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If you saw pictures of Palm Island, Florida without knowing which islands they were, you might swear that they are a part of the Caribbean islands or maybe even the lush Fiji islands. The clear, immaculately clean water and the many interconnected islands will remind you of a tropical paradise- probably because Palm Island truly is that.
Most of the history of Palm Island revolves around two things- resorts and nature. In terms of resorts, we are talking about the Palm Island Resort that is getting to be fairly famous and is definitely one of the best kept secrets in all of Florida. In terms of nature, there is so much to do outdoors that you will wonder why they even have houses- although you will surely want to buy one of the lush properties that are a prized possession on the real estate market.
Demographics
When you read up on the demographics of Palm Island, you would swear that it’s practically a ghost town. There isn’t much in the way of local population, since there are only 200 residential homes. Other than the seasonal population which fluctuates weekly because of the Palm Island Resort, there are not a whole lot of people on the Island- and they like it that way. The peace and quiet that comes with a sparsely populated island that has no bridges or causeways leading to it is very inviting and worth the price of the prime realty options in the area.
Palm Island, Fl is actually three islands in one. There is Palm Island, which is also known as Knight Island by some, because that was its original name (though the common name today is indeed Palm Island). Nestled next to Palm Island is Don Pedro Island, which is actually just a strip of uninhabited land that separates Palm Island from Gasparilla Island, the final in the trio. The largest part of the collective group known as Palm Island is a mere 7 miles long and a scant 700 yards wide.
But despite these miniscule numbers, there is a whole lot to do in the short 7 miles that make up this pristine part of Southwest Florida. Surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on both sides, Palm Island is home to some of the absolute best wildlife conservation efforts in the country as you will soon see.
Life in Palm Island
If you are one of only 200 homeowners on Palm Island, then you are very lucky indeed. But life on Palm Island is not what it is in the rest of Charlotte County, where Palm Island is located. Indeed, there is no causeway, bridge, tunnel or anything else that allows you to drive over to Palm Island. You must own a boat to get over or use the car ferry that runs everyday. This isolation keeps Palm Island unique and allows it to be one of the most successful areas for preserving endangered species.
The sea turtle preservation program has enabled some of the large grand turtles that inhabit the island to begin a comeback from the endangered species list. In fact during the mating season, you can wake up at the crack of dawn and join a team of Palm Island guests (usually of the resort) to go and watch the turtles. The groups usually leave around 7am, so set your alarm clocks! If you are lucky you will see some of the lagerheads and sea turtles that the programs try to protect and help breed to increase their numbers in the wild. The program is such a big deal on Palm Island that if you are on the beach at night, you are not allowed to have flashlights because that is when baby sea turtles (called hatchlings because they are born of eggs) come out. The resort even has a presentation several times weekly to show you the importance of turning off lights when not in use and drawing your curtains when lights are on so as to further protect the hatchlings.
Though there is no program to educate or inform on the endangered Florida manatees, there is still evidence everywhere of the lengths that Palm Island residents and business owners will go to in order to do their part to help the animals. You can not go more than a few feet without signs telling you to please be careful or the species, whose numbers in the wild are finally starting to increase. Also known as sea cows, there are many of them in the shallow estuaries that are all over the water surrounding Palm Island.
Jobs and Business Development
Many people buy a home on Palm Island to get away from it all. The area is privately owned and access is not easy unless you have a boat. People from the Florida mainland only come over if they have a specific purpose such as looking at property or to be a guest at the Palm Island resort. Because of this, there are simply not a lot of jobs to be had on the island itself. However, if you have a boat it is quite easy to commute each day to the mainland- it generally only takes 10-12 minutes to do so.
Sarasota is the closest large city on the mainland, about 45 miles to the North. Fort Myers is 65 miles to the South, or Tampa is 90 miles to the North. All of these cities are large with booming economies and tons of jobs to be had in almost any field imaginable. Punta Gorda is also nearby and is in Charlotte County itself. There are also some jobs to be found there, though most of the jobs in the area will be in one of the three bigger cities in the area.
Of course, Palm Island Florida being a tourist and resort island, there are some jobs to be found there. From bartending to management, clerks to human resources, it can all be found there. These opportunities are seasonal though, as is most of the time spent by home owners on the island.
Realty and rentals can be a lucrative business on Palm Island. If any land or property on the island comes for sale, it is a generally a great investment for a second vacation home to truly get away from it all. Real estate agents and investors have been very successful with properties in this area.
Education
There is not a whole lot to say about the schools on Palm Island- because there aren’t any! This is because the island’s population is simply too small to support a school system. It is mostly a tourist and resort island, so no schools are necessary. Some of Florida’s finest schools are just across the bay in Englewood Florida which is on the mainland in Charlotte County. There are several community colleges and smaller universities within an hours drive to Sarasota or Fort Myers, Fl.
Sights and Sounds
Though we have talked quite a bit about the different endangered species that are a big part of life on Palm Island, this is not all there is to do in terms of recreation. In fact, in some circles this is not even the most important recreational activity in Palm Island. The area in the area is ripe for different types of fishing and because of this, boats are also a big part of life.
Of course, since you can only get to Palm Island by boat, it makes sense that most of the residents own a boat of their own. There are many grassy flat areas in the waters surrounding the Palm Island Resort, which many people frequent for these types of fishing trips. Big Snook, Big Reds and trout are very common and easy to catch in the area. There is also a great deal of fishing for Tarpon, some of which can be near or even over 100 pounds! The restaurant in the Palm Island Resort has a lot of photographs of anglers over the years with some of these huge catches. The pictures can date back as many as 100 years, which shows you just how long fishermen have long prized these plentiful waters off the coast of Charlotte Harbor.
But don’t fret if you don’t happen to own a boat. There are plenty of knee-deep waterways that are easily accessible in the area. If you are willing to wake up before sunrise, you can make your way out to one of these prime fishing spots in time to get some good nibbles and hopefully a few bites as well. Mangrove snapper, King and Spanish mackerel can all be obtained by the cooler-full in areas such as these.
If you are not into fishing, canoes and kayaks are available. A sight-seeing tour of the area may yield you a great view of the Florida manatees or maybe even some of the dolphins who inhabit the deeper waters off the coast. Or just take in the crystal-clear waters and marvel at this untouched beauty of a land.
Real Estate on the Island
Palm Island Florida has many homes available for sale, many of which have their own private boat docks on the property. There are small cottages, condos, and large oceanfront homes to choose from. If you feel that Palm Island is the right place for you, please give our team of Realtors a call and let us show you what is available.
Contact us below for more information on Palm Island FL real estate opportunities.
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