I remember surfing Hurricane Iris in 2001, and noticing a pipe sticking up out of the ocean just offshore from Anastasia State Park. Someone else noticed it, and asked the Surf Station about it, and I believe Tory answered the question by noting that it was a long forgotten tourist attraction called the “Eternal Flame” or “Flaming Waters”. The pipe was attached to a tank of oil or kerosene that would slowly drip to the surface where a flame was burning on the top of the water.
I was wondering if you could verify this and provide any other information.
Thanks,
Dave
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Dave,
Thank you for the inquiry about the history of ‘The Well’ – the pipe submerged offshore and under water just south of the entrance into Anastasia State Park and north of The Pier. Yes the pipe was and may still be there, but I do not recall it the way you describe.
I personally came across the pipe of the well while surfing as a boy- about 50 years ago – when it popped up next to me while surfing. The surf was large and the tide was low and in the trough of a wave just in front of me the suck up caused the huge pipe to emerge from the depths of the ocean. It scared the bejesus out of me! No there was no flame and I have never heard of the description of a flame on the pipe such as you described. No flame, possibly some barnacles, when I saw it. Of note is it made a loud sucking sound as the water was pullin away from the fixed sturdy large pipe.
Yes it would be interesting to do a fact finding mission to find the pipe to the well. It is likely still there, although so many hurricanes have come and gone, it may have been wedged loose and drifted away.
The story I heard related to this , and do not know if it is true… is The Well was there as part of the old Alligator Farm that was at the beach, from when the beach extended way further eastward than it does now, around 100 years ago. This would be amazing to me… as this would mean the ocean has moved in so much that the whole area is now underwater.
-Tory
