Guest Author – Anonymous from MN

Ft. Myers Beach…This is a place that has grown to be our second home during the Christmas & New Years holiday seasons. My grandparents bought a lot on Jefferson near the channel and built a small retirement home in 1956. My first visit was in 1961 when I was 6. My brother and I would explore the area all the time which in those days was still “jungle” like. Since that first trip in 1965, we have been coming to FMB every other season and almost yearly since the early 80’s.

In the early days we drove down. I can remember sitting in traffic outside the island’s welcoming arches waiting for the boats to pass under the swing bridge. In fact on one trip while waiting in traffic, we went into a local establishment and had a cool beverage before the bridge closed. Traffic was bad but for some reason, it wasn’t like traffic back home. I remember going down to the fishing docks (where Snug Harbor now stands) at 5:00 to watch the boats come in with there catch. The captain’s would clean them and feed the dozens of pelicans floating around the dock looking for a free dinner.

During the 70’s we would rent the same beach house near Alva Ave. In fact, this was next door to where the Lani Kai is today. Back then, it was a resort with a hand full of beach cottages. Staying in the beach house was great. Having the beach just steps from the door was awesome for us northerners… Our Aunts, Uncles & cousins would rent close by as well. The island has helped build special family memories – island walks, beach volleyball, football, baseball and of course riding the waves of the gulf. The house still stands today but needs a lot of TLC.

Times have changed the Times Square area as well. I can remember when there was a one way road down to almost the pier and turning left past the shops and restaurants before joining the rest of the traffic just past the Spiniker. If I remember right, the road may have even been a sand road. The Dairy Queen has been a constant forever. I remember going there in the early 70’s and putting a pin in the map showing where everyone was from. The map is long gone but not the memory of a cone on a hot December beach day.

In 1978 we bought a timeshare since we were going down so frequently. Then in1983, we introduced this special FMB to the “next generation” – our newest family member. We now have three kids (bought another timeshare for more space) who have spent just about every holiday season in FMB. They love it as much as the three generations before them. Two of the three got married this year and they plan to keep FMB in their family’s future as well. Retirement brought the first generation to FMB it also brought the second. My retirement is not too far off and FMB will be a winter haven for us.

FMB, so many good memories. The waves of time change the landscape a bit but have not changed the special meaning FMB has brought to our family for the last four generations.

FMB, we will see you again December 15th…

Editor’s note: Thank you for your contribution with this enjoyable look back on the history of Fort Myers Beach as you experienced it.

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