Owl Island has been inhabited around 1 A.D. if not even earlier then this by the Timucuan Indians which were very abundant in the state of Florida. Of course Owl Island is its old name the new name I will not disclose cause I do not want to see it become a disrespected location. The owl is a symbol of death but archaeologist think that rather it was used to scare away people daring to trespass on the island which was not only the site of a large shell midden but an ancient native American village. Nonetheless its a powerful symbol and anyone who almost came near the island was scared off by the owl totems surrounding this place at one time.

This mound is about 30 feet high and 200 feet in length it is one of the larger ones in Florida. The island is about 3 miles in length and over 1600 acres its very large nestled along The St. Johns River and Snake Creek which winds back and forth like a serpent. Their was a mound village near the largest shell midden however the island has many more present or hidden along its shores. 

The island was inhabited all the way till the late 1700s by the native American people. I can see why they chose to reside on the island it had 28 species of plants, 48 species of animals, and was protected from the elements. The island has a varied elevation parts of it actually sit below the water table therefore their are bogs and marshes its pretty eerie you cannot just dock anywhere you want on the island.

Their are pine flat woods, palm hammocks, oak hammocks, cypress swamps and a high abundance of snails on the island. When the native Americans lived here their main food source was the snails. Two clans resided on the island the Owl Clan and the Otter Clan of course the Owl Tribe was more powerful according to history. 

Many artifacts had been uncovered on the island one of them was an Owl Totem discovered in 1955 while digging out a canal was done. In 1978 a pelican and otter totem was discovered while an underwater utility cable was being repaired. These totems are the only North American totems found outside the Pacific Northwest.  The river mud protected them from the rot and today one of them is at the Fort Caroline Museum. The replicas to the totem poles are on Owl Island they are not real so if you seen us having fun with them on our Paracomedy Page it is because we already did our research and new this:)

The Owl Totem was carved out of a log then two smaller pieces of wood attached together. The Otter Totem Pole has the otter holding a fish with the pelican. 

Also found has been a broken dugout canoe paddle, bone pins, awls, and the Organic Pear. We wanted to sort of follow a native American tradition so we canoed a large portion around the island to understand what the native American people had to endure while living on this island. I guess that is what makes our organization different is we work with more ancient native American sites then any other group and if you do not know what your doing its dangerous.

The island is a death trap surrounded by large alligators sometimes dozens of them in one area alone if a small canoe were to be tipped the swim back would be hundreds of feet through the gator infested murky waters thus leading to a very painful death. So I would not recommend anybody every trying to pull this off like we did some investigations are strictly about survival or rather should we say life or death!

This island is a place of power its alive believe me when I say this. Sure many visit it, camp out, walk its few miles of trails but very few have a grasp on its rich history.  Speaking of rich history the island was the site of a pioneer homestead, a boat yard, a center for commercial fishing and even a cattle ranch. 

When Williams Beresford the Earl Of Tyrone was awarded 20,000 acres part of this island became part of it during the British Years. Eventually Moss purchased 1200 acres of the property which bordered the island. If you remember we investigated the Beresford Plantation & Trail its a very historical set of forest.  Further below you will read a journal entry which talk about this island a little bit when Bartram first discovered it. Nobody for sure knows his exact camp site but his schooner was destroyed by a storm near the island and he sought shelter here. 

Journal Entry

"Set out from Bartram’s Bluff, a lovely fine morning and warm, stopped at Mount-joy for a little, and after several miles rowing came to a rich island, and took the left hand branch, down which we rowed several very crooked courses by some oak and pine-bluffs 5 or 6 foot high, excellent swamps, some cypress-trees, and much maple and ash being on both sides of the river, which is two fathom deep, and, where we entered it, not above 20 yards wide, but at the lower end twice as much; it opened into the main river, a little below a high bluff of sour oranges, and on the opposite side grow great quantities of what is called bitter sweets, which are next in goodness to the china; we ate abundance of them, and found them very wholesome; they last much longer than the sweet, which continue only to March.

"The common current of the river here is not above two miles an hour, the uncommon rains last summer and part of the fall had raised it 2 foot or more higher than at present, and then the current no doubt ran swifter, and our pilot said he had known it to be 3 foot lower than now; but suppose it only two, then there must be very little current. This night was very warm, and the muskitoes troublesome, so that we smoaked our tent twice."

