Punta Gorda Florida (Fishermen's Village)

Punta Gorda is a port city in Southwest Florida (Charlotte County), with population around 20,000. Cruise ships to Punta Gorda FL dock at Fishermen's Village along Charlotte Harbor). Florida's cruise port has a namesake - Belize's Punta Gorda.

As cruise port, Punta Gorda FL was introduced in 2023 by the USA's largest domestic cruise shipping company ACL-American Cruise Lines. The 7-night/8-day "Florida Gulf Coast and Keys" itinerary (roundtrip from Tampa) was specifically designed for ACL's newbuild Coastal Cats/catamarans and was first operated by American Glory.

On this ACL ex-Florida voyage, on days 3 and 4 the ship stays in Key West overnight. This allows tourists to explore Key West City on Day 3 (with a complimentary guided tour to the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum) and the Dry Tortugas National Park on Day 4 (visiting Fort Jefferson/Civil War prison).

A major local attraction is the Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor. Florida's newest luxury resort (officially opened on December 23, 2023) is owned by Sunseeker Resorts, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company (1999-founded, the parent/owner of Allegiant Air/ultra-low-cost USA airline). The luxury property is in Charlotte Harbor (Florida's second-largest harbor) across Punta Gorda. Both are directly linked via two bridges - Barron Collier Bridge, and Peace River Bridge.

The settlement was founded in the late-19th-century (1879/as Charlotte Harbor, renamed Trabue in 1883) and was incorporated (as Punta Gorda) in 1887. It started to develop after 1886, when it became the southern terminus of the Florida Southern Railway (1879-chartered as "Gainesville, Ocala, and Charlotte Harbor Railroad"/from Lake City FL to Charlotte Harbor, renamed in 1881 to Florida Southern Railway). In 1904, the railroad was additionally extended to Fort Myers.

Punta Gorda Airport has three runways and serves regularly scheduled domestic flights (by Allegiant Air) and seasonal flights (by Sun Country Airlines and Allegiant Air). Regular flights (year-round) link to destinations in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, Missouri, Tennessee, Minnesota, Rhode Island. Seasonal flights connect Punta Gorda FL with airports in Maryland (Baltimore), Maine (Bangor), Virginia (Norfolk, Richmond), Georgia (Savannah), Nebraska (Omaha), South Dakota (Rapid City, Sioux Falls), as well as with Traverse City MI. In 2007 was inaugurated the airport's new Bailey Terminal. In 2019, Punta Gorda Airport served ~81340 flights (~222 daily) of which 84% general cargo, 14% airline, 2% small commercial aircraft/taxis, and ~1% military aircraft.

The city's main tourist attractions are historic buildings (many are listed in the USA's National Register of Historic Places), including A.C. Freeman House, Clarence Babcock House, H.W. Smith Building, Villa Bianca, Old First National Bank/Old Merchants Bank, the Atlantic Coast Line Depot, the Ice Plant, the Woman's Club, the Charlotte High School, the entire Residential District.

Fishermen's Village (1980-established) is a waterfront leisure complex located along Charlotte Harbor. Fishermen's Village Pier attracts tourists with various shopping, dining and entertainment options (30+ venues, many with live music), as well as a resort-style vacation destination featuring luxury accommodations and a premium Yacht Marina.

Fishermen's Village Pier (1928-built as Maud Street City Dock) replaced the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's Dock (1897-built at King Street, later demolished to allow the construction of the Barron Collier Bridge). The Pier was initially utilized by commercial fishing boats and later rented by the Gulf Coast Oil Company and Matt Week's Boat Shop.

In 1977, Maud Street City Dock was purchased by Earl Nightingale V (1921-1989/American radio speaker and author), developed (by Don Donelson) and officially opened in 1980 as the current Fishermen's Village. In 2012, the complex was acquired by Arciterra Group LLC (2005-founded, Phoenix Arizona-based real estate investment, development, and management company). In June 2023, US Bancorp (Minneapolis Minnesota-based bank holding) filed the property for commercial foreclosure.