Our weather is our best amenities. Check us out!

Pine Island (in Lee County) is the largest island (17 miles long and 2 miles wide) on the west coast of Florida, just 15-20 minutes from Cape Coral, 30 minutes from Ft. Myers and one hour from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Pine Island's secluded, quaint and "country waterfront" atmosphere is a huge part of its charm. Fringed with mangroves rather than white sand beaches, Pine Island has escaped the concrete, blacktop and skyscrapers found in the more touristy, beachy communities. Current legislation prohibits high density, high-rise development in the foreseeable future . . . designed to preserve our unique, rural island heritage for generations to come.

Need Directions to Pine Island?

From the north or south, traveling on Interstate I-75, take exit 26 onto State Road SR78, west (the same road is named Bayshore Road to US 41 and Pine Island Road still heading west from US 41) until you reach the most western end of the road. At this point, you will be at the Center of Pine Island, where you must decide, whether to turn right (north) onto Route 767 (Stringfellow Road) which takes you to Pineland and Bokeelia, OR to turn left (south) also onto Stringfellow Road which will take you to St. James City. It is approximately 8 1/2 miles to the northern tip of the island and the same 8 1/2 miles to the southern tip. That is how we "figgered" that Pine Island is 17 miles long! In due course, we will offer some refinements or shortcuts for more venturesome or  experienced map readers and travelers. If you need a shortcut in a hurry, come back to us via email.

This suite of pages is quite comprehensive. To assist you in navigating through our "waters", we suggest that you use the buttons below. Just click on each one to "cruise" the site and remember to use your browser's "back" button to return here. Enjoy your visit. (If you like what you see and read about our little country island, just "get real . . . come on down and browse around"!) The two parts of the Pine Island Business Directory are already very helpful to viewers since businesses are listed by service or specialty categories, with address, phone numbers and e-mail, too. Sometime soon, we expect to offer, in both segments (Parts 1 and 2) of the Pine Island Business Directory, the option of having direct links, to all those businesses or services who have their own websites. 

	Pine Island Business Directory, Part 1 Accommodations through Electric		Pine Island Business Directory, Part 2 Florists through Veterinarians
	Historical		Nature & Wildlife
	Fishing & Boating		Real Estate
	More Information		What Is There To Do?
	Communities		Sign our Guest Book!

---

HISTORICAL

Florida and Pine Island rose from the receding seas some 24 million years ago. While it is not known when man first arrived on our island, skeletal remains have been unearthed dating back some 6,000 years.

The Calusa Indian civilization had its cultural center in Southwest Florida, with many shell mounds discovered on Pine Island. Other mound sites were located in the Charlotte Harbor area to the North and extending down to the Ten Thousand Islands near the Everglades. An important, periodically-worked, archeological site is located in Pineland on the northwest edge of Pine Island.

It is likely that the Calusas inhabited Pine Island until 1513 when it is believed that Ponce de Leon landed on the west side of the island. The Spanish skirmished with the Calusas and imported serious, European diseases to which the natives had little immunity. By 1750, the Calusa culture had vanished, leaving behind only shell mounds and empty villages. Except for occasional pirates or fishermen, Pine Island was basically uninhabited until 1873 when a Russian sailor named Captain John Smith arrived after having survived a hurricane on nearby Punta Rassa. He decided that Pine Island would be a safer haven against future storms since it was protected from the Gulf of Mexico by the outer islands of Sanibel, Captiva and Cayo Costa. Other settlers followed and they, too, lived off the substantial bounty of the sea, while beginning to develop the beautiful, island paradise that we now enjoy.

When you come to Pine Island, be sure to visit our Museum of The Islands Historical Society (MOTI) where you will find a wealth of information on the Calusas and our early pioneers. You will also find other historical writings and pictures detailing the challenging way of life of the commercial fishermen who will always be proudly remembered for the significant contribution that they made as part of Pine Island's heritage.

COMMUNITIES

Pine Island consists of Matlacha (Mat-la-shay), Pine Island Center, Bokeelia (Bo-keel-ya), Pineland and St. James City. Each settlement treasures its own distinctive ambiance.

Matlacha looks like an "old Florida" fishing community (Matlacha Spoken Here). It also has a growing collection of art galleries, gift and islandwear shops and boutiques, seafood restaurants, small motels and cottages. The drawbridge over Matlacha Pass is known as the "Fishingest Bridge in the World," with anglers customarily fishing the bridge, night and day, in all kinds of weather (mostly sunny). There are plenty of bait and tackle suppliers and two full-service marinas that also rent boats, Olde Fish House Marina and Viking Marina.

Pineland, one of the main sites of Calusa Indian mounds, boasts one of the country's smallest Post Office buildings and provides us with the island's only golf course. It is also site of Pineland Marina, a full-service marina. There are several water taxi and fishing charter services along with a boat rental service based at the marina.

St. James City is Pine Island's most developed area with about two thirds of the island's population. Most of its homes are located on canals with direct access to Pine Island Sound, San Carlos