Casa Bates

Casa Bates was purchased by Tami Mansfield & Don Bates in late September 2009. This neglected house was made into a home for Tami, Don, & their 2 children, Izzy & Zander Bates. In October 2012, Don & Tami married. The grand opening of the Casa Bates Tiki Bar & Grill was celebrated by family & friends in April 2014. Memories continue to build at Casa Bates & we treasure those who are a part of them!

Casa Bates is part of STONE ISLAND,
A Paradise with a Past:

Indians once roamed this island we now call home. The island’s 1,100 acres, situated on the northwest shore of Lake Monroe on the St. John’s River, created a perfect home for the Aborigine tribes, where wildlife and good fishing fulfilled all their needs. The primary aboriginal mound on the point of the island has unearthed many treasures of this bygone era.

Many professional archaeologists have made investigatory trips, but the most famous treasure was discovered by amateurs in 1971 – the skeleton of a 27- to 30-yea- old woman embedded in limestone. The lady is believed to have been sleeping there for about 5500 years. She now resides at the museum at Tomoka Park, Ormond Beach.

Skipping forward a few thousand years, the first white men were the Spanish explorers who invaded Florida early in the sixteenth century. In 1841, the town of Enterprise was founded by Major Cornelius Taylor and became a thriving community as the county seat. Enterprise is the oldest town of continuous existence in the Volusia County. Its location on Lake Monroe made it easily accessible by steamboats, which brought Northerners here to “winter” and goods from Jacksonville. The railroad discharged its freight from the North, and side-wheelers plied up and down the river.

Capt. Jacob Brock, owner of the Brock Line of Steamers, built a lavish hotel where the Methodist Children’s Home now sits and welcomed many famous guests of the time. Brock was also instrumental in building the All Saints Episcopal Church, which still stands in its original state, a fitting reminder of the town’s illustrious history. (see page 4 for more information on local historic buildings.) Meanwhile, on the island, poachers were actively engaged in illegal activities, with boats docking at night at a Stone Island dock.

Among the early owners and sole inhabitants of the island were Arthur B. and Olive Commons. Visiting Florida from the Hoosier State, they “discovered” Stone Island and fell in love. They engaged in the various pursuits of farming, and they delighted in the results. Olive was an artist and created exquisite miniatures on porcelain of all the island scenes.

In the early 1900s “Senator” William C. Lawson and his family came to Florida from Virginia. He was active in Florida real estate. Lawson bought the island, then called Palm Island, and began plans to develop it as a quiet, secluded paradise. Although active in politics, “Senator” Lawson was never elected to any office. He was a champion for government reform . . . perhaps an idealist ahead of his time, constantly fighting the system. Mr. Lawson’s concept for the layout of the island formed the basis built on by future developers. The “Senator” built his family a beautiful Spanish mansion in the 1920s, and it is still an imposing sight under the tall trees overlooking the lake at the junction of Prairie and Horseshoe Roads.
After a few years, the island was sold to a northern syndicate, and the name was changed to Stone Island, due to the rock formations along the shore. The big Florida land boom “busted,” and when the “Senator” foreclosed the island reverted back to him. By this time, William Lawson’s son, Sam, was active in the business, and together they began the development of the island in earnest. A complete power plant was installed and water was provided by an abundance of deep artesian wells. “Senator” Lawson died at the age of 91 in 1958.

In 1966, the Lawson family sold the approximately 1,000-acre property to H. M. “Corkey” Huffman for around $165,000, to a Joint Venture , which included Mills- Nebraska Lumber Co, Palmer Electric Co., Wittgenstein & Geller Accountants, and H&M Construction Co – all Orlando/Winter Park based companies. H&M Construction was led by Corkey Huffman, President, and Marvin Titus, Vice President/Treasurer.

Around 1968, Corkey Huffman, Marvin Titus, Corkey’s father Jim, and Herky Huffman formed the Stone Island Construction Company to begin development of what he dreamed would be an island paradise following the “Senator’s” basic plan – and they bought lots from the Joint Venture as needed.

About a year later, they began marketing lots through realtor, Lucy Doughty. The Lawson mansion became a clubhouse (NOW A PRIVATE HOME ON PRAIRIE), the swimming pool (since filled in) sparkled with natural spring water, and folks practiced their golf game on a three-hole course. Nature paths, horse trails and parks completed the quiet, country atmosphere. But, this island paradise soon faded in the midst of government red tape.

The Huffman family hailed from West Virginia and, like “Senator” Lawson before him, Corkey was an idealist and outspoken in his criticism of government. As he went head-to-head with the county and federal government on how the island should be developed, his dream of an island paradise became more like a nightmare. He finally tired of fighting bureaucratic fine print and literally sailed away on a 2-masted schooner. Corkey was quoted as saying, “There’s a lot of open sea out there, and I can just move from one island to another” . . . and he did just that!

In 1974, due to the gas shortage and a slump in the economy, sales dried up, Corkey liquidated some assets, and an H&M partner, C. C. Tomlin, became involved in marketing the island properties.

Since that time, several developers tried unsuccessfully to complete development of the entire island. But, the island does still continue to grow with new homes, and the dream continues for the island that is paradise . . . almost!