The Rise & Fall of Stiltsville
Stiltsville consists of a group of wooden houses built on concrete pilings in the shallow mudflats of Biscayne Bay, situated about one mile south of Cape Florida. The community originated in the early 1930s during the prohibition era. The first shack was constructed by "Crawfish" Eddie Walker, who built a shelter on stilts to sell bait, beer, and crawfish chowder to passing fishermen.
During the 1940s and 1950s, Stiltsville expanded into a popular offshore gathering spot. Wealthy locals built private social clubs on the water. The most famous was the Quarterdeck Club, which featured a restaurant, lounge, and docking facilities. In the 1960s, the Bikini Club opened, featuring a bar, a sunbathing deck, and social gatherings that drew regular attention from local law enforcement. At its peak in 1960, the community contained twenty-seven active structures.
Subtropical storms and fires gradually destroyed most of the wooden houses. Hurricane Betsy in 1965 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992 caused severe damage, leaving only seven houses standing. In 1985, the state boundary lines shifted, placing Stiltsville inside Biscayne National Park. Today, the remaining seven houses are managed by the Stiltsville Trust in partnership with the National Park Service to preserve their unique maritime history.
