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Community Spotlight: Palm Island

Posted by Tracy Jones on Friday, February 12th, 2021 at 1:31pm.

beach and homes on the beach on palm island, florida

A five minute car ferry trip is the only thing separating you from an incredible “off-the-grid” lifestyle.

Palm Island is about 9 miles south of Englewood, a barrier island positioned just off the coast of Cape Haze. This where you will find the car ferry that provides the sole public transportation to the island, in just under 5 minutes.

But, the majority of visitors and even residents choose to forego a vehicle. There’s isn’t much in the way of roads - many ride bicycles, walk along the beach or take golf carts, a common sight on the island.

Palm Island was actually made up of 3 separate islands, up until the 1960s that is. They include Knight Island in the north, home to the popular Palm Island Resort. Don Pedro is in the middle, where homebuyers will find high-end luxury homes. The properties here are set on dredged canals, providing great water access. Little Gasparilla is the southernmost section and is by far the most remote.

Of course, there’s also Thornton Key, further north than even Knight Island. This section of the island is made up almost entirely by the Thornton Key Nature Preserve and is otherwise uninhabited.

All in, the whole island is approximately 7 miles long and features an absolutely beautiful and pristine beach along its Gulf side, perfect for extended barefoot walks. The interior sections of the narrow island are filled with lush and mature mangrove forests, brimming with an impressively diverse bird population.

The Palm Island Real Estate Market

The Palm Island homes market is surprisingly diverse. Considering the lack of direct road access and the fact that building supplies will need to be ferried in, the island’s supply of homes comes in a broad range, ideal for many different need. Homebuyers can choose from larger estate properties to attached villas, duplexes and condos that make great, part-time vacation properties or investment rentals.

The properties here are pure, classic old-Florida style. Taking influence from iconic southern colonial architecture, detached properties often have the added feature of being built on pilings, the bottom levels are then used as either garage or patio space. This extra height also serves to create even better ocean views.

Depending on where you look too, the style of available property and architecture will vary widely as well. As noted, Don Pedro Island features the large, luxury estate properties with deep-water canal access. Knight Island (home of the Palm Island Resort) is known for its stellar beaches and unrivaled vacation properties. Little Gasparilla in the south is without a doubt the most remote, featuring mainly more modest single-family homes, with a small selection of condos and townhomes to round things out.


Featured Palm Island Real Estate Listings

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9916 Little Gasparilla Island, PLACIDA, FL
$5,900,000

Discover The Ultimate Paradise Retreat On This Exclusive 6.24-acre Haven On Little Gasparilla Island, Florida! Nestled At The Southernmost Tip Of The Pristine Island. This Exceptional Parcel Of Land Presents In Unparalleled Opportunity To Own A Sl...

10470 Sunny Dreams Terrace, PLACIDA, FL
$4,900,000

Residential, Single Family Residence
  • 5 Beds
  • 5 Baths
  • 4,243 SQFT
  • 128 DOM
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Flamingo Ranch Boasts A Spacious 5,000+ Square Feet Of Meticulously Designed Living Space, Featuring 5 Bedrooms And 4.5 Bathrooms. With 300 Feet Of Shoreline Along The Serene Lemon Bay, The Property Spans Nearly 3 Acres, Providing A Picturesque Ba...

261 North Gulf Boulevard, PLACIDA, FL
$3,995,000

Residential, Single Family Residence
  • 3 Beds
  • 3 Baths
  • 2,462 SQFT
  • 268 DOM
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Stunning 3 Bedroom 3 Bath Home Directly On The Gulf Of Mexico!!! Custom Home Built In 2009 With Hurricane Impact Windows, Concrete Pilings, Block Construction, 2 Master Suites. Totally Remodeled By New Owner In The Last Year. New Exterior Update...

View All Palm Island Property Listings


Palm Island Attractions & Amenities

The star of Palm Island is the beach, without a doubt. Not only is it a stellar location for fishing, it’s also become home to numerous beautiful shells and shark teeth, just waiting to be discovered. Simply put, it's a beachcombers paradise.

Thornton Key that makes up the northern tip of the island is primarily composed of protected preservation land in the form of the Thornton Key Preserve. This area of the island is wonderfully wild and boasts an incredible variety of bird life, not to mention the natural mangrove forest.

In stark contrast to the nature preserves and the other natural wonders of the island, the Palm Island Resort is a popular destination both for vacationers and locals. The luxury resort features 4 beautiful pools, 11 tennis courts, a fitness center, as well as a restaurant and general store.

Are you interested in learning more about the Palm Island? Please contact Gulf Shores Realty online or call 941.488.6644 to learn more!

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Listing data comes from My Florida Regional MLS DBA Stellar MLS.

Listing information last updated on March 29th, 2024 at 5:18am EDT.