"Useppa Island is a 100 acre bridgeless private island club located within the waterways of Pine Island Sound, a shallow body of water lying west of the metropolitan area of Fort Myers and Cape Coral.
The island’s history is vast and begins thousands of years ago with the Calusa Indians. In the late 1800’s, business magnates, industry leaders, fishing enthusiasts and renowned travelers frequented the island and began the island’s metamorphosis into what it is today.
The origin of Useppa's name is shrouded in the mystery of this part of Florida that attaches to the pirate captain, Jose Gaspar, whose nickname was Gasparilla.
The legend is that Gaspar kidnapped a Spanish princess named Josefa. He fell in love with her, but she would have nothing to do with such a nasty old pirate.
So he imprisoned her on the island for the rest of her life. Or he killed her. History is vague on the subject, including whether or not Gaspar even existed.
In any event, Useppa is supposedly a variation of the princess's name.
Long before the legend of the pirates, Useppa was a stronghold of the powerful native American Calusa tribe.
Visitors today can still see evidence of the early settlements in the form of shell mounds and collections of various archaeological digs.
It is this archaeological significance that placed Useppa on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Useppa was purchased in 1894 by a Chicago streetcar millionaire named John Roach, who built a large winter home on the island.
One of his guests was a wealthy New York advertising tycoon named Barron Collier.
Collier bought the entire island from Roach and proceeded to develop much of southwest Florida, including completion of the famous Tamiami Trail from Naples to Miami.
He not only made Useppa Island his home, he turned it into a first class resort for the use of his friends and clients.
Among his famous guests were many Vanderbilts, Rockefellers and Rothchilds. He also hosted celebrities like Gloria Swanson, Shirley Temple, Herbert Hoover, and Zane Grey.
The inn had several names over the years, including Tarpon Inn, Useppa Inn and Collier Inn.
Time and hurricanes took their toll on the old resort, but the current owner has been steadily improving the club since buying it in 1976. It is now once again one of the most exclusive and elegant getaways in the United States."
The island’s history is vast and begins thousands of years ago with the Calusa Indians. In the late 1800’s, business magnates, industry leaders, fishing enthusiasts and renowned travelers frequented the island and began the island’s metamorphosis into what it is today.
The origin of Useppa's name is shrouded in the mystery of this part of Florida that attaches to the pirate captain, Jose Gaspar, whose nickname was Gasparilla.
The legend is that Gaspar kidnapped a Spanish princess named Josefa. He fell in love with her, but she would have nothing to do with such a nasty old pirate.
So he imprisoned her on the island for the rest of her life. Or he killed her. History is vague on the subject, including whether or not Gaspar even existed.
In any event, Useppa is supposedly a variation of the princess's name.
Long before the legend of the pirates, Useppa was a stronghold of the powerful native American Calusa tribe.
Visitors today can still see evidence of the early settlements in the form of shell mounds and collections of various archaeological digs.
It is this archaeological significance that placed Useppa on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Useppa was purchased in 1894 by a Chicago streetcar millionaire named John Roach, who built a large winter home on the island.
One of his guests was a wealthy New York advertising tycoon named Barron Collier.
Collier bought the entire island from Roach and proceeded to develop much of southwest Florida, including completion of the famous Tamiami Trail from Naples to Miami.
He not only made Useppa Island his home, he turned it into a first class resort for the use of his friends and clients.
Among his famous guests were many Vanderbilts, Rockefellers and Rothchilds. He also hosted celebrities like Gloria Swanson, Shirley Temple, Herbert Hoover, and Zane Grey.
The inn had several names over the years, including Tarpon Inn, Useppa Inn and Collier Inn.
Time and hurricanes took their toll on the old resort, but the current owner has been steadily improving the club since buying it in 1976. It is now once again one of the most exclusive and elegant getaways in the United States."
May 16, 2022 14:48:01 #
Just Ducky
Loc: Ohio/Florida
And led to Gasparilla Day in Tampa celebrating the storming of Tampa Bay by pirate Gaspar.
Good info and picture. 😊
Good info and picture. 😊
May 17, 2022 18:58:50 #
May 17, 2022 19:00:44 #
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