On April 4th, the Captiva Island Historical Society premiered its seventh in the series of “Captiva Memories” documentary films, revealing the surprising history of Buck Key.

While it’s easy to think of Buck Key as the uninhabited mangrove island it is today, it may be hard to imagine over a thousand years ago Buck Key was a barrier island, inhabited by the Calusa. Additionally, before there was a settlement on Captiva, there was a community established on Buck Key with residents, a school, and plantations.

The CIHS premiered in the South Seas Island Resort to a full house. Ken Sneeden, the documentary’s producer and director, worked with the CIHS on the Buck Key production to create a fascinating tale that showed relics of the Calusa occupation, photographs from the CIHS archives, and interviews with historians, as well as current residents who know the history of the island.

The evening began with a convivial gathering in the lobby of the South Seas Conference Center.  The South Seas Island Resort catered a generous gourmet spread of hors d’oeuvres, as the audience gathered before the film. Promptly at 6 pm Tom Libonate, President of the Board of the CIHS, thanked the Resort for its hospitality throughout the season. In appreciation for their generous contribution in catering, audio-visual and staff support throughout the season, the CIHS presented Rhonda Decherd, Director of Catering and Conferences with a gift.  Also, Bob Walter, South Seas General manager, was presented with a large framed giclee print, a historical map of the islands. 

The new film was very well received.  The audience was so enthusiastic about it that they crowded to the table following the program to pre-order copies of it when the DVD’s are produced later this spring.

VIEW THE TRAILER OF THE DOCUMENTARY