Fort Myers

Welcome to the Greater Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce. Our new visitor center is located at 17200 San Carlos Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 where we can provide you with further beach information, brochures, maps and much more!

Welcome

The Chamber of Commerce of Fort Myers Beach invites you to visit our family island. Over1.8 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 entire7-mile length of the island along its sandy shores.

History

Turn the hour glass and watch the sands of time trickle back tothe 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.

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 Caloos as 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 Calusa Indians (Caloosa) kitchen 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 "pinkgold" shrimp and celebrate the industry and the blessing of the fleet with a week long Shrimp Festival, usually held in March.

This is Bonita Dog Park, on the north shore of New Pass, where dogs are allowed off-leash. The beach is actually a sandbar surrounded by water on three sides, and the entire park encompasses five acres between Bonita Beach and Fort Myers Beach. Dogs and their people walk down a path through the mangroves that opens out to a wide stretch of sand, with views of the Gulf and Lovers Key Park.

One of the best places in Southwest Florida Bonita Beach to catch the sunset. The same shell bits that make barefoot strollers wish they had flip flops almost glow at sunset, mimicking the pastel pink and salmon hues cast upon the Gulf of Mexico nearly every evening. Doc's Beach House is a popular eatery. The county-run park at the south end of the beach offers showers, picnic areas and grills.

Fort Myers Beach is a active, young, fast pace and live music beach community. You can't hike or bicycle around here. Okay you could but car traffic would make this activity dangerous. There's no Eco-touring here. There are no mangrove forest, tidal basin, or estuaries. I've never seen anyone shorefish here but you will see many boats anchored 50 feet off the beach.

Helpful#'s

EMERGENCY: 911
Fire, Ambulance and Sheriff: 911
Coast Guard Rescue Station: 239-463-5754
24-Hour Crisis/Abuse Hotline: 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 RoadService: 800-365-0933

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 EveCelebrations, Offshore Powerboat Races and other sporting events liven life onthe 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 familyinclude the Fort Myers Beach community pool (open to the public) andthe Beach Movie Theater.

Parks/Playgrnds

Lynn Hall Memorial Park provides bath houses and parking for beach goers and people fishing from the 600 foot fishing pier. Balls bounce around the basketball, tennis and volleyball courts at Bay Oaks Recreation Center. Lover'sKey State Recreation Area shelling rivals the neighboring island of Sanibel. Trams ferry visitors over Oyster Bay to Lover's Key Barrier Island. Visitors can rent kayaks and canoes and take boat tours of the area. Picnic areas and barbecue grills are conveniently located along the Lover's Key beaches.

The natural environment of the 16- acre Bowditch Point Park at the tip of Estero Island nourishes nature walkers and picnickers. The Matanzas Pass Wildlife Preserve,featuring an historical restored cottage, nurtures 42 acres of wilderness and provides sanctuary for native plants and animals. Boardwalks and bridges over trails allow visitors access to a pavilion along Estero Back Bay where birds such as ospreys and pelicans fish. People in fishing boats alsocast their line in search of supper.

Health

Lee Memorial Health Hospital -16271Bass Rd Fort Myers, FL 33908 | (239) 432-3322 |website

Lee Memorial Health System: Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida - 9981S Healthpark Dr # 156 Fort Myers, FL 33908 | (239) 433-7799|(239)432-3322 | website

Golf

Florida Golf Welcome to Florida Golf at Fort Myers Golf Courses-
GolfLink.com-Comprehensive list of golf courses in the Fort Myers Beach area. Listed by proximityto Fort Myers Beach
WorldGolf - GolfCourses near Fort Myers Beach

Fishing

You do not need a hunting, freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing license if...

You are a child under 16 years of age. (Also exempt from federal duck stamp requirements.)
You are a Florida resident age 65 or older possessing proofof age and residency or possessing a Resident Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate. Residents age 65 or oldermay obtain,at no cost, complimentary hunting and fishing certificates from county tax collectors' offices.
You hunt or fish in your county of residence on your homestead or the homestead of your spouse or minor child, or if you area minor child hunting or fishing on the homestead of your parent.
You are a Florida resident certified as totally and permanently disabled and you possess a Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting and Fishing Certificate.
You are a resident who is a member of the Armed Forces ofthe United States, you are not stationed in this state, and you are homeon leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders.

You do not need a saltwater fishing license if...

You have been accepted as a client for developmental services by the Department of Children and Family Services . The department must furnish proof to such clients.
You are a resident fishing in saltwater from land or from a structure fixed to the land.
You are a resident fishing for a saltwater species in freshwater from land or from a structure fixed to land.
You fish from a for-hire vessel (guide, charter, partyboat)that has a valid vessel license.
You fish from a vessel, the operator of which has a valid vessel license issued in the name of the operator of the vessel.
You fish for recreational purposes from a pier with a validpier saltwater fishing license.
You have a valid salt water products license.
You fish for mullet in fresh water and you have a valid Florida freshwater fishing license.

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 squaremiles(16.0 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.4 km²) of it is land and3.3 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 itssister island, SanCarlos,make up the community of Fort Myers Beach.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,561people, 3,425 households, and 2,048 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,290.9 people per square mile(885.7/km²). There were 8,429 housing units at an average density of 2,943.2/sq mi (1,137.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.24% White, 0.08% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of anyrace were 3.46% of the population.

There were 3,425 households out of which 7.7% had children under theageof 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together,4.0% had a female house holder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families.

31.7% of all householdsweremade up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was65years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and theaverage family size was 2.29.

In the town the population was spread out with 7.6% under the age of 18,3.0% from 18 to 24, 17.2% from 25 to 44, 35.0% from 45 to 64,and 37.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. Forevery 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,045, and the median income for a family was $62,000. Males had a median income of $31,929 versus $29,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,703. About 3.0% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.8%of those age 65 or over.

Fort Myers Beach Area Information