{"id":241565,"date":"2026-04-22T09:27:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/241565\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T09:27:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:27:11","slug":"theres-a-ghost-town-hiding-on-this-florida-island-heres-how-it-died","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/241565\/","title":{"rendered":"There\u2019s a ghost town hiding on this Florida island. Here\u2019s how it died"},"content":{"rendered":"

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 Florida has plenty of strange ghost towns, such as a community built on stilts<\/a> and an abandoned logging neighborhood<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, this one was rated as the \u201ccreepiest\u201d ghost town in the Sunshine State, according to Thrillist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The ghost town \u2014 Fort Dade \u2014 is located on Egmont Key, which is only accessible via boat at the mouth of Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough the lighthouse is still in operation, the rest of the town is in ruins, with deteriorating brick roads and staircases leading to military batteries that no longer protect Tampa Bay,\u201d Thrillist writes.<\/p>\n

Shoreline of Egmont Key (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

While the island has origins that date back all the way to the 1700s, Fort Dade was established in 1898 to help protect the area during the Spanish-American War.<\/p>\n

As the fort was constructed, the population on the island grew, sparking a small city on Egmont Key. At its peak, the population reached over 600 people, historians say<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This lighthouse was built in 1858 to replace another that had been devastated by a hurricane just 10 years prior. It was eventually taken over in 1939 by the Coast Guard, which is still tasked with maintaining it to this day. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

During World War I, the island became a training center for the National Guard Coast Artillery, and with so many people living there, new barracks, mess halls, officer quarters and more had to be built.<\/p>\n

In fact, the island city sported electricity and reportedly featured a hospital, a jail, tennis courts, a movie theater and even a bowling alley.<\/p>\n

Abandoned ruins litter Egmont Key (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

However, not everything was hunky-dory.<\/p>\n

Mosquitos and rattlesnakes (which are still an issue to this day) were a constant worry for many on the island, and having to rely on goods being shipped in \u2014 often at great expense \u2014 was also incredibly irksome for the town\u2019s inhabitants.<\/p>\n

A dilapidated mine storehouse on Egmont Key. Many of the island’s old trails swarm with mosquitoes during the hurricane season. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

After World War I, technological advancements in military hardware rendered the fort obsolete, as battleships were then capable of firing from outside of the fort\u2019s range. As a result, Fort Dade was deactivated in the early 1920s, and nearly all of the residents were vacated or transferred elsewhere.<\/p>\n

In the years to follow, the Coast Guard used Egmont Key as a firing range, and the Tampa Bay Pilots Association set up operations on the island to help guide ships.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the island has been wracked by fires since Fort Dade was deactivated, leading to the destruction of many of its facilities.<\/p>\n

A large clearing in the middle of the Fort Dade ghost city, which was once a bustling island town. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

Today, the city only has one permanent resident left: the park ranger \u201cMr. Tom.\u201d<\/p>\n

He lives in a private home on the island\u2019s northern half by the old lighthouse, and he regularly takes his ATV out on the island\u2019s trails while doing patrols.<\/p>\n

Ranger station at Egmont Key (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

Behind the ranger station is a cemetery that holds the remains of soldiers from the Spanish-America War, a lighthouse tender, family members of previous lighthouse keepers, and Seminole people who were detained on the island in the 1800s.<\/p>\n

Cemetery on Egmont Key (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

Taking a trail south from the ranger station will bring visitors to an old brick road that was used by residents when Fort Dade was still active.<\/p>\n

The road stretches across much of the island, taking visitors through the remains of the ghost town.<\/p>\n

The old brick road on Egmont Key (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

In addition, there are still three major batteries \u2014 fortified buildings meant to guard Tampa Bay from intruders \u2014 remaining on the island.<\/p>\n

Following the brick road long enough will take visitors to the first of these: Battery McIntosh.<\/p>\n

The remains of Battery McIntosh (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

McIntosh is the southernmost of the three batteries, and it\u2019s also the first to be built.<\/p>\n

Stairs allow guests to climb on top of the old battery, though the encampment floods easily during the rainy season, meaning its hallways are often flooded and difficult to maneuver.<\/p>\n

[SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW IMAGES OF BATTERY MCINTOSH]<\/p>\n

