Wood houses in Stiltsville has an interesting history which is the main reason why they are so popular among tourists. Stiltsville is a group of wood stilt houses that stand on wood or reinforced concrete pilings above water, and they are located in Biscayne Bay. Their story dates back to the 1930s when Eddie Walker built his first “Crawfish” shack. The rest of the houses was built over time – they were shrouded in mystery. Initially, their purpose was to provide lodging for gamblers and to be a place where you could unwind, because gambling was legal only offshore. Eddie remained famous for his house and a dish he used to make. He fished for crabs under the house, cooked them and served. In addition to his house, some of his fishermen friends at the time built their shacks on stilts above water. The original house was destroyed by a hurricane in 1950.
The first social club built at Stiltsville was constructed during the late 1930s and named the Calvert Club, and the picture of this club could often be seen postcards. The amazing history and development of this place is complemented by a story about a big house that was home to the Quarterdeck Club which was built near Eddie’s house in 1940. The owner Edward Turned charged membership $150, and in a short period of time this became a known and well-visited place in Miami. The club attracted attention in 1941 when the Life magazine published an article with an interesting description: "extraordinary American community dedicated solely to sunlight, salt water and the well-being of the human spirit." The club was described as "a $100,000 play-palace equipped with bar, lounge, bridge deck, dining room and dock slips for yachts".
It has attracted many celebrities, with many of them headlining magazine covers. It all contributed to Stiltville becoming an attraction and a must for tourists when visiting Miami – both to this day and in the past. Rumors of gambling persisted, and the club was raided in 1949, but no evidence of gambling was found. Hotelman Warren Freeman purchased the club in 1950 and envisioned it as a high-class operation. However, it did not last long due to Hurricane Harry destroying the club. Soon after, Freeman sold it. The club was rebuilt, but never regained the popularity of its early years. The following hurricane demolished the majority of Stiltsville houses, and the Club was completely destroyed in a fire in 1961. This is only one of interesting stories that you can hear about these houses.
Stiltsville was an escape from everyday life for the Miami’s upper class. They came here to have fun and relax. The policy often monitored their parties, but they would never find anything illegal at the time. There are many stories about this place that resemble plots of some Hollywood movies. Nowadays, there are 7 houses in Stiltsville, each of them has its history, and each of them is unique.
You can book a visiting tour at the Biscayne National Institute. On the boat there will be a tourist guide that will tell you everything about the houses’ history. Entering the houses is not allowed, but you will hear everything about them on the boat, and you will be able to give them a closer look. This is a significant section of Miami’s history that you should not miss. You will enjoy the magnificent view of the beach, and you may encounter dolphins as well. Phenomenal view from the boat makes this tour tourists’ favorite.
Author of the article:
Marijana Niković tour guide for Montenegro
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