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Authorities near Daytona Beach, Florida, took the first steps toward reclaiming an island from methed out squatters who “booby trapped” their own makeshift private community of tree-houses and shacks. Volusia County Sheriff’s Deputies are concerned that local youth would be drawn to the place like a magnet. Especially for the skate park and trampoline.
Booby trapped meth island
Locals have been calling it a “booby trapped meth island,” which pretty much sums it up. Squatters have formed an elaborate camp over the years with “rentals” and a four-story tree house.
The sheriff sent some of his resources in last week, it was reported June 24, planning to “dismantle” the “bizarre” community. It didn’t go quite as planned.
When deputies from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office arrived on the island, they were amazed as they explored the makeshift village and its “littered possessions, signs and decorations.”
In local news.
"Which is it? "meth island" or "Gilligan's Island?" The outpost is one of many located on islands near the Dunlawton Bridge in Port Orange." pic.twitter.com/gVAq8RoSK4— KOJAMF🤘🧡🤘 (@alfreds74427060) June 20, 2023
They inventoried an “array of wooden structures, camping chairs, trampolines and even what appeared to be a mini skate park.” All scattered across a small and abandoned islet practically underneath the Dunlawton Bridge.
The media notes that the raid was prompted by concerns the controversial encampment “could be luring children.” Officers are happy to pitch in and help make progress “one step toward bringing it back to nature.”
Social media is full of reports about “Meth Island” where shacks have been slapped together into homes from materials either scavenged or “stolen from docks” in the coastal town by local addicts.
Welcome center
It may have been squalid and improvised but the deputies had to admit that the addicts have a sense of humor. The camp is colorfully adorned with “signs for the drug-addled community, including those pointing to a ‘welcome center‘ and a rental area.” Ten bucks a night.
Some of the structures, one deputy observed were “significantly better made.” One of the most impressive on the island is the “towering four-story tree house.” The officer notes it’s easy to tell that “the number of structures has exponentially grown over the last couple of years.”
The island was virtually a resort paradise for the meth users who call it home. Along with the structures were a trampoline and a fairly well developed skate park.
Florida police dismantle squatters' booby-trapped 'meth island' https://t.co/mnMlp0F7aZ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 24, 2023
There were also a whole bunch of booby traps and improvised mayhem, just waiting to take some curious and bored teenager by surprise. Deputies weren’t quite ready to deal with those yet, so they posted some warning signs.
Nobody was home when the police came to raid the place. Along with the sheriff’s office, they had officers from the Port Orange Police Department, South Daytona Police Department, and MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife Department. They didn’t want to make trouble for the inhabitants so posted “trespass notices throughout the area, which warned occupants were are ‘ordered to vacate the island within 48 hours.‘”
Apparently, once they got a good look at the place they realized they need more equipment and some specialists. “There was a huge safety concern for us about whoever would be on that island with those types of structures out there,” Port Orange Police Detective Mike Wallace explained.
