The most cursed toy in the Florida Keys...

Hey Keys lovers! If you've ever walked through the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West and felt like someone was watching you, you're not alone. This week we're diving into the wild, haunted history of Robert the Doll — and why you should never take his picture without asking. Plus: a 50-year-old time capsule is finally opened yesterday, the tarpon migration hits full swing, and we've got the story behind the best dive bar you'll probably never find.

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❓ Keys Trivia

What was the original name of the Florida Keys?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 The Mile Marker Roundup

• ⏳ Time Capsule Opened: A time capsule buried exactly 50 years ago yesterday (April 6, 1976) by students at May Sands School in Key West is finally unearthed yesterday. The directions have hung in a yellowed envelope outside the superintendent's office for half a century. Read more →

• 🦀 King Crabs to the Rescue: Mote Marine Laboratory just released the first-ever hatchery-raised Caribbean king crabs onto a coral restoration site in the lower Keys. These powerful grazers eat the algae that chokes out coral, and Mote plans to release 35,000 of them over the next few years. Read more →

• 🏃 7 Mile Bridge Run: You've been warned — the iconic Seven Mile Bridge will close from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. this Saturday, April 11, as 1,500 runners cross the span on foot. Plan your drive accordingly, as traffic will take an extra hour to normalize after reopening. Read more →

• 🎣 Tarpon Season Peaks: The spring tarpon migration is officially in full swing. Guides across the Keys are reporting explosive runs and jumps as the "Silver Kings" feed aggressively in the warming waters. Read more →

• 🦈 Shark Tournament: The Spanish Fly Shark Tournament wrapped up this weekend out of Stock Island. The catch-and-release event promotes ethical fishing practices, with tiger sharks earning the most points for anglers. Read more →

🌴 Partner Spotlight

Your First Snorkeling Trip in the Keys

If you're planning your first trip down the Overseas Highway, or if you're bringing the kids along for the first time, figuring out where to snorkel can feel overwhelming. There are dozens of reefs, wrecks, and state parks, and it's hard to know which ones are actually safe and easy for beginners.

That's why a lot of long-term Keys visitors recommend starting simple. You don't need to book a deep-water charter right away. Places like Bahia Honda State Park in the Lower Keys or John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo offer calm, shallow waters that are perfect for getting comfortable with a mask and fins.

Once you've got the hang of it, you can graduate to the slightly deeper, more vibrant spots like Sombrero Reef off Marathon or Looe Key. The water is warming up beautifully right now, making April one of the best months to jump in.

Check out our guide to planning your next Keys road trip →

🧩 Deep Dive

The Bar With No Name and 75,000 Dollar Bills

A nice place if you can find it.

If you turn off U.S. 1 at Mile Marker 30, wind your way through the residential streets of Big Pine Key, and dodge a few endangered Key deer in the parking lot, you might just stumble upon the No Name Pub.

Built in 1931 as a general store and bait shop, the building became a pub in 1936. In the late 1930s, the owners tried to drum up extra business by converting the upstairs storage room into a brothel. According to the pub's own official history, the venture failed after a few years because "the fishermen were reported to be better looking than the ladies."

But the real magic happened in the 1970s, when two Italian cooks brought their pizza recipe to the kitchen. When they eventually left, they wrote the recipe directly on the kitchen wall so the owners wouldn't forget it. The pub still uses that exact same recipe today.

Then came the 1980s and '90s. Jimmy Buffett was on the jukebox, and illegal drug money was flowing through the Keys like water. People had so much cash they started stapling dollar bills to the walls and ceiling. Today, an estimated 75,000 signed dollar bills cover nearly every square inch of the interior.

It's dark, it's loud, the beer is cold, and the pizza is genuinely fantastic. Just don't ask for directions — part of the fun is finding it yourself.

Have you ever stapled a dollar bill to the wall at the No Name Pub? Hit reply and tell us — we'll publish the best stories next week.

🕰️ Lore & Legends

Robert the Doll: Key West's Most Cursed Toy

Why hundreds of people write apology letters to a doll.

In 1904, a young boy named Robert Eugene "Gene" Otto received a handmade, 40-inch-tall doll dressed in a sailor suit. Gene named the doll "Robert" after himself and carried it everywhere. Soon, servants in the Otto household reported hearing two distinct voices coming from Gene's room — a child's voice, and something much deeper. Whenever things went wrong or items were broken, Gene had one explanation: "Robert did it."

Gene kept the doll his entire life, eventually placing it in a turret room of his Key West home at 534 Eaton Street (now the Artist House). After Gene's death in 1974, new tenants reported hearing footsteps in the attic and giggling. Some claimed the doll's expression would physically change if anyone spoke badly about Gene.

Today, Robert sits in a glass case at the Fort East Martello Museum. Visitors are strictly warned: you must ask Robert's permission before taking his photograph. Those who don't are said to be cursed with terrible luck. The museum receives hundreds of apology letters every year from visitors begging Robert to forgive them. Read the full history here →

✅ Trivia Answer

Los Mártires ("The Martyrs").

When Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León first charted the islands in 1513, he thought the twisted mangroves and trees looked like suffering men from a distance, so he named the entire chain "The Martyrs."

Bonus fact: Key West has never recorded a frost or freeze in its history. The all-time record low temperature for the island is just 41°F (5°C).

Until next week, keep your windows down and your watch off.
— The Florida Keys Road Trip Team

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