Chokoloskee, Florida’s 359 residents, are the latest in a long line of inhabitants. The Calusa Indians were here for about fifteen hundred years before the first Europeans landed. The area was finally settled in 1874 by John Weeks, but before that, the island had many visitors. Seminole Indians, Cuban fishermen, and an assortment of rogues fleeing justice appeared in the first 3/4ths of the 1800s. Until Tamiami Trail was completed in 1920, boat access was the only way in. After the post office was opened in 1896, Ted Smallwood became postmaster and delivered mail via sailboat. His general store housed the post office and remained open until 1982. In 1974 the store made the National Register of Historic Places. Smallwood’s granddaughter has since reopened the place as a museum.

Residents believe spirits live inside the property, along with artifacts like spittoons, Indian canoes, and animal skins. Most notable is the ghost of famous outlaw Edgar Watson. Reputed to have run with Jesse James and the murderer of another famed outlaw, Belle Starr, Watson made his way to Chokoloskee in the early 1900s. When Waston’s taste for murder grew to include locals (many of whom were also wanted), the townsfolk surrounded him while he was in Smallwood’s store and bombarded him with gunfire. Bloodstains remain on the walls today, and according to legend, so does Watson’s spirit. The store has been the subject of study by paranormal groups as Watson’s is not the only reported ghost.

Chokoloskee is the place, whether your thrill is the fight or you want to catch a meal. The island city is known for some of the best fishing the Gulf of Mexico has to offer. Shark, grouper, tarpon, redfish, snook, and many more are here to be caught. Don’t be surprised to catch many species during one trip. For the best experience, try the top-rated ARF Charters. Captain DJ has over 25 years of experience fishing these waters and is a US Navy veteran. He offers military and first responder discounts for the half and full-day charters. He is one of over 75 charter fishing services in the area.

For a firsthand taste of the Everglades, there is Wooten’s Grassland Airboat Tour. Learn about the area’s history while taking in the sun and seeing alligators in the wild. The Animal Sanctuary & Alligator Park puts on alligator shows and is home to lions, tigers, and more. Take a swamp buggy tour, and you may just see a manatee. 

For those who enjoy catching nature in its endless beauty, take Captain Bruce Hitchcock’s photography tour. Captain Bruce is a certified naturalist and has over 30 years of experience as a photography guide. Whether you are looking for the killer shot or the monster fish, the Captain gets his customers into the hardest-to-reach spots.

Do you know what else gets into hard-to-reach spots in Chokoloskee? Bugs. Walter Salazar Pest Control is the best in the industry when that happens in your home or business. Bed bugs, termites, ants, and their friends are on our hit list. We can also help protect your palm trees, ornamentals, and lawns. Contact us today for more information.