Captiva Island’s Historic Binder Drive

Learn the story of Captiva’s first known settler Mr. William Herbert Binder and the adventure that brought him to Captiva Island.

Captiva Island’s Historic Binder Drive

Captiva Island’s historic Binder Drive is named after the first Captiva settler Mr. William Herbert Binder. The story goes that, as a youngster, Binder was on a boat to New Orleans from his native Austria and the boat sank around Boca Raton. Binder was able to make it to the shores of Captiva. There he lived off the land for a while. Long enough that he was able to make himself a small raft that took him safely to Pine Island. From there he returned home. He always vowed to return to Captiva. In 1888 at age 38 he came back and homesteaded approximately 169 acres of land. Over time, Binder sold off the land in small parcels holding on to just one acre by the water where his home stood. He was well known on the island which he watched turn into a thriving community. He was somewhat of a recluse with one son and a stepdaughter. His step-daughter had apparently visited him several years before his passing but, he was reportedly estranged from his son. He was also a bit of an eccentric. His most notable eccentricity was that he had an aversion to drinking water so drank coffee instead. He apparently kept a pot of coffee next to his bed for when he got thirsty in the night and would bring a thermos with him when he was out and about. He died from pneumonia at age 82.

Directions

Head down Captiva Drive until you come to Andy Rosse Lane, to your right will be The Bubble Room, turn right on Andy Rosse Lane and you will find yourself on Binder Drive.

Binder drive
Captiva, Fl 33924

Learn More About Sanibel & Captiva History
Learn More About The Historic Sanibel Cemetery

The Historic Captiva Cemetery

Willian H. Binder was buried in the historic Captiva cemetery, a small section of land by Captiva’s Chapel by the sea. Close by is a very significant grave belonging to a young girl called Ann Brainerd. Ann, as a 4-year-old in 1895, had moved from Canada to Florida. When she was 10 Ann expressed to Mr. Binder her love of this one part of Captiva and how it was the prettiest piece of land she had ever seen. Binder was deeply charmed by the sweet girl and exchanged the small plot of land for a gold coin her grandparents had gifter her. Tragically, not long after Ann passed away from tetanus due to stepping on a rusty nail. Her family laid her to rest on her land which is now Captiva’s historic cemetery.