The environment was certainly pristine and beautiful and there were very few boats around. However, there are some things much more plentiful today than back then. In the ’50s and early ’60s if anyone at the camp saw a manatee it was a major sighting that we would talk about over dinner and for days to come. We were amazed that sea cows, as we called them, were so enormous and gentle. It is also great to see the ospreys back in good numbers. And bald eagle sightings were unheard of back then. The roseate spoonbills that Dad at first thought were flamingos in 1948 have used that same cut as a roosting area in the summer for over 50 years. One thing that has changed, and I really miss it, is the rookery that was present in the ’50s on a chain of islands just north of the camp in the middle of Fakahatchee Bay. Every evening, literally thousands of birds would return to roost for the night. The predominant species was certainly the white ibis and they were joined by American egrets, snowy egrets, great blue herons, Louisiana herons, little blue herons, cormorants, brown pelicans and I am sure others I have failed to mention. The young white ibis (brown in color) were called curlew and were a prime source of food at the time. As best I can remember it ceased being a primary rookery in the ’60s.

One of the small fishing boats, circa 1950, used to haul supplies and construction materials from Everglades City.

Changes to the islands have occurred slowly over the years. The large oyster bar on the west side of the camp has filled in to the south and grown to the north, resulting in the main bar now being 150 to 200 yards north of where it once was. For 40-plus years there were no mangroves growing on the bar, but in the last 10 years, several have taken hold and I suppose one day in the future a new island will form. Other changes can occur quite quickly, such as the closing of the cut behind Camp Lulu Key—an outer island on the Gulf of Mexico—that happened in less than two years.

It was obvious that our camp had survived many hurricanes through the years, including one of the most severe ever, in 1935. In 1960, we discovered how it had apparently survived. Following Hurricane Donna, a bad one, we went to see what was left of the camp. After navigating through the numerous bays and around the downed trees, we entered Fakahatchee Bay and there she was, standing as proud as ever. When we entered the camp, the secret of its survival was revealed. The floor was covered with mud and the refrigerator had floated up and against the wall and settled on its side. Apparently, the high water flooded the camp, protecting it from the direct effect of 125 mph winds. With a little cleaning up we were as good as new.

We always feared that lightning would someday bring an end to our wonderful camp, but took comfort in the fact that it obviously had survived many thunderstorms in its 40-plus years of existence. We sat through many electrical storms away from the walls and with our feet off the floor. I’m not sure what good that would have done.

In 1964, Mom, Dad and I planned to take my girlfriend (now my wife of 40 years) to the camp on a Friday afternoon to spend Labor Day weekend. As it turned out, she had to work Friday night and we didn’t go until Saturday. I was running the boat that fateful day when we entered Fakahatchee Bay and came around the rookery where we would first see the camp. It was gone. I remember Dad not wanting to believe his eyes, but all that was left were pilings still smoking. A local mullet fisherman told us there had been a terrible thunderstorm the night before and they had heard several loud explosions from the area of the camp—the propane and gas tanks.

I wonder to this day if we had been there, would we have died in the inferno or would we have been able to save the camp? I have to assume God saved us a tragic death. Mom and Dad are long since gone, but every now and then I’ll just tie my boat to one of the remaining pilings of “The Ruins” to watch the sun set and remember them and the many great times growing up and enjoying the Fakahatchee Yacht Club.

FS