Perky, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Perky, Florida
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Remains of the bat tower
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 Perky, Florida
Location in Florida
Perky, Florida
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Monroe |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Perky is a fascinating ghost town located in Monroe County, Florida, United States. A ghost town is a place where people once lived and worked, but it is now mostly empty. Perky is found in the lower Florida Keys on Lower Sugarloaf Key. You can spot it near mile marker 17 on US 1, which is also known as the Overseas Highway.
The Story of Perky
The town of Perky was named after its founder, a man named R. C. Perky. He started this community in the Florida Keys. A post office was opened in Perky in 1929. It served the small community until 1942, when it closed down.
The Famous Bat Tower
Perky is especially known for its historic Sugarloaf Key Bat Tower. This unique tower was built by Richter Clyde Perky himself in 1929. The idea behind the bat tower was to attract bats to the area. Bats eat mosquitoes, so the tower was meant to help control the mosquito population.
Sadly, the original bat tower was destroyed in 2017 by Hurricane Irma. Today, the old fishcamp that was once part of Perky has been turned into a modern restaurant and lodge. This means you can still visit the area where Perky once stood.
