Exploring Florida's Vanished Village

Egmont Key, a hidden gem located where Tampa Bay meets the open waters and accessible by private boat or ferry, offers a unique escape from the typical tourist spots. The tiny, secluded island holds much more than what meets the eye and is home to the largely unknown haunted ghost town, Fort Dade, founded in 1898 and provides a unique journey through historical decay. Though hurricanes have left the ruins in various states of disrepair over the course of time, all or most of the structures are still sturdy enough to explore. Anyone who takes an interest in old tales or ghost towns should definitely take up the opportunity to hop on a ferry and see this historic treasure of a Ghost Town for themselves.

An old military outpost built on the island during the Spanish-American War, Fort Dade is the perfect example of a ghost town, going from a once lively spot with a bustling community of over 300 people to an abandoned piece of preserved history. Fort Dade was active until 1923 and was complete with a movie theater, prison, hospital, bowling alley (believe it or not!), tennis courts, and beautiful brick roads, still paving the way through the rest of the island's remaining ruins and prominent structures. You'll find the remnants of the railroad that once traversed the island, the remains of the once-formidable fort batteries, and the old guardhouse, which has since been restored. The brick pathways come to an end at the iconic 137-year-old, 1858 lighthouse, which is still active today. If you visit Egmont Key and head into Fort Dade, you'll find traces of its former life – weathered paths and decaying structures standing in silence.

In the Civil War, the Union controlled the islands and used the lighthouse as a lookout. It wasn't until the Spanish-American War that the island saw the construction of powerful defenses. Signs accompanying many of the structures and ruins scattered across the island display vintage photos that give a brief glimpse into the past, showcasing the original glory of each structure. Many of the structure's old photo descriptions list the year in which they were built, the cost of living, building materials required, and housing capacity. Some structures have since been reduced to mere brick and concrete rubble, while others retain their foundations, and a few still boast intact sections of their walls and original infrastructures.

During the Third Seminole War, the U.S. Army held Native American prisoners captive on the island, and some say Billy Bowlegs might have been one of them. Historians have compared the conditions there to a concentration camp. For this reason, it is no surprise that island visitors report that the island has a somber, eerie, and haunting atmosphere. The island's dark history of oppression, segregation, and imprisonment of captives in the 1800s is one of the many reasons it places highest on the lists of some of Florida’s most haunted towns and locations. There have even been reports of shadowy figures near the lighthouse and a park ranger who claims to have seen a Civil War soldier.

Egmont Key is quickly vanishing into the Gulf of Mexico, shrinking dramatically since its documentation during the Spanish exploration era. Initially recorded at 580 acres in a survey conducted by Robert E. Lee and the US Army in the 1850s, the island is now under 250 acres. The island's erosion has accelerated recently, with some historical sites now completely submerged underwater, only visible to divers and those with the proper equipment. Experts warn that it’s possible the island could disappear entirely with a severe hurricane, washing away the rich history haunting the island and its visitors.