The HIdden Bar and Tales of Key West

So, more back to the story about how the Southernmost point well, ain't really the Southernmost point.

The story goes back to World War II when the Navy built a base on Key West to port ships and subs.  After dredging the channels and sub basin, the fill was used to create what is now Tank Island (Sunset Key for those who spent much moola to stay there), Christmas Tree Island (not developed) and basically enough fill to make Key West grow by several square miles.  And thus, what is marked the Southernmost point....well, if you look straight west from it, you'll notice a spit of land jutting out to the South with some military radars and sat dishes on it.  All man made.

However, these are the little things in life that makes my ever logical husband absolutely batty.

And its hilarious.

However, geography aside, I was fascinated to know how much of Key West was built up during WWII and then in the '50s during the Cuban Missile Crisis and those ne'er-do-well Soviets and Cubans.

If you ever want to hear a good tale, tall or otherwise, you must visit the Chart Room that is now surrounded by the Pier House resort.

But Kim, you ask, why do you say surrounded?

Because the bar was there first.  It has been and always will be locals bar. However, show your proper respect and you will be welcomed like a local.

And here's how the story goes.  Evidently, when the family that owned the Chart Room bar and the surrounding land was ready to sell (and trust me, I would have also), they sold with one provision. YOU SHALL NEVER TEAR DOWN THE CHART ROOM.  However, these wily Conchs knew not to trust those scabby mainlanders and those most evil of creatures called Lawyers (very sorry to my friends that are lawyers--you know who you are), they did this: They held onto the liquor license. Evidently, it's harder than hell to obtain a new liquor license in Key West. In most property agreements, the license is handed over. However, in order to protect the rights of the locals to keep their bar, they resorted to blackmail. Which continues to this day.  If the resort ever tries to do anything with the Chart Room, the original owners will terminate their liquor license.  And the resort would be SCREWED. Because having no liquor in Key West would be a death knell for a property.  The whole resort depends on the Chart Room's liquor license, and that's freaking awesome.

So, on to this day, the merry little Chart room prevails.  And you can go into this nice posh resort, past all the fancy restaurants and rooms and stroll into a little hole in the wall. And enjoy your free hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts. Please throw the shells on the floor.  And look around, you'll see all sorts of history and cool things that visitors left.  More times than not, the bartender is a sailor. If he or she find out you sail, you are part of the family.

Behind the bar, be careful what you read there, you might go blind.

Local heros of the Conch Republic (Mel Fisher is on the right)
Also ensigns from visiting ships.

The bartender with one of the locals--meaning the bird.
We were all sharing peanuts together.