Coral Castle

My friend, Melanie, told me about this place.  I have been wanting to go, but it is a two and a half hour drive.  Since the kids had a week off school for Thanksgiving, I decided we would go.  We combined it with the previous post, an air boat ride, and IKEA.  It was a full day.  

The pictures don't really do justice to the wonder of this place.  I have a seven page pamphlet of  the details.  I'll summarize!  This man named Edward Leedskalnin built it by himself.  He only used tools he had made from old car parts.  It took him 20 years to build from 1920-1940.  He originally started in one spot, them moved it 10 miles to a larger piece of land.  By himself.  He worked at night and alone so no one knows how he did it.  I guess that part of Florida is made of coral covered with very little topsoil. This man was single, but had a love that he dedicated this too.  He would have visitors and groups come to tour his creations-only when he wanted them to.

This is a view of the whole courtyard with his creations.

This shows some of the places that he excavated the coral from.

This is where he cooked his food.

This is a heart shaped table.

The kids sitting by one of the walls.

This is where he slept.  

He was a tiny man, only 5 feet tall and 100 pounds.

Erin hanging out by one of the tables and chairs.

This table is carved in the shape of Florida.  It even has a bowl of water for Lake Okeechobee.  He said it could be used as a finger bowl, bird bath, or punch bowl.

Each chair rocks and is about 1000 pounds each!

Kara resting in a chair.  They are actually not too bad to sit in!

This is the bedroom.  Probably not too comfortable to really sleep on!

This is the repentance room.  Kids could go in and put their head in a corner and he could go on the other side and talk to them until they were ready to repent.

The girls are sitting in the bathtub.  He would fill it in the morning from the well and use it throughout the day.  By mid-afternoon, the water would be warmed from the sun and he could take his bath.

This gate is 80 inches wide, 92 inches tall and 21 inches thick.  It weighs 18,000 pounds!!!  It pivots on a rod exactly in the middle and can be pushed with one finger.  They said that it fits within a quarter inch.  Amazing that he could do this...all by himself!

This is the well.  He also would keep his food down there to keep it cool.

This is the throne room.  It has a few chairs to sit on!

This is his first rocking chair.  

He designed this as the children's playground: small chairs and tables.

Ashleigh sitting on the throne.

Kara on the throne.

Erin trying out the throne.

This chair rocks.  He called it the "Mad Rocker".  It was designed so that when they were mad, they could rock and not look at each other.  

The Planets:  Mars (can't see in this picture), Saturn, and the moon crescent.

This is part of a telescope that he built.  It is kind of amazing what he learned.

This wall is the heaviest piece in the castle.  The middle block weighs 60,000 pounds!  He was so proud of cutting and moving this he placed a "crown" on the top!

This is a shot of the whole courtyard.  It was amazing to know that he worked alone and with only hand tools.  When people asked him how he moved the rocks, he said he just understood the laws of weight and leverage.

After the Coral Castle, we drove back up to IKEA.  The girls had a blast playing in the play place there.  They only let them play for 35 minutes.  I was able to shop fast for some Christmas and Birthday gifts.  It was Black Friday after-all, and I needed some sort of deal seeking thrill!  I thought we would just eat in their little restaurant.  It turned out to be a good idea.  Kids ate free on that day!  I only had to pay for Wes' and my meal!  We headed back to Naples at 6:30 or so.  It was about a 2 hour drive.  

This is how Erin looked when we got home.  I think I wore her out.  The others fell asleep too.  It was a nice quiet drive home.  What a fun adventure.