June Jaguar Caravan to Boca Grande

Please join us Saturday June 16th for a driving tour of Gasparilla Island and the historic town of Boca Grande - Meet up instructions are below, click on "Read More..."

See the vacation destination of John Rockefeller, John Jacob Astor, Audrey Hepburn and the Presidential Bush family. The community of Boca Grande began in the 1880s as a shipping point for Bone Valley phosphate. In its hey-day it was the fourth largest port in Florida, shipping 50% of the country’s phosphate. In 1885 the first Tarpon was caught – within a few years Boca Grande would gain the reputation as the “Tarpon fishing capital of the world.” The lighthouse, built in 1890 and outfitted with a 3-1/2 order Fresnel lens, overlooks the famous pass and serves as a museum of the island’s history.

A toll bridge ($6 per car) serves as a gateway to our scenic drive to the southern tip of the island. At Boca Grande pass we will visit the historic lighthouse museum, located in the state park ($3 per car), followed by lunch at the Loose Caboose Restaurant. At $9 per car total – car-pooling is encouraged!

To caravan on local roads to Boca Grande, meet at 9:30 am at Ideal Classic Cars located at 2224 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, 34293. (we will depart for Boca Grande at 10am) If travelling from outside the Sarasota-Venice area, take I-75 to exit 193 / Jacaranda Blvd. Upon exiting, turn to the right on Jacaranda and proceed 5 miles to US-41. At US-41 turn right and then shift to the left hand lane as soon as possible. Ideal Classic Cars will be on your left, after the Chevrolet dealership, as the road turns to head north into Venice. From Ideal Classic Cars we will take SR 776 south to Placida Road and then to the Boca Grande Causeway. Please rsvp to activity chair John McCarthy at trtlisle@comcast.net or by phone at 941-915-1156.