A sister to Sanibel Island, Captiva Island sits in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, just off the coast of Fort Myers, Florida. According to local folklore, Captiva received its name after pirate captain José Gaspar reportedly held his female prisoners "captive" on the island as ransom. However, many write this story off as mere fabrication, as the original source of the story comes from an advertising brochure distributed back at the turn of the 20th century.
The island is accessible from the mainland by the Sanibel Causeway, and earned its own distinguishable name following the creation of Blind Pass, which is the result of a hurricane's storm surge that washed away land, thus creating two separate islands.
Following a second major hurricane in 1921, privately owned North Captiva Island was established following the creation of Redfish Pass. Today the land is about halfway built out, with hundreds of acres of real estate still available for purchase. It can only be accessed from Captiva Island by private boat or public ferry service.
Captiva is home to many "second homes" for the wealthy, and is where notable artist Robert Rauschenberg lived year round before his passing in 2008. In 2010, the Wall Street Journal named Captiva Island as one of the 10 Best Places for Second Homes. With only a population of 379, according to the last Census, the choice to spend time here seems obvious for those seeking a truly relaxing warm-weather experience.
Our concierge staff has spent a lot of time soaking up the sun on Captiva Island. Contact them for answers to any questions you have about the area.
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