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Pine Island, Florida's Creative Coast, is just 30 minutes from Ft. Myers, but the secluded, small town atmosphere is a world apart! One of the largest islands off Florida’s coast, Pine Island is rural, sparsely populated and a true anomaly, allowing it to occupy a rare and special place in 21st Century America.
Surrounded by mangroves, three aquatic preserves and with mostly agricultural zoning, it has escaped the cement and development of other Florida islands. Zoning limits now in place allow future growth but preserve the unique atmosphere for years to come.
Pine Island has no traffic lights and a small town atmosphere, and many visitors are so attracted to the island they remain permanently. Abundant wildlife, unspoiled nature and fantastic fishing and boating are just some of the other reasons why people stay.
Artists, authors and musicians call Pine Island home. They enrich the local culture in many ways. The art galleries are busy, colorful and popular. Even the telephone poles are adorned with original paintings accomplished by local artists who have memorialized the beautiful natural surroundings in these works.
Other “residents” of this secluded and unspoiled location include many varieties of exotic wildlife. More than 20 pairs of bald eagles call this home and osprey, heron, roseate spoonbills and egrets, to name a few, can be seen over head virtually anywhere on the island.
Pine Island Coast has supported many generations of island commercial fishing families but sport fishing takes no back seat. The best tarpon fishing in the world is north of Bokeelia in Boca Grande Pass. Snook, redfish, grouper, snapper and many more help make this a fisherman’s paradise.
The waters of the aquatic preserves are a delight to explore by kayak or one can take a cruise or water taxi to the outer islands of Cayo Costa, North Captiva or Cabbage Key. Most importantly, one can just experience the island at leisure and see how friendly, beautiful and laid-back this paradise can be.
Pine Island rose from the receding seas many millions of years ago. It is not known when man first arrived but skeleton remains have been found on the island dating back nearly 6000 years. Calusa Indians inhabited the islands from about 300 A.D. until the Spanish conquered them in the 1700s. Except for the occasional pirate or fisherman, Pine Island was then basically uninhabited until 1873. Those hardy settlers who then arrived, lived off the sea and land and carved out the paradise we now enjoy. Commercial fishing and farming of tropical fruits and palm trees became the main industries on the island— as they remain to this day.
Each July for several days the islanders play host to more than 10,000 people who arrive for the largest celebration of the year -- Mangomania -- which features fruits, exotic plants and farm goods as well as an array of artistic talent. www.MangoManiaFL.com will give you detailed information on this fun family event.
Pine Island consists of five communities: Matlacha, Pine Island Center, Bokeelia, Pineland and St. James City. Each is unique, each special, yet all are Pine Island. Restaurants are scattered throughout the five communities as are quaint and charming cottages and motels….. all with water access.
Matlacha ( Mat-la-shay), the gateway to Pine Island is an historic fishing village and artist community. It is also the home of the “World’s Fishingest Bridge” where anglers cast all day and night for the many fish that teem in the local waters. Matlacha has colorful, cozy waterfront cottages and small motels, shops, art galleries, restaurants and more. It’s a great place to “park and walk."
Pine Island Center is the hub of island activity. It holds the shopping centers, community pool, tennis cthets, ball fields, school, museum and library.
St. James City is the most developed area, holding over half of the islands population. Most of the homes are located along direct access canals that lead to the Gulf of Mexico. Pineland is rich in archeological restheces, with the Randell Research Center studying the life of the Calusa in this area. The area also has many historic buildings, including one of the world’s smallest post offices and has the largest marina on the island.
Bokeelia has an abundance of tropical fruit farms and palm tree farms, an 18-hole golf cthese, fishing pier as well as several marinas offering service to the outer islands
Whichever location you decide to visit, we know you will have a wonderful relaxing time. Those who live here consider it a tropical paradise. And those who arrive either for a day or a lifetime, as we’ve been told time and again, tend to agree with that assessment.
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