Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO
With the reopening of the Old Seven Mile Bridge, there is now even more for you to enjoy on your vacation in The Florida Keys!
Closed to traffic, the historic structure is a popular recreation destination stretching 2.2 miles from Marathon to Pigeon Key – and it is located just a few miles from your luxuriously comfortable accommodations at the Banana Bay Resort & Marina.
In addition to connecting you to the fascinating history of The Florida Keys, the Old Seven Mile Bridge offers amazing views of marine life and plenty of opportunities for you to ride your bike, stroll, or even rollerblade above clear blue waters.
Have a leisure ride through the tropical grounds at Banana Bay Resort & Marina on our complimentary bicycles*. Take your exploration to the streets of Marathon and discover the area’s hidden gems from shell shops to the best seafood and dive bars. Be sure to check out the famed Old Seven Mile Bridge that parallels the Florida Keys Overseas Highway in the Middle Keys.
Enjoy a New Perspective on History and Recreation in The Florida Keys
The popular attraction is a section of the historic bridge that once formed part of Florida railroad magnate Henry Flagler’s Over-Sea Railroad. Now, it parallels the Florida Keys Overseas Highway.
The span leads from Marathon to Pigeon Key, which was once home to the workers making Henry Flagler’s dream of a railway connecting Key West to the Florida mainland a reality. The bridge closed in 2016 in preparation for a $44 million renovation project, which included new decking, pedestrian and bicycle handrails; and other physical enhancements designed to make the structure safer for recreational use.
In this Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, Celeste Trzcinski, left, a tour guide at Pigeon Key, shows visitors a portion of a museum that chronicles the building of the Old Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys. The historic bridge to Pigeon Key has undergone a 4.25-year, $44 million restoration effort and is to reopen Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, to pedestrians, bicyclists, anglers and visitors to Pigeon Key. The old bridge originally was part of Henry Flagler’s Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad that was completed in 1912. The railroad ceased operations in 1935 and was converted into a highway that opened in 1938. In 1982 construction was completed on a new Seven Mile Bridge that continues to carry motor vehicles between the South Florida mainland throughout the Keys to Key West. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO)
“What made the project challenging was that it is a historic bridge and that we had to restore the bridge to the same aesthetic fabric as the original,” project manager Tony Sabbag, a Florida Department of Transportation contractor, said in a statement.
In The Keys, life is lived at a slower pace. That’s part of our charm. But, in an ironic twist, the project actually finished ahead of schedule.
A Connection to the Past
“The construction of the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway began in 1905 and was financed by Henry Flagler, a wealthy Standard Oil partner. The expansion would run roughly 160 miles from Miami to Key West, with 128 of those miles being over open ocean,” the experts at the Pigeon Key and Marine Science Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the Flagler-era history of The Keys and educating youth through marine science curricula and research, report.
The men building the railroad had to leave their homes and families behind while they worked on the project. “The workers were housed at multiple camps up and down the Keys, with Pigeon Key being the main hub for the men building the Railway. At the height of construction, 1908-1912, 400 workers lived on Pigeon Key, making $1.50 a day,”
By the time the project was finally nearing completion, Flagler was an old man in poor health. “There was a push to finish the Railway before he died,” the experts at Pigeon Key tell us. “The men were split into two groups, each working 12 hours on and 12 hours off. This meant that the railway was being worked on 24 hours a day. This marathon work effort is actually how the town of Marathon got its name. The project was completed on January 22, 1912, and Flagler, blinded from cataracts, rode the inaugural train down to Key West.”
Today, access to Pigeon Key, which was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1990, is by ferry or the recently reopened Old Seven Mile Bridge. In addition to daily tours and a museum, the island offers a great spot for snorkeling, fishing, bird watching, and other activities.
An Invitation to Enjoy Today
Whether you are planning a romantic weekend in The Keys complete with picturesque island sunsets or a family getaway in Florida packed with activities, the Old Seven-Mile Bridge will make an excellent addition to your itinerary.
And it is conveniently located right in our backyard in Marathon!
If you would like more information about activities in and around Banana Bay Resort & Marina, which is set on 10 tranquil acres on the Gulf Coast in The Florida Keys, feel free to call us at 305-743-3500.
