Lower Sugarloaf Key, Florida: Perky's Bat Tower (Gone)
Tall pine wood structure was a failed experiment in enviro-bug-control. Mosquito problem, bats imported to solve, bats flew away. Richter Clyde Perky had it built in 1929, using plans from Charles Campbell. In 2017 Hurricane Irma toppled the tower.
- Directions:
- Take US-1 South into the Florida Keys. At mile marker 17 take a right hand turn onto Bat Tower Road. (not marked with a sign, just take the first right-hand turn after milepost 17. Or watch for a large sign advertising Sugarloaf Airport. The unnamed road is 4 ft behind it). Veer to the right at the road fork.
- Hours:
- Sept. 2017: Toppled by Hurricane Irma.
- Status:
- Gone
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Visitor Tips and News About Perky's Bat Tower
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The Bat Tower appears to be in slightly better shape than in previous years. As of August 2013 the road had been partially paved, but it's still tough to find (at MM 17, an immediate right after the Summerland Lodge sign and/or airport sign). Worth a quick detour to visit a serious early industrial attempt at biological pest control.
[Campbell, 09/01/2013]
Right off the main road in the keys, so worth the slight detour.
[Janki, 06/02/2012]Unfortunately the tower is now a place for visitors to write their names. It's becoming an eye sore with beer cans nailed to it and the wood is coming loose. Still it's history and was worth the short stop.
[Miss Molly, 08/21/2008]
The Bat Tower was built to house bats. A guy by the name of "Perky" decided he wanted to open a resort, but the mosquitoes were so bad he realized that nobody would want to stay there. Perky heard that bats eat lots of mosquitoes so he built this tower to attract bats. Perky imported bats which promptly flew away, never to return.
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Built in 1929 by Richter Clyde Perky, who believed that bats would live in it and then eat the mosquitoes that plagued his fishing resort. The tower has withstood many hurricanes (as have the mosquitoes) but it has been rejected by the bats.