Boca Grande Florida

The town of Boca Grande is on Gasparilla Island, which is part of both Lee and Charlotte Counties.

A direct hit by hurricane Charley in 2004 caused a lot of devastation.

Named after Boca Grande Pass by Spaniards, it means Big Mouth in Spanish. Boca Grande Pass being one of the largest and deepest inlets in Florida. This deep inlet is fed by both the Myakka and the Peace rivers and attracts thousands of Tarpon during their spawning season, making Boca Grande fishing famous.

During the heydays of phosphate mining, a port was built on the south end of Gasparilla at Boca Grande Pass, where the shipping of phosphate continued until that moved to Tampa Bay starting in the 50s. A railroad service was built to bring the phosphate right to the port docks, while also bringing passengers to the island. The old rail station has now been restored and converted into the island shopping center.

The historic Boca Grande lighthouse was turned on in 1890 and is now the centerpiece of Gasparilla Island State Park. This park is an outdoor sports paradise, with nature hiking trails, bicycling, kayaking and fishing.

The historic village of Boca Grande sits midway on the island, where that Old Florida flavor is preserved. No high-rises, stoplights or fast food here. No billboards or gas station on Main Street either, with most residents getting around on golf carts. Main Street does offer art galleries and boutique shops, plus fine and casual seafood dining offering the catch of the day. PJ's Seagrill and Fishery Restaurant are quite popular.

The Boca Grande beachfront, like the rest of Gasparilla Island, is a great place for shell collectors. A great time to look for specimens is along the flats a low tide, even more right after a storm flushes the shells ashore.

Among hotels in Boca Grande is the Gasparilla Inn and Club, offering luxurious exclusive amenities to visitors. Other Boca Grande rentals include the Anchor Inn and Innlet On The Waterfront.

For visitors wanting a seasonal second home, there are realty offices in town offering Boca Grande real estate choices. The Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers is served by all major airlines. U.S. Highway 41 is the closest major highway along the Florida Gulf Coast.