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In driving around the Isles of Capri, few notice that there are four islands connected by the in-and-out Capri Boulevard.

ROGER LALONDE / Eagle staff

An aerial photo of the Isles of Capri taken on a hazy day.

Story: Secrets revealed from above (06-22-07)

Leland L. “Doc” Loach envisioned a hideaway fishing resort when he purchased 12 mangrove islands, totaling 600 acres in 1955, developing four.

After more than two years of dredging and reshaping the untamed lands, Loach placed on sale 700 residential and commercial lots. At the time the only way to reach the Isles was by boat. The first road was called the Old Marco Road, with rail service coming about 1912, from Naples to the Isles, with ferry service to Marco Island.

Without the aid of a sales program, it wasn’t until the 1970s, following the construction of the toll bridge to Marco Island, that Loach’s expectations were fulfilled.

Since that time the peaceful community’s surrounding waters remain hosts for prize game fish found in the panorama of the Ten Thousand Islands.

Most of the residential area is built alongside canals leading to Johnson Bay, Tarpon Bay and the Marco River, all with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Ten Thousand Islands.

Today there about 2,000 permanent and part-time residents.

To learn more there are a number of Web site links under Isles of Capri.