I think honestly our fans and members will appreciate this investigation. You know over the years we have done some things that defy our abilities but this is an adventure you just never forget. I mean their is no minimal risk its survive or be eaten by what lurks beneath. I mean its basically conquering your fears its an island its an ancient native American site and its full of history. Back years ago their was a lagoon nearby with hundreds of hungry alligators which the native Americans and explorers fought some were killed or eaten alive. Its more then just another island in the Saint Johns.

This is not an investigation your going to see alot of ghost photos or paranormal evidence. That is not even what the investigation was about. It was about confidence, trust, knowledge etc but this is an investigation that very few could ever accomplish having no moon on the river canoeing with three men in a two man canoe then enduring a storm and escaping it only to live to share this journey!!

If you have not seen the national news you will also find it interesting to know that Owl Island and the community across from the island has been destroyed by one of the worst tornadoes to ever hit the state of Florida on 2/02/07. The winds were up to 175mph and from what I heard nothing hardly is remaining. Of course one thing is for sure the shell midden and this historical island is not going anywhere for a long time but the houses built across from the island did. Rumor has it that night 9 separate tornadoes touched down in various places in the area!

During our long hiking, canoeing, and journey we were hiking back home after miles of traveling when a local resident across from the island called the Sheriffs department on us cause they did not like how we looked or were dressed.  A whole squadron of sheriffs showed up and I felt that they were not very understanding they took our photos, violated our privacy, took information, asked alot of questions and almost made a discriminatory comment which we fought against so they did not search us.  They gave us a ride in town then watched us calling in another police force for that town on in. What is the old saying be careful what you invite into your life that is like telling a vampire you may enter my home then that vampire sucks you dry. Can we say Gentlemen Care To Dance With The Devil? I enjoyed sitting in the sheriffs car my children shame on you my eyes should have given it away that you just committed a sin against me and my men.  I enjoyed when the spotlight shined in my eyes and they examined me I could feel the spirits flying around me fast and furious it was like blood flowing through my veins when will the ignorance of man learn sighs these people just cursed themselves little did they know this and the legend of Owl Island was born!

Technically I did not realize that it was illegal to go backpacking or walk down a public road which has alot of cyclist and recreationalist in the area due to the resort but we were picked out and it was done on purpose. But see here in America rights are being stripped from us and I ask each of you who browse our site to take things a step up and fight for those rights. Be righteous I do not care how you do it but some lines must be crossed in the name of liberty. I come from a time where people toked up, hitch hiked across the country, camped out with a fire pit and beers, and it was legal to be yourself. Now if you do not fit the mold of society you are a criminal!  Their is only two solutions to this purification of mankind and a higher power from another world to save humanity! Purification sounds more likely at this point as the world is like a gentle being but it is wounded and all its creatures crawl in those wounds causing it to weaken! Florida is just that cursed Indian land!

Just merely a few days later the locals who called the Sheriffs on us suffered the wraith of the great storm losing their homes and the Sheriffs department a few miles away was destroyed by the tornadoes. A sheriffs car was thrown 300 feet and another one 25 feet with a Sheriff in it. My conclusion.... as a paranormal investigator is that this angered the ancient Spirits that night something was awoken and the spirits sought vengeance for the sins committed against us. I felt the spirits getting very angry towards the men responsible for doing this to us after such a hard life risking journey. I stood their on a stormy road and could feel something in the air it was apparent a higher force was involved.  I mean sit down and think about it would you want to commit treason against someone who just laid their body on an ancient mound? Those who came in contact with us became tainted with an energy they could not control does it make us evil no it makes us righteous! Sometimes some stones are left better unturned!

That night we offered our life to the spirits of the native American people that night we survived risking everything as we knew it. In return the white man had tried to hurt us much like they killed off the ancient tribe on this island and in return those that committed treason were punished for their sins. Power runs beyond mortality their is more to life then just the physical being their is also power of the spirit! Something very few have mastered!  The Owl Clan watched over us on our journey in spirit and in return we made our peace on one of the most ancient mounds in the state! 

What mysteries still surround Owl Island?.....perhaps this is a place we were destined to visit but one thing is for sure this will not be our first adventure nor will it be our last. Perhaps Owl island is cursed? We will one day conquer volcanoes, castles, canyons, deserts, cliffs, waterfalls, and if necessary the world.  Who knows maybe the universe!!! No Limits to The Unknown! Do not question this just embrace it Owl Island is a mystical place and will always be remembered by us!

© By

Lord Rick

Daytime Photos Of The River Island Is Across The Water

The Canoe Ride In Notice How Small Our Ride Is

The Timucuan Trail & Indian Mound

The Harshness Of Owl Island

The Bog Surrounding The Island

The Totems Of Owl Island

Other Finds On Owl Island