"Today's the Day
!" was the daily mantra of the legendary treasure hunter, Mel Fisher, and on July 20, 1985 off the shore of Key West his dream came true. After a 16-year search, the $450 million treasure trove from the sunken Spanish galleon the Atocha was found. Key West will honor Mel Fisher and the 26th anniversary of the discovery of the Atocha treasure with a festival from July 14 - 17.
The Mel Fisher Days festival is led by Mel's son, Kim Fisher, and grandson, Sean Fisher. The festival begins at the Schooner Wharf Bar on Thursday, July 14 at 6:00 p.m. with the Miss Atocha Bikini Contest. Contestants will collect donations for charity from the crowd, and the top collector will win $200 in cash and a $2000 emerald.
Festivities continue on Friday with a block party on Duval Street from 3:00 - 9:00 p.m. Free live music will feature Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band. Other activities include carnival games, face painting, magic show, silent auction, and a raffle. The Midnight Gamble Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament will be played aboard the Sunset Water Sports Party Catamaran on Saturday from 8:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
This year's Mel Fisher Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Professor David Bederman of Emory Law School. He has been a key activist in the long legal battle for salvors' rights to explore and recover treasures from the sea. The award ceremony will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday in the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum's courtyard.
The crew that searched for the Atocha treasure will hold a reunion at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday at The Bull located in Key West's historic downtown. Here you can meet Mel's crew and listen to their stories from the long search and triumphant discovery.
Mel Fisher died in 1998, but his legendary treasure hunting will long be remembered, and the results of the Atocha find will be enjoyed for years to come. Mel was born in Indiana and worked as a chicken farmer before moving to California and opening his first dive shop. He married Dolores (Deo) Horton who became his business partner. She was one of the first women to learn how to dive. Deo died in January 2009 and was awarded the Mel Fisher Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in that same year.
The treasure that lured Mel Fisher to Key West is one of many. If you are looking for some real "treasures" in real estate, I have several options for you! Give me a call today and we'll get started. Jimmy Lane: 305-766-0585.