Pirate Days Offer A Glimpse Into Madeira Beach And Treasure Island History
The majority of Tampa Bay vacationers are familiar with Gasparilla
. It"s described as "Pirate version of Mardi Gras," an annual pirate fest that attracts thousands of visitors to the Bay area every year. But Gasparilla isn"t Tampa Bay"s only pirate fest, nor was Jose Gaspar the Bay area"s only pirate. In fact, some historians question whether Gaspar, the festival"s namesake, actually existed!The real pirate of the area, according to those who live on the Pinellas side of the Bay, was John Levique, who is credited for discovering John"s Pass. Levique, a French peasant, boarded a Spanish vessel around1836 to work as a cabin boy. The ship was overtaken by pirates and rather than die, Levique chose to become a pirate.
Levique eventually became the captain of his own ship, although legend has it that he never killed a single soul. Instead, he lived for the freedom of the open sea, and the thrill of hunting for buried treasure. He came across some treasure and buried it in an island he named Treasure Island, right off the coast of St. Petersburg.
Levique would return to the island several times to hide out, which is what he did one night in September 1848 en route to New Orleans. A storm was coming "" which would later be known as "Hurricane Gale" or "Great Gale" "" and the waterways were far too dangerous to navigate.
He awoke the next morning to find his beloved island hideout had become TWO separate islands. Storm surge had flooded his tropical paradise, creating a channel that connected the intercoastal with the Gulf, and the plot of his buried treasure now at the bottom of the sea.
The part of the island that became detached was later named Madeira Beach, and the channel that separated the two was named "John"s Pass," after the pirate who discovered it!
Due to its location, John"s Pass quickly emerged as a popular fishing destination. In 1979 the Friendly Fisherman Restaurant was built, followed by a boardwalk, and then a collection of boutique shops, other restaurants, and water recreation activities. It is now known as John"s Pass Village and Boardwalk.
To commemorate the creation of John"s Pass and to promote hurricane preparedness, the people of Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, St. Pete Beach, and surrounding beach communities come together each year for John Levique Pirate Days. For three days, patrons honor Levique by dressing in pirate costumes, and by participating in a Pirate Pub Crawl, a Pirates Parade, and a Flotilla Invasion and Water Battle.
All events, except the Pub Crawl, are family-friendly and perfect for those vacationing on Treasure Island and Madeira Beach! Those looking for affordable, family-friendly fun can stay in Treasure Island Rentals or Condos on Madeira Beach. Condos on Treasure Island and Madeira Beach are much closer to the Pass and are also more affordable than hotels. Just be sure to book early. This popular event gets bigger and bigger each year!
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