Roads in the Ten Thousand Islands!

[Megan Digeon]

I was looking for maps to download for my handheld GPS.  I opened one up in Garmin Basecamp only to discover named roads in the upper 10,000 Islands!  The only thing I can think of is that they're from a development plan that never made it.  If you follow them, they lead back up to Port of the Islands.  Does anyone know the history of this?  Here is a link to the map download.

[Megan Digeon]

I believe it had to do with Bill Ray who owned Port of the Islands along with many other country club type of establishments in Florida.  He died in 1991 and the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1996.  I would imagine these "plans" were his from before the land was preserved.

History of the Port of the Islands

Started many years ago in the 60's as Remuda Ranch, a resort primarily used by Gulf American Corp., a real estate development company, promoting Golden Gate Estates (they also developed Cape Coral). Many people remember the airstrip (now Sunset Cay) that brought in visitors and investors, many for a promotional free weekend. It became known as the "Port."

In 1980, Bill Ray, a developer with his own dream, acquired the property after others unsuccessfully tried promoting it after Gulf Management. He obtained a $7 million dollar bond for the completion of the infrastructure, which matured in 2010. Mr. Ray sadly died in 1991 after successfully completing the first condominium building, now known as Sunrise Cay, Phase I. The first home lots were also sold. In 1994, his family auctioned off the remaining property to private individuals and developers. Since that time, the completion of dozens of new homes, Eveningstar and Stella Maris Villas, Sunrise Cay, Sunset Cay, and Villages at Stella Maris, and Orchid Cove has taken place. The hotel and marina have undergone a major renovation which is still ongoing. Still to be completed is some vacant land on the north side.

[Tyler Thompson]

Wow!!! Let's thank our lucky stars that never came to be!!!! SWFL is already over populated, we won't sustain 1000 people moving here a day much longer.