A single road wends its way down the spine of the island where at some points the width averages less than a quarter mile. Two bridges cross at the north and south ends. The one to the north is a 1923 single lane Swing Bridge that’s well worth the crossing at Blackburn Point Road. This is an opportunity to photograph and cross a piece of history on Route 789 in South Sarasota County. The entire bridge rotates around an axis on a central support and requires no land side structures or counterweights. Boats with masts taller than eight feet signal the bridge tender who stops land traffic to rotate the bridge. A drop-in area is available nearby for kayaks and canoes on the east side with two waterfront restaurants frequented by locals called Aqua and Casey Key Fish House.
With only 600 residents, this is the place where the rich and famous relax. Gulf-to-Bay property could be purchased for $20,000 in the 1950’s; today real estate on Casey Key averages in the millions, and up to $25 million for a small estate.
