David Wolkowsky driving the buggy at Ballast Key
David Wolkowsky, developer par exelence, is a true Key West treasure and easily the most interesting man in town. I met him a year ago, and I instantly recognized him for the mystical magical man that he is. Thanks to my own eclectic childhood, meeting everyone from royals to reg’lar folks, I know cool, and this guy is the real thing.
An invitation from David is a major highlight and might lead one to any of his splendid palaces about town; all filled with magnificient artwork and orchids in fat bunches fixed half way up a doric column brought back from the east, and everywhere there are photographs of himself with famous friends. And then there is his private island, Ballast Key, a few miles off the southernmost coast. In the interest of full disclosure, yes, I was invited out to Ballast Key, and I did discreetly plant a Serbian flag in the sugar white sand. The island getaway is a confection of airy beach house with unstoppable views and paths leading to sculptures for guests to stumble upon like a trail of candy. Yum.
When I met David Wolkowsky I was delightfully fascinated. He is chic and gentle with a nimble and witty mind, and I along with everyone who has ever met him, adore him. So when, recently, he phoned and proposed I write about his long-deceased friend author Patricia Highsmith I said yes absolutely, gladly. I was thrilled for the opportunity to give back after basking in so much of his hospitality.
I plunged into the assignment and while I noted the wording of the poem is undeniably gorgeous the overall effect made me want to slit my wrists. According to Wikipedia Highsmith was prolific yet beset with the demon depression and no one had a nice word to say about her. While she was respected for her writing skills, her best known being The Talented Mr. Ripley quote after quote described her as “relentlessly ugly”. This was dispiriting but I was determined to fulfill this special request.
I phoned David, “Couple of questions,” I said, “First off, did Patricia write this about you?” Mercifully he said, “No! I have no idea why she picked that to send me. But she signed it so I had it framed.” About Highsmith he said, “I met Patricia in New York. I knew her fairly well and she was always very good company.” I was on the verge of revealing my miserable research thus far when I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and I slid in questions about his far more interesting self, garnering nuggets such as his memories, as a young child, of the excitement of riding the Flagler Railroad from Miami to the Keys. David Wolkowsky’s childhood was spent, “floating around between Key West and Miami”. The Wolkowsky family, having first moved to Key West in the late 1880s, owned properties in “old town” and in 1962 David decided to settle. By 1963 he was managing a brilliant deal to develop a waterfront property near Mallory Square. He is perhaps best known for building the Pier House Hotel, a resort where both Jimmy Buffett and Bob Marley started their careers in the hotel’s “Chart Room Bar”. Buffett credits Wolkowsky as the first to hire him.
For over half a century Wolkowsky has invested in what is often described as a drinking town with a fishing habit. With environmental and cultural sensitivity David Wolkowsky has saved, restored and built, bought and sold much of the local real estate. He is much loved for helping to preserve the look and feel of this unique port of call. He is a philanthropist quietly and steadily supporting the humanities on many levels. Everything from funding prizes for teachers to helping the homeless to investing in his artist friends. One of his favorite authors is P.G. Wodehouse, “But,” he says, “The only problem is the expectation of a ‘Jeeves’ which is never be found in real life.”
Locals vividly recount every cherished sighting, and they say that when they drive their boats past his island, they gasp and sigh at the perfectness of it all. But I watch tourists soaking up all the loveliness and I have to wonder if they know anything about my friend David, the man who intimately helped create this place they so enjoy. I think I need to push for an official David Wolkowsky Day.
Thank you Dianne! I love to read your magazine, so we are even!
A wonderful tribute to a life well lived. Thank you Christina for yet another well told story. I love to read your blog!
Very nicely put my friend Ron! I know you too are of the ‘eclectic childhood’ provenance, so I know you know! And one day I expect to hear you’ve moved to Key West!!
all hail King David. Eclectic childhoods draw us to wonderful eccentrics. Beautifully, beautifully told. Reason #1,000 Key West is amazing
Let’s do it William! And, I love that you say ‘every day is David Wolkowsky Day’! He is an inspiration.
George! The Pier House Prince is divine to know, and I so agree, he “is an embodiment of the Key West spirit”, well put. And I have no fault with Highsmith’s craft- she was very good- perhaps I exaggerated my distaste for comedic effect… but you are quite right, her talents are unquestionable.
Good, fun, true piece. Along with my family, David is the best thing in my life. Right now, every day is David Wolkowsky Day for us. But he deserves public recognition. Count us in.
I have dipped into KW every decade since the 60’s and have watched the Pier House Prince weave his magic spell. More than a living legend, he is an embodiment of the Key West spirit.
However, Patricia Highsmith, the writer who said “I don’t set an alarm to get up. I get up when I feel like it”, I must disagree. This dark spectre and twisted story teller has always had room on my bookshelf. Even the film “Purple Noon” gets a
time slot for whatever media device is current. No “Purple Noon” in blu-ray yet but soon.
Let’s do it Suz! Let’s get that day declared!
Bravo! I’m having trouble forming words beyond that! Beautifully told. I’d vote for a David Wolkowsky Day.