We are happy to be a Welcome Center for our wonderful tiny island of Matlacha, Florida. For many people, the term “tropical paradise” conjures up visions of Bermuda or Tahiti, but we like to think our little corner of the universe can easily compete with those better known locales. A new promotion called "Spend A Day on Matlacha Island" aims to introduce visitors to the delights they can find here
. On Matlacha Island, shrimp boats co-exist peacefully with art galleries and fishermen with the restaurateurs who prepare and serve the local catch. The buildings are as colorful as the people who inhabit them. Accessible by boat or car, the teeny historic island offers a bridge and pier to fish from, docks to tie up to, dozens of galleries and gift shops, a place to drop off the the dog for grooming, a spa to get a massage, live bait shops, hair salons, boatels, Inns that reside in the water, historic walking tours, famous artists, nature walks, kayaking, paint your own souvenir, live music, art classes, tropical waterway botanical gardens, businesses where the owner greets you, sunrise and sunsets, all within the mile long historic district. From an isolated village that had no electricity until 1941, Matlacha Island has become part of the modern world while still retaining its historic Old Florida charm. A wooden swing bridge was built in 1927 to connect Matlacha to the mainland. During World War II, soldiers on leave from nearby Page Field termed it “The Fishingest Bridge in the World.” The 1968 draw bridge has recently been replaced (2013) with a new shiny one complete with two story bridge tender's house, and anglers still line it from end to end whenever the tide is in.
