We would camp overnight with elementary school friends and their parents (the Gambers),
and we spent our teen years building bonfi res, sitting around talking, passing a bottle of
Boone’s Farm wine (there may have been other things at times passed as well). It was an easy,
romantic place; a hassle-free place to be for teenagers in the 1960s and early 70s. Large
boulders blocked vehicles from the area, and there were only four parking spaces.”
Janice said as they got older Stump Pass and Ski Alley were places to take day walks,
pondering philosophy and solving the world’s problems. In her college years she loved to
bring friends home to enjoy the
beauty of Stump Pass.
“Back in those days we had the
place almost to ourselves,” Janice
said. “I remember throwing my
daughter’s teen birthday parties
there with skiing, hydroslides,
and tubes. There may have been
a boat accidentally sunk in Ski
Alley in 1969, by myself and Karen
Irving, while leaving Stump Pass.
Boy, was Mr. Irving mad at us! He
dunked the engine in a tank of
fresh water and it was fi ne. He’d
just had it serviced when we sunk
it. It was a mighty quiet ride back
to the Irvings, but he was a pretty
forgiving guy.”
For more information
about visiting the park go to
fl oridastateparks.org/parks-andtrails/
stump-pass-beach-statepark.
July/August • 2020 • GASPARILLA MAGAZINE 53