‘Hideaway’ island used by PIRATES transformed into £4.3m luxury resort

A private island used as a hideaway by the richest pirate in history is now a £4.3m ($5m) luxury resort.

Captain Samuel Bellamy, later known as “Black Sam” Bellamy, used Black’s Island in Saint Joseph Bay, off the coast of the Florida Panhandle, to stash his treasures and evade the authorities.

Now it’s a white-sand, seven-acre resort, accessible only by boat, seaplane, or helicopter, What’s The Jam reports.

Born in Devon, England, in the early 18th Century, Bellamy sailed with the Royal Navy before joining a crew of treasure hunters who turned to piracy when their mission to find a Spanish shipwreck failed.

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He was eventually elected captain and became known as a “Robin Hood of the Sea” for his generous and fair treatment of both his crew and the people he raided.

He is best known as the wealthiest pirate in recorded history and a key figure in the Golden Age of Piracy.

Donning a distinctive black coat and long ponytail, Bellamy captured fifty-three ships, including the English slave ship Whydah Gally, which he used as his flagship.

His reign ended when a storm capsized his fleet and he drowned at age 28, along with most of his crew.

In 1983, the wreckage of the Whydah Gally was discovered containing 200,000 artifacts, including a cannon loaded with gold and precious stones.

Black’s Island, once a secret hideaway for such treasures, is now a four-star resort with twenty-six waterfront bungalows.

Each property includes two bedrooms, a loft bedroom area, two full bathrooms, a spacious kitchen with an island and top-notch appliances, a living room, a dining area, a laundry room, and a balcony.

The recently renovated bungalows sport a classic look with oak wood walls and grey stone floors.

Every property offers 360-degree views of the gorgeous island from sunrise to sunset.

In addition to the bungalows, the resort includes a four-story luxury clubhouse, a cabana with a bar, beach volleyball courts, and a 40 by 16ft swimming pool.

The island is in the middle of a marine estuary, offering sparkling clear water and numerous opportunities for bird-watching and duck hunting, plus kayaking, paddle boarding, jet skiing, and relaxing on the beach.

The listing, which features on Top Ten Real Estate Deals, is held by Jon Kohler of The Agency.

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