Stiltsville

The settlement began in the 1930s when Crawfish Eddie Walker built the first shack above the seagrass beds. It steadily swelled into a lively gathering spot for winter resort crowds, marked by spots like the Bikini Club and Quarterdeck Club that attracted police raids over illegal alcohol and gambling. While 27 structures stood here at its 1960 peak, exposure to fires and storms took a heavy toll; 1992's Hurricane Andrew left only seven buildings standing, none surviving from the earliest heyday. Today, Biscayne National Park and the Stiltsville Trust collaborate to preserve the remaining structures for educational and interpretive use.