Sanibel Island’s Historic Woodring Point

Sanibel Island’s historic Woodring Point has a fascinating legacy that stretches all the way back to 1888, check out the story in the video below!

Sanibel’s Historic Woodring Point

Sanibel’s historic Woodring Point has quite the story to tell. In 1888 Sam B. Woodring and his wife Anna purchased 160 acres of land at the end of Dixie Beach Boulevard. Still a dirt road, this is Woodring Road. Sam and Anna had a daughter, Flora. Sam Woodring passed away in 1899 and Anna, a notable cook, opened the home up to travelers from the North. This created the first Sanibel boarding house. In 1904 a man called John Morris moved to Sanibel to farm with his wife Etta. Sadly Etta passed 2 years later but, John was to meet Flora and they married in 1911 moving off the island to Fort Myers. They had a son Robert and, when accompanying his mother to Sanibel to hike at Lighthouse Point, he would play with the Shannahan children whose father Henry Shannahan was Sanibel’s historic lighthouse keeper. Sam and Anna’s son, Sam Woodring Jr. married Esperanza Woodring who was born in Cayo Costa. Together they created Sanibel’s first fishing guide. They both spent their lives on Woodring Point where their descendants continue to live. In 2013 the J.N “Ding” Darling Wildlife Preserve acquired Woodring Point, the Woodring family has a lifetime lease to continue to reside there.

Directions

When you come off the causeway turn left on Periwinkle Way at the four-way stop. Follow Periwinkle down to Dixie Beach Boulevard and take a right turn. Follow Dixie all the way down, turn off on Woodring Road.

Woodring Point
Woodring Road, Sanibel, FL 33957

Learn More About Sanibel History
Learn More About The Historic Sanibel Lighthouse
Learn More About Lighthouse Beach Park
Learn More About Fishing On Sanibel