In the mid 1880's, when Reverend George Barnes' boat ran aground near Sanibel Island, he discovered a breath taking land of seashells, lush foliage, tropical fruits, majestic birds, brilliant sunsets, and seashells covering miles of white sandy beaches. Certain that God had led him to paradise, he immediately claimed 480 acres and built a cottage and church, Sanibel's first. Over time, the cottage evolved into a fashionable 30-room inn, one of the earliest resorts on the island. In the 1890s, Reverend Barnes' daughter, Georgia, married a resort guest from Kentucky, who built her a grand manor on the inn's property. Named Thistle Lodge, it quickly became the favored gathering spot for celebrities and statesmen seeking escape, including Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Today, Casa Ybel's Thistle Lodge still welcomes guests as a fine, old-island restaurant overlooking the same beach where Reverend Barnes found his paradise on earth.