A hurricane tore through the Gulf Coast in 1848 and accidentally created one of Florida’s most beloved waterfront communities. The storm carved a new inlet through the barrier island, and a fisherman named John Levique was the first to work those waters, giving the pass its name.
What grew up around that narrow channel over the following century is a lively boardwalk village that still smells like saltwater and fresh-caught fish. The story behind this place is just as interesting as the place itself, and once you know it, the whole visit feels different.
The Hurricane That Started It All
Most towns are built on purpose. This one was built by accident, and that is what makes its origin story so hard to forget.
In 1848, a powerful hurricane swept across Florida’s Gulf Coast and physically rearranged the barrier island landscape. The storm surge cut a new channel through the sand, creating a pass where there had been none before…