By Aaron Reynolds
Captiva Island is located southwest of Florida, just offshore in the Gulf of
Mexico. The island was originally connected to the neighboring Sanibel Island but the two were split when a storm from a hurricane washed away part of the land and created a new channel.
Influence
According to local folklore, Captiva received its name because the pirate captain Jose Gaspar held his female prisoners on the island for ransom or other motives. However, that story remains more of a myth than anything else.
Geography
The island has received substantial damage because of storms, including Hurricane Charley in 2004. Much of the land is molded from the storms, including North Captiva Island or Upper Captiva, which resulted from a 1921 hurricane.
Access
The only way to access the island by vehicle is through the Sanibel Causeway and Sanibel-Captiva Road. About half the island is privately owned, including the luxurious "Millionaire's Row" section on the gulf and bay side of Sanibel-Captiva Road. A large portion of the island is accessible by plane or boat only.
Significance
Captiva is a part-time residence for some and full-time for others. A lot of famous celebrities own property on Captiva Island, and was the full-time home of world-renowned artist Robert Rauschenberg until his death in 2008.
Recreation
Captiva Island is also a great vacation destination, offering many of the recreational activities commonly found on island or beach property. Fine dinning and weddings are also very popular on the island.
Resources
About the Author:
Aaron Reynolds is a freelance writer out of Colorado. Reynolds has a degree in communication media and various work published in newspaper, magazine, and online print media. Reynolds has worked for SchoolSports Magazine, The Old Berthoud Recorder, ThingsPeopleHate.com, and SneakerDemon.com.
