OUR HISTORY

Interested to know about our website’s pirate theme? One pirate in particular is legendary in the greater Tampa, FL area and has turned into a beloved part of local culture. The fearsome pirate Jose Gaspar and his crew terrorized the oceanside towns of western Florida in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. “Gasparilla,” as he came to be known, was eventually thwarted in 1821 by a disguised U.S. Navy warship that put an end to the thieving days of him and his crew.

Since the early 20th century, the city of Tampa has celebrated the end of Gasparilla’s reign of terror by hosting a city-wide festival that includes a mock pirate attack on the city. Although this celebration has changed and evolved over the years, the Pirate Invasion today features the world’s only fully-rigged pirate ship, led by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, and the Mayor’s surrender of the key to the city. Thousands of locals and tourists flock to Tampa and the surrounding area every year to experience the fun and the history of Gasparilla. 

Tropical Paver Sealing wanted to capture this unique and fun piece of local culture on our website with our pirate theme. We love what we do and we love where we do it- and we hope it shows! If you’re interested in our services and our company story, visit our About Us page or contact us today.