STILT STANDING

Miami’s iconic offshore Stiltsville survives Irma and should be available again for daytime rentals

MIAMI — Stiltsville, a stubborn relic of Miami’s lessglitzy past as a sun-soaked outpost, has survived Hurricane Irma’s brutal winds and waves, much to the surprise of the landmark’s caretakers and fans.

Perched at the edge of sea grass flats where the turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay meet the dark and choppy Atlantic Ocean, the cluster of wooden shacks has no protection from killer storms. But when Irma’s clouds cleared in early September, Stiltsville emerged relatively intact, to the relief of the volunteers dedicated to maintaining this quirky slice of paradise.

First built by fishermen in an era when the city was pronounced with a Southern accent as “My-am-uh,” Stiltsville attracted lawyers, judges, architects, celebrities, politicians and other professionals looking for an exclusive getaway, according to Paul George, History-Miami Museum’s resident historian.

These days, anyone can apply for daytime permits to boat out to Biscayne National Park and enjoy the remaining shacks, which stand on concrete pilings over open water, more than 5 miles from downtown Miami. But first, there are repairs to be made.

More than two months after Irma’s landfall, it’s evident that the hurricane damaged every dock, washing away stairs and blowing away some roof shingles. But all seven structures

should be available again for daytime rentals early next year, said Kevin Mase, chairman of the Stiltsville Trust (stiltsvilletrust.org), which partners with the National Park Service to maintain Stiltsville.

Each structure is essentially a wooden cabin, raised about 10 feet above the water when seas are calm. Most are painted in tropical orange, pink, yellow and blue, and seem to brighten as the sun sets behind Miami’s skyline.

“Eventually a storm is going to take Stiltsville away,” said Louis Chiavacci, caretaker of structure known as Hicks House. “Mother Nature is pretty brutal when she wants to be. A few hours of directional change in Irma heading this way sooner would have made a big difference for our entire community, including the exposed houses of Stiltsville.”

ALAN DIAZ/AP Top: One of Stiltsville’s getaway shacks, perched over Biscayne Bay off the coast of Miami. Above: Photo taken Oct. 21 shows one of the shacks after Hurricane Irma.

ALAN DIAZ/AP Hurricane Irma left the Biscayne Bay shacks of Stiltsville standing, but in need of repair.