Built on land once inhabited by the Calusa tribe from the 1300s-1700s, Shutters Cottage is steeped in history. Located at 329 Useppa Island, this four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath home was custom-designed in 2000 to maximize the view from atop Useppa’s historic Pink Path. The residence is adjacent to the highest point on Useppa Island, which is also the top elevation in Lee County. Exclusively marketed by Mary and Brian McColgan, listing details can be found here.
Enter by bridge from the Pink Path to the home’s second floor, crafted with twin master suites. Open stairs lead to the third-floor kitchen, living room, dining room and half bath, and down to two additional bedrooms, two baths, a family room and access to a large side deck. The third floor also boasts a west-facing screened porch with views across the Intracoastal Waterway and north to Charlotte Harbor. Porches on all levels, a large ground-level deck, mature foliage and a waterfall add to the home’s tropical charm.
Accessible only by boat or helicopter, Useppa is a bridgeless island known for its unhurried pace of living, luxuriant privacy and exhilarating sense of community. Developed in Old Florida fashion as an exclusive club, resort-style amenities include a pool, spa, marina, fine dining restaurant, casual bar, tennis courts, croquet and bocce courts, and a life-size chess board. A host of organized as well as spontaneous activities offer many recreational options. Just three miles to the Gulf of Mexico, it is also the birthplace of tarpon fishing.
Useppa Island’s historical significance dates back ten thousand years to its first inhabitants. Home to the Calusa tribe, their civilization became one of the most sophisticated native societies to have evolved in North America. Useppa was a major stronghold of the Calusa tribe, where native people developed a complex society complete with extensive use of tools and natural resources of the sea, as well as cultural and religious doctrines.
Historians have documented the island as the site where the Seminoles murdered the U.S. tax collector at the beginning of the Seminole War. Additionally, archeologists have determined that this high elevation was likely the exact location of Fort Casey, a historical military post used during the Seminole and Civil Wars.
Quotes:
“Shutters Cottage offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to own a piece of Florida history while living a luxurious, tropical lifestyle.” — Mary McColgan, sales associate, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.
About Premier Sotheby’s International Realty
Headquartered in Naples, Florida, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty has over 1,100 associates and employees in 40 locations throughout Florida and North Carolina. Premier Sotheby's International Realty also benefits from an association with the storied Sotheby's auction house, established in 1744. For more information, visit premiersothebysrealty.com.
