Tampa Bay’s premier party island is now for sale.
Beer Can Island, a small spit of sand in between Apollo Beach and MacDill Air Force Base, hit the market this morning, with a $14. 2 million price tag.
Technically called Pine Key, the listing includes the entire nine-acre island and the surrounding 60 acres of submerged land and all riparian rights.
“This opportunity is exceedingly rare, as Pine Key is one of the only privately owned islands in Tampa Bay,” said Cole Weaver, majority owner of Pine Key in a statement.
In 2017, Weaver, and three other friends—Johnny Gadd, Russell Loomis, and James West—purchased the island for $64,000, and over time added bathrooms, tiki bars, trash cans, security, water slides and even sold memberships to access the amenities.
However, last year Hillsborough County argued that the island needed to address a number of code violations and safety concerns, and proposed that it become a nature preserve (a move that would shut down the tiki bar).
The new owners will have to take this issue head on, as the island is currently unzoned.
“In Hillsborough, there are currently four other islands with residential zoning,” said the press release. “Notably, one spans 2.58 acres with ‘residential 20’ zoning, emphasizing spacious residential possibilities, and another, 1.41 acres, is zoned ‘residential 4,’ showcasing potential for more concentrated yet appealing layouts. These instances provide valuable insights into the diverse residential zoning options already enjoyed within the county, offering precedents for the island’s prospective development pending proper zoning and regulatory considerations.”
Besides the zoning mess, any potential buyer will also have to deal with the fact that the island is literally shrinking.
As Paul Guzzo pointed out, Beer Can Island was roughly 23 acres before it was last purchased and most recently was five-feet underwater during Hurricane Idalia.
“We’re grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from the community and our members over the years, but all good things must come to an end at some point, and for us, that time is now,” continued Weaver.
The island will remain closed to the public until a sale is complete, according to the press release.
