Useppa Island Overview & History.
Useppa Island Marina By kapDave, Via Creative Commons.
“Located in Florida amidst the serene waters of Pine Island Sound is Useppa Island, a beautiful tropical island only one mile long and a third of a mile at its widest part. Yet as small as this island is, visitors have been coming to Useppa for over 10,000 years and this tiny piece of land has played a significant role in our nation’s history.
First visited by the Paleo people and then thought to have been a tool factory for the Calusas, Useppa was used as a fishing ranchero by Cuban fishermen for several decades. Home to Union supporters during the Civil War, it was a grand sport fishing and vacation resort during the early 1900’s, a training facility for the CIA and the Bay of Pigs during the 1960’s and evolved into a modern resort during the 1970’s.
Today Useppa is a private island accessible only by water or sea plane and home to over a hundred families and the Barbara Sumwalt Museum.” For more information, please see Useppa Island Historical Society
“New discoveries and the island’s unique beauty led to the re-opening of the Useppa Island Club in 1976. Garfield Beckstead, who purchased the island in 1976, set upon the task of restoring it to its former elegance. He has owned the island longer than any other owner, and has dedicated his time here to preserving the island’s rich history and legacy of excellence.
Useppa Island Club
Collier Inn on Useppa Island 2 by kapDave, Via Creative Commons.
“Useppa will always maintain the Old-Florida style of elegant charm that its history dictates. The Useppa Island Club and its individual property owners continue to be driven by a vision of excellence founded on the island’s centuries-old tradition of gracious hospitality, and its long legacy of historical significance.
The Useppa Island Club has been established as a private club and offers seclusion and amenities of one of the world’s truly unique islands. Club members and their guests enjoy full access to the island and its facilities and will receive invitations to all Club functions. Club activities are frequent, with parties, special events, seasonal traditions, special interest clubs and much more. Members also enjoy special privileges in using club facilities for hosting private business, family or guest functions.
The Preferred Membership offers a unique opportunity for you to enjoy the island lifestyle and acquire a piece of history. With this membership, you will have unlimited access to all the club amenities, which include receiving our chronicles, participating in all member events and competitions, and having access to wine and dine in our elegant Barron Collier Dining Room. You will be able to live like Collier before you, inviting friends and family to take full-advantage of all the island has to offer.” For more information, please see Useppa Island Club Membership & Fees.
Useppa Museum
Useppa Island Museum by kapDave, Via Creative Commons.
“Located on an island accessible only by water, the Barbara Sumwalt Museum can be reached in several ways.
You may arrive via the private tour boat operated by Captiva Cruises departing from Captiva Island, FL. This relaxing and delightful voyage provides a narrated cruise through the waters of Pine Island Sound and takes about an hour to arrive on Useppa. Visitors aboard the Captiva Cruise boat may dine on the island and will still have plenty of time to visit the museum. Please visit CaptivaCruises.com for more information.
You may also come to the museum by private water taxi, your vessel, or aboard the Useppa Island Club launch, which departs from the north end of Pine Island, FL. Since Useppa is a private island, arrangements must be made in advance to visit the island, and visitors may not dine on the island unless accommodations have been made with Useppa Island Club. Please contact the Museum Director at [email protected] or at 239-283-9600, or call Useppa Island Club at 239-283-1061 to help you plan your visit.”
