Florida's Tourism Boom

At the dawn of the 20th century, more and more folks were discovering the beauty and tranquility of South Florida and Biscayne Bay. By the roaring 20s, places like Miami and the Florida Keys were highly sought-after vacation destinations for the wealthy elite. And that was great news for the local economy.

Tourists brought dollars and tourism dollars brought jobs and a thriving economy. And you know, money brings happiness, right?

Crawfish Walker’s Enterprise

In the 1930s, locals like Eddie Walker were trying to develop ways to get their own piece of the tourism pie. Eddie, who went by the nickname Crawfish, was a local fisherman.

He had an easy way of talking to folks. And just like many Floridians of the time, he had dreams of making his own fortune. So he built a little barge on stilts about a mile offshore of Key Biscayne.

Officially, Crawfish's barge was a bait and tackle shop that occasionally sold homemade chowder and sandwiches. But unofficially, the barge was headquarters for a very lucrative and very illegal rum running and gambling operation. And it was the perfect location, accessible enough for anyone that wanted to visit, but far enough from the prying eyes of the law.

Birth of Stiltsville

The word spread, and soon others built more shacks on stilts next door, using them to operate nightclubs, lounges, and even homes. With nearly 30 structures over the water, Stiltsville was born. Suddenly, Stiltsville became a haven for folks seeking to escape the confines of traditional living.

Freedom and Nightlife

It offered a sense of freedom and adventure for artists and writers and bohemians. And it also developed a reputation for being, well, let's just say a place of debauchery. Some of those nightclubs were popping, as the kids say.

On any given night, there could be hundreds of people there just having the time of their lives.

Stiltsville's Slow Decline

So what happened to Stiltsville? Well, authorities had been looking for ways to regulate or even dismantle it for decades. But years of hurricanes kind of wiped most of it out anyway, essentially doing the work for them.

By the late 70s, there were just a handful of people living out there. And when Biscayne National Park was established in 1980, the park boundaries included Stiltsville. That meant the remaining inhabitants had to leave, which marked the end for this very unusual community.

But you can still visit the remains. Just check with the visitor center to see what tours will take you out that way.