PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA

The first thing you need to know about Punta Gorda, Florida is how to pronounce it.  At least until more and more northerners move down and change it. 

Mural in Punta Gorda, Florida

Forget your Spanish, native Floridians call it PUNTA (like punting a football). Don't say POONTA (although as Florida's influx of new people continues, this becomes less important).

Punta Gorda has a population of about 17,000, and is the seat of Charlotte County, Florida. It is the only incorporated town in the County.

The town gets its name from the Spanish term for the "fat point" of land where the Peace River meets Charlotte Harbor.

In the years after the Civil War, the Howard brothers came to the area and were the first settlers. About ten years later the railroad came to town, and Punta Gorda FL began to grow.

The town was the end of the railway system, so a lot of tourists came down and stayed awhile. The town was incorporated in 1887.

Vintage Postcard Hotel Charlotte, Punta Gorda

Like many towns at the end of the trail, some tough characters settled there. There were reportedly 40 murders in Punta Gorda in the years 1890-1904.

The town settled down as years wore on, and the shady characters either murdered each other or got respectable jobs.

The first bridge over Charlotte Harbor was built in 1921 to incorporate the new Tamiami Trail (US-41).

The next huge event was when the General Development Corporation began their Port Charlotte lot sales program across the harbor from Punta Gorda.

Over the years this sprawling community is not incorporated but is many times larger than Punta Gorda with a population of 61,000.

There are many historic buildings in Punta Gorda, including the old Charlotte County Courthouse and 9 other places on the National Register of Historic Places.

Trabue Cottage at Punta Gorda History Park

Punta Gorda suffered a lot of damage in 2004 when it took a direct hit from Hurricane Charley.  It took another serious hit in 2022 from Hurricane Ian.

Old Charlotte County Courthouse, Photo by Ebyabe

The community has done a good job of rebuilding and replacing damaged structures.  It took years of hard work to get things back to almost normal.

River City Grill in Downtown Punta Gorda

The town has a new look but still captures its Old Florida origins.

Downtown Punta Gorda is a pleasant destination with several good restaurants, some with outside dining.

Fishermen's Village

Other nice shops and restaurants are in Fishermen's Village, a rustic time share and shopping complex built out over Charlotte Harbor just west of downtown.

There is a modern marina adjacent to Fishermen's Village that has direct access to Charlotte Harbor.

Old Florida Style Home, Punta Gorda

There are many nice well maintained Old Florida style homes in the neighborhoods close to downtown.

Punta Gorda Isles, a large waterfront community west of downtown, has hundreds of waterfront residences, most of them having boats.

Punta Gorda Isles View to Northeast

When it was being developed in the 1970s, I had a chance to get a waterfront lot for a very low price.  I didn't take that chance and now I can forget about it. 

Prices for waterfront property in Punta Gorda have skyrocketed just like every place else in Florida.

HURRICANE CHARLEY HITS PUNTA GORDA

The sunset picture on my sailboat, AWOL, was taken at Burnt Store Marina, south of Punta Gorda, not long before Charley blew into town.

Sunset at Burnt Store Marina South of Punta Gorda

Charley came right over Burnt Store Marina.

Poor little AWOL lost her mast, bow pulpit and lifelines when a nearby boat pulled it's dock pilings out and crashed into her during the storm's ferocious winds.

Punta Gorda Indian Head Before Hurricane Charley in 2004

A friend of mine, after drinking too much beer, rode out Charley on his Gulfstar 36 at Burnt Store Marina.

He took some amazing still photographs and videos and lived to tell about it.  This is not recommended practice.

The famous downtown Indian also survived, but the building it stood in front of did not and it has been moved to another location in town.

Punta Gorda Indian Head During Coronavirus Pandemic

Sometime in April 2020, in response to the Corona virus pandemic, somebody with a sense of humor decided to protect the poor old Indian.

Locals have always called this guy the "Indian Head."

BOAT RIDE TO FUN RESTAURANT

Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant.  This requires a boat trip, but is well worth the visit.  

Cabbage Key Inn

Old Florida at its best, and some even say it was Jimmy Buffett's inspiration for "Cheeseburger In Paradise". 

Jimmy didn't agree, but the legend lives on even though Jimmy is not longer with us.

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