History | Tarpon Lodge

A LASTING LEGACY: Remembering Jimmy Carter’s unforgettable 2004 visit to southwest Florida

Posted on October 16, 2025
By Emily Young, Fox 4
History, Tarpon Lodge

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter pose for a photo w with Rob and Jessica Wells.

Locals remember the former president’s 2004 visit to southwest Florida, where his warmth and genuine connection with the community left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — As tributes continue to pour in for former President Jimmy Carter following his passing, memories of his time in southwest Florida remain fresh in the minds of those fortunate enough to have met him. It was exactly 20 years ago that President Carter made that memorable visit to our community—an occasion still talked about with fondness by locals who met him in person.

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Adventure Awaits

Posted on February 23, 2018
By Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant
Calusa Indians, Fishing & Boating, Local Attractions, Newsletter

Explore the natural setting and incredible history
that makes our area so unique.

Our friends at Captiva Cruises have created a special lunch excursion from Captiva to Tarpon Lodge and the ancient Calusa Indian Mounds on Pine Island. You’ll cruise by historic fish houses en route to Pineland, with Captain Sean and Captiva Cruises’ Educator, Richard, discussing the history and unique properties of the area. You’ll then enjoy a delicious lunch at Tarpon Lodge. After your meal, you’ll walk over to the Randell Research Center where you’ll be led on a guided hike to the top of a pre-Columbian mound of the ancient Calusa Culture. This Center is dedicated to learning and teaching about the archeology, history and ecology of Southwest Florida.

For more information, call Captiva Cruises at 239.472.5300 or book online at http://www.captivacruises.com/sched_cruises.html#Dolphin 

Fine food, history found at island restaurant

Posted on September 14, 2016
By Carol Orr Hartman (Special to The Eagle) , Pine Island Eagle
History, Restaurant Reviews, Tarpon Lodge Reviews

Looking down on beautifully plated seared white fish with diced red tomatoes and golden flower

The Florida of today doesn’t reflect the tenacity of those who first settled the area, and it is difficult to find vestiges of early Southwest Florida. Before the Matlacha Bridge was built, the only access to Pine Island was by boat, and to build without power or easy access showed the commitment to this area by early residents. As time evolved, less and less properties have maintained a true history as that of Tarpon Lodge, 13771 Waterfront Drive, offering a view into the past.

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The path of history begins right next door

Posted on August 18, 2016
Calusa Indians, History, Pine Island, Pine Island Beauty, Tarpon Lodge

We have always been fascinated with the rich and storied history of our community. Working at Tarpon Lodge has allowed us to share these unique and exciting facts with our guests who are curious about the area and how it all began. While not historians or archeologists, living and working in proximity to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Randell Research Center has given us a lot of information to pass on. For the history buffs out there, here’s what we have learned:

Juan Ponce de Leon

The very famous Juan Ponce de Leon, whom we all learned about in elementary school, “discovered” Florida in 1513, supposedly while searching for the Fountain of Youth. I put discovered in quotes because apparently there was already a large population here – this was the home of the Calusa Indians.

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