Restaurateur speaks to volunteers about old Harbor House
Former restaurant owner Ann Walter recently reminisced about the Harbor House Restaurant for a group of Sanibel Historical Museum and Village volunteers at the Volunteer Update.
The Harbor House started out as Jack’s Place, owned by Jack Cole. Known as a character, he had a shooting range in the back. Jack’s Place was built in 1948, making it the first restaurant on the island. It has continued as a restaurant since that time.
The Walters – Bill and Anne – purchased it in 1981, almost on a whim. Neither Bill nor Anne had any restaurant experience at all. But they made it work.
The Harbor House received national praise from the New York Times, National Observer, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald and more. The Walters always gave everything their personal attention; everything was always fresh and made from scratch.
Walter and her husband worked on the restaurant floor almost every night of the week.
“People loved the fact that the owners were in the dining room,” she said. “They were disappointed if we weren’t there.”
The restaurant become famous for its key lime pies – made from fruit trees behind the restaurant – which were topped with meringue, making them unique.
“We went through 10 big pies a day, more in season,” she said.
The Walters sold the Harbor House in 1999 and retired. The restaurant became Dolce Vita and is now Il Cielo. Bill Walter passed away in 2014, and Walter keeps busy in a number of island organizations.
“I think Historical Village volunteers loved hearing stories about the early restaurants on the island,” Emilie Alfino, executive director of the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, said. “And, of course, Anne is absolutely charming. Everyone learned a lot.”
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. In May, it will switch to its summer hours, which are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Admission is $10 for ages 18 and older; youth and members are free.
Free docent-guided tours are at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., based upon docent availability.
For information, call 239-472-4648 or visit online at www.sanibelmuseum.org.
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is at 950 Dunlop Road.