Pass-a-Grille

Pass-a-Grille is a Southern beach town at the south end of St. Pete Beach in Pinellas County, Florida. The community includes the Pass-a-Grille Historic District, Gulf Beaches Historical Museum, and Pass-A-Grille Beach.[1] The small beach town includes restaurants, retailers, and waterfront areas on the Gulf of Mexico as well as the intercoastal waterway. It is located on a barrier island.[2]

Pass-a-Grille sign

History

The area around Pass-a-Grille has been inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years and was first spotted by Spanish explorers in 1528 when Pánfilo de Narváez anchored off Pass-a-Grille pass.[3] Local legend states that it was named from the French phrase Passe Aux Grilleurs (the passageway of the grillers) in honor of the fisherman who camped and first settled there.[4] John Gomez was one on the first entrepreneurs to utilize Pass-A-Grille Beach as a vacation area, inviting travelers from St. Petersburg and Tampa to stay at his resort-like structure as early as 1857. Some of the first major businessmen in the area were Roy S. Hanna and Selwyn Morey, who began developing plots of land for homes and lodgings at Pass-A-Grille Beach.[4] By 1901, Frenchman and Travel Agent, George Henri Lizotte, opened the first Pass-A-Grille hotel, named Bonhomie.[4] The first schoolhouse in Pass-a-Grille was constructed in 1914 at the cost of $1,000 and opened its doors to students in the winter of 1915.[3] Pass-a-Grille was eventually incorporated into the city of St. Pete Beach in 1957, and in 1989 Pass-a-Grille was recognized as a National Register Historic District.

Recreation
Pass-a-Grille Park

The beach, boutiques, an ice cream shop, outdoor art market, restaurants, tennis courts, and fishing piers are all located within walking distance. Pass-a-Grille Park, a municipal park, is also located within the community.


Pass-A-Grille Beach panorama

References
  1. "Pass-A-Grille Beach". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "Pass-A-Grille Beach". visitpassagrille.com. Retrieved April 2014. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. "Pass-A-Grille History". mypass-a-grille.com. Retrieved January 2015. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. "Pass-A-Grille Beach History". Pass-A-Grille.org. Retrieved January 2015. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

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