Opulence beyond reason and imagination.  The wealth of the Carnegies was so great that they could not spend all their money, it seemed, no matter how hard they tried.  Daily events include hunting and feasting, parties and concerts, and events of all kinds.  We went on a fantastic tour of the island, and I would highly recommend it.  This was the Land and Legacy tour by Lang’s Seafood Inc.  Ask for Mike Fulford he was terrific.  We were shown unique sites and heard unbelievable stories about the Carnegies and the exploiters.  At one time, the family imported automobiles to the island for the children to drive, and if they ran out of gas or broke down, they would leave them where they were and go to get another to play with.  Magnificent manors that I would consider a mansion they described as quaint cottages.  One of the children was given a substantial 10,000-square-foot home, and the daughter of one of the Carnegie sons said they couldn’t move in; it was simply too small, unacceptable.  So they added two wings and an indoor pool with an attached racquetball court.  The children had massive villas all over the island, and mom would make sure that their every whim was provided for.  What an unbelievable life they must have led.

You need to read about Carol Ruckdeschel, who still lives on the island.  She is called the wildest woman in America. She eats roadkill, wrestles alligators, rides horses bareback, and lives in a ramshackle cabin that she built herself in an island wilderness. She’s had three husbands and many lovers, one of whom she shot and killed in self-defense.  Mike told us that if we saw her, let him do the talking and leave her alone, hysterical!  We were also told that she usually carries a 44 magnum like Dirty Harry! Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see her, but I wish we would have.