Show 41 1 NEW PALEFACE GROUNDS in the exotic tropical setting of 0 key biscayne once an indian hunting and fishing ground pleasure bent palefaces now find easy hunting in their quest for rest relaxation and recreation STEEPED IN HISTORY old indian stomping ground becomes new vacation gem features MIAMI FLA where centuries ago tequesta sequesta Te questa indians fished and hunted palefaces today seek sun tans midst the luxury of loafing under coconut palm trees on a tropic isle of idyllic contentment this newest gulf amland vacation gem is provided in dade new 11 million dollar crandon park on key biscayne a scant 10 minute drive from downtown miami via the equally new six million dollar causeway and mile span from fhe he miami mainland to the ocean via virginia key and key biscayne will be formally opened november r 9 10 and 11 with the tequesta sequesta Te questa festival the celebration is named for the tequesta sequesta Te questa indians who were the first known residents of the area now called miami the out of this world setting of this naturally exotic public play ground studded with more than 10 coconut palm trees part of a once crice extensive copra plantation stretches volumes into the past its two mile expanse of reef protected ocean bathing beach tor for centuries hea heard r d only the lush swish of palm 1 fronds r 0 rids and surf or the scream of sea birds ponce de leon first tourist to discover the extra something south florida offers in climate and sunshine Is believed to have stopped off at key biscayne in 1513 after a brief halt at the mouth of st john s river at pres ent jacksonville history shows that after exploring that area he sailed southward along the florida east coast tarrying at st augustine then continuing to an island he named santa marta south florida authorities after an extensive study of coast surveys along the dade county coast are in cl ned tied to believe the santa marta discovered by ponce de leon was named cayo biscaino or key bis cayne now site of the new park just years ago key biscayne figured prominently when the span ish explorer escalante de fonten ada recorded the presence there of the tequesta sequesta Te questa indian tribe Font enada was the lone surviving crew member of a galleon wrecked off key biscayne captured by the stas part of the colusa calusa feder atlon he was held in slavery tor for many years but was allowed to roam at will within the territory ruled over by the stas long a disciple of ponce de leon he transverses trans versed the length and w ath of key biscayne time and again in an attempt to emulate his arede cessor s quest tor for health and ever last ng rig youth there s no known record corn com with skull and cross bones of buried treasure on romantic key biscayne although pieces of eight or pirate doubloons may be hidden beneath the golden sands where cover girls and their bronzed escorts today absorb their vitamins from the sky regardless of the mystery bor or lack of buried treasure there s pleasure trove for all lucky toilers on the two million square feet of super bathing beach at crandon park black caesar notorious marauder of t e florida keys operated in this V alty this doughty highwayman of the waves frequently hid his plunder ship behind wooded isles such as key biscayne to stalk un wary merchantmen en route to ha vana spain s queen city of the an tilles perhaps some of black caesar caesars s ill gained loot now moul ders near the southern end of the island another linking of key biscayne to the florida that was is the old cape florida lighthouse A land mark in the keys this lofty hurri cane defler defier was built in 1826 un friendly marauding indians set fire to the structure in the same cen tury fury killed one negro slave wound ed the white lighthouse keeper the tower for many years erroneously known as old spanish light was abandoned in 1876 but it still stands a monument to the past a century beacon to modern counter parts of ponce de leon yes key biscayne site of cran don park is truly an island packed with pleasure trove a recreation a al I 1 treasure chest laden with rich prizes of nature tor for dade county residents and their visitors |