Pirate Harbor is one of Punta Gorda’s hidden treasures. A waterfront community with nearly instant access to Charlotte Harbor and only a 20 minute boat ride to the Gulf of Mexico. This small boating and fishing community is a back-to-nature wonderland situated on the eastern edge of Charlotte Harbor. Pirate Harbor is a laid back community consisting of man made canals and natural waterways which are surrounded by mangrove islands. Dolphins and manatees frolicking in the waterways, eagles soaring overhead, ospreys and sea birds are part of the everyday scenery.
Pirate Harbor has the reputation as holding some of the best fishing grounds on Charlotte Harbor. To learn more about the fishing in Charlotte Harbor click HERE.The neighborhood has a Florida Keys atmosphere with a variety of homes including stilt homes in the Key West fashion and ground level homes as well. Many homes have 2 boats on boat lifts in the back and it is not uncommon to see a flats boat on one boat lift and an offshore boat on the other. Because Pirate Harbor is located on the edge of Charlotte Harbor there are countless miles of backcountry shallow water estuaries that are perfect for the kayaker, canoer or small boater. Homes range in price from $250,000 to over $1 million. This is a very friendly neighborhood and laid back is the best way to describe it. Pirate Harbor is does not have deed restrictions however it does have a voluntary property owners association. The community reflects pride in ownership and is unique with one road in and one road out for the access to the eight total streets. Conveniently located 10 minutes into the town of Punta Gorda, 10 minutes to Cape Coral and less than 20 minutes to Ft. Myers you have incredible convenience yet live in a tranquil quiet community.
In the mid-1950’s, Erich and Lydia Quest, who had owned a very successful appliance business in Stamford, Connecticut, came to southwest Florida in search of land that they could develop and to call home. After a lengthy search, they found a 260 acre site on Charlotte Harbor which is now known as Pirate Harbor. When the Quests first found this area the only land access to Pirate Harbor was a narrow dirt road called Burnt Store Road. On April 8, 1958, the Charlotte County Board of Commissioners approved the Pirate Harbor Subdivision.
A little history on Pirate Harbor makes this neighborhood even more fascinating. If your interested, please read further. Over a three year period, the Haflefinger Company from West Palm Beach constructed the canals and waterways. The work began by outlining the edge of the canals and constructing rim ditches along the perimeter of the lots. These temporary dams allowed the canals to be sectioned off and excavated. The new canals were continuously pumped and drained during the entire process. The fill removed from the newly formed waterways was used to raise the elevation of the roadways and lots.
