Stiltsville floats on Biscayne Bay's story

Stiltsville looks like Miami decided to keep a few secrets out in the bay.

The houses sit above shallow seagrass beds in the northern part of Biscayne National Park, near Key Biscayne. The story goes back to the 1930s, when “Crawfish Eddie Walker” built the first shack on stilts above the water. More buildings followed, and the place became part getaway, part rumor, part social scene for people visiting nearby Miami Beach resorts.

The old days were rough on the buildings. Hurricanes, fires, and open water took their toll. At the 1960 peak, there were 27 structures on the flats. Hurricane Andrew later left only seven standing. The land became part of Biscayne National Park, and a trust now helps preserve the remaining structures for education and interpretation.

This is not a place where you just pull up and walk in. The remaining houses are closed to the public without permission, and some visits may need both trust permission and a park permit. Check Biscayne National Park visitor information before planning anything more than a boat tour or a respectful look from the water.

That distance is part of the feeling. Stiltsville is close to Miami, but it sits in another mood entirely.