The outside of Battery McIntosh, which was still flooded following a heavy storm the day prior (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)One of several entrances to Battery McIntosh, which was flooded and crawling with mosquitoes (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)The interior of Battery McIntosh, with steps leading up to the top of the building (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)Two 8-inch-caliber 1888-M1 guns were once mounted at Battery McIntosh, though they were removed in the 1920s as Fort Dade was deactivated. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)Looking down from Battery McIntosh’s roof into its interior via a hole (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

Continuing on, the island\u2019s trail next leads to Battery Guy Howard, which is the youngest of the three.<\/p>\n

Battery Howard (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

This battery was named after Maj. Guy Howard, who was killed in the Philippines in 1899 as part of the Philippine-American War.<\/p>\n

This was also the first of the three batteries to have its guns removed, as they were used on the European front during WWII.<\/p>\n

[SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW IMAGES OF BATTERY HOWARD]<\/p>\n

The exterior of Battery Howard (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)A look into one of the room at Battery Howard, which has been rocked by hurricanes and fires alike since being built (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)The interior of a room at Battery Howard, which is one of the few remaining buildings at Fort Dade (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

Last up is Battery Mellon, the northernmost battery that remained in operation until 1920, which is when the military determined that its guns were unsafe.<\/p>\n

After the fort was shut down, Mellon became overgrown with invasive plants, which damaged much of the structure.<\/p>\n

However, volunteers cleared away much of the vegetation in the 1990s, meaning visitors can once again explore the massive building.<\/p>\n

[SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW IMAGES OF BATTERY MELLON]<\/p>\n

A scarred building at Battery Mellon (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)The inside of an empty room at Battery Mellon (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)The side wall of Battery Mellon with an entrance and a gated window (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)The top of Battery Mellon, looking down toward the scarred building near the entrance to the site. This is where the heavy guns stationed at the battery were once manned. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

Beyond the abandoned ghost town, Egmont Key also features a broad shoreline, which is great for visitors who want to relax on the beach or hunt down shells.<\/p>\n

Ruins can be found along Egmont Key’s beach. Some, like the one pictured here, get seashells trapped in their ridges as the tide carries them in, making them a great spot to go shelling. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also reportedly a great spot to find washed-up shark teeth, too.<\/p>\n

(Left) Myriad sea shells found along the shore of Egmont Key; (Right) A collection of shark teeth found by Capt. Zip, who works for the Hubbard’s Marina (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

To get to the island, visitors can either take their own boats or buy tickets to the Egmont Key Ferry through Hubbard\u2019s Marina<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The ferry picks up guests from the beach at Fort De Soto, taking them out to the island for a three-hour excursion. Outside of busy seasons, guests are few and far between, so many visitors will get the chance to wander Fort Dade\u2019s ruins at their own leisure.<\/p>\n

The Egmont Key ferry picks up guests at Fort De Soto and carries them over to the island. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

While on the island, guests are invited to seek out a \u201csecret\u201d bunker.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a hint: make sure to keep an eye out for the fire control towers.<\/p>\n

This hidden alley leads to a “secret” bunker on the island (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)The interior of the bunker on Egmont Key (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the island is in a bit of a crisis, which means these structures may not be around in the long term.<\/p>\n

Since the early 1940s, Egmont has lost around half of its land mass thanks to beach erosion and a rising sea level, with its original 500+ acres being reduced to a mere 250 acres today.<\/p>\n

The remains of Fort Dade’s quartermaster warehouse on Egmont Key (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

As a result, The Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges are trying to build support for an initiative to bring more sand to the island. For more information about the project, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, News 6 has included plenty of pictures from across the island in the gallery at the top of this story.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 Florida has plenty of strange ghost towns, such as a community built on stilts…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":241566,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[6104,106787,6919,28,4566,503,2457,596,202,204,203,199,201,200,2546],"class_list":{"0":"post-241565","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-st-petersburg","8":"tag-beaches","9":"tag-boomtown-to-ghost-town","10":"tag-features","11":"tag-florida","12":"tag-florida-fables","13":"tag-halloween","14":"tag-history","15":"tag-pinellas-county","16":"tag-st-pete","17":"tag-st-pete-headlines","18":"tag-st-pete-news","19":"tag-st-petersburg","20":"tag-st-petersburg-headlines","21":"tag-st-petersburg-news","22":"tag-strange-florida"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=241565"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241565\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/241566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=241565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=241565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=241565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}