HomeWorldFlorida police dismantle squatters’ booby-trapped ‘Meth Island’ camp over fear it may entice kids

Florida police dismantle squatters’ booby-trapped ‘Meth Island’ camp over fear it may entice kids

June 25, 2023

Florida police started to dismantle a squatter’s hazardous, booby-trapped camp, believing the bizarre structures are an accident waiting to happen for adventurous kids.

The island — dubbed “Meth Island” across social media — is equipped with many wooden structures, one which reached four stories high, trampolines, a concrete pool, and what appeared to be a mini skate park, Port Orange Police Det. Mike Wallace told The Daytona Beach News Journal. 

“All it does is (draw attention) for young kids to go over there,” Wallace told the outlet.

“(They go) to these islands and start having fun and then you start getting the alcohol in there, and they are jumping down on these trampolines – that’s when an accident is going to wind up happening.”

The island — also known more formally as Pelican Island — is one of the multiple islands near the Dunlawton Bridge in Port Orange, Florida. 

The outlet reported that the island was also covered in “booby traps” when officers arrived to serve the wooden wonderland an eviction notice.


Police worried that the location and the enticing features of the shanty like town would attract kids in the area.
Police worried that the location and the enticing features of the shanty-like town would attract kids to the area.
Twitter/@VolusiaSheriff

Police also found clear “evidence” of drug and alcohol use after discovering “needles and paraphernalia” in the area.

“TRESPASS NOTICE. You are ordered to vacate the island within 48 hours,” the notices posted last week by officers with the Port Orange Police, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, South Daytona police, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission read.

A video posted on Twitter by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office showed the vastness of the strange structures during their arrival.


Officer 's strategically placed eviction signs around the camp to ensure whoever was building up the abandon island would get the message.
Officers strategically placed eviction signs around the camp to ensure whoever was building up the abandoned island would get the message.
Twitter/@VolusiaSheriff

“It’s pretty impressive, honestly, the number of structures has exponentially grown over the last couple of years,” a deputy said in the video.

The concrete pool was in the midst of construction when officers arrived and were approximately 15 by 20 feet in size, but had room to be much larger, South Daytona police Lt. Kevin Pedri told the outlet.

“Obviously they ran out of supplies, so they are most likely going to try to look for … stealing stuff to try to complete it,” Pedri said. “It’s truly amazing to see what these people are doing out there.”


Officers strategically placed eviction signs around the camp to ensure whoever was building up the abandoned island would get the message.
Officers strategically placed eviction signs around the camp to ensure whoever was building up the abandoned island would get the message.
Twitter/@VolusiaSheriff

Twitter/@VolusiaSheriff

Officers also found fish and crab carcasses used to “make crafts out” scattered throughout the island.

It’s common for residents in the area to camp on the island, but the unusual wooden structures are a cause for alarm for officials.

The island was deserted at the time officers arrived to serve the notice.


Multiple makeshift structures were built on the island, with most being concealed behind trees.
Multiple makeshift structures were built on the island, with most being concealed behind trees.
Twitter/@VolusiaSheriff

The multiple wooden structures are believed to be made from wood “stolen from docks,” which poses a risk in itself amid Florida’s tropical climate.

“All that stuff is going to get thrown all over the Intracoastal and damage other boats, or who knows how far some of the wood can launch and possibly damage other property as well,” Wallace told the outlet.

Officials have not been able to return to the island this week due to weather, but local public workers have begun demolishing the absurd island structures.

The creator of the elaborate wooden structures has yet to be identified, but numerous local agencies are monitoring the island, according to Fox News.

“There was a huge safety concern for us about whoever would be on that island with those types of structures out there,” Wallace told the outlet.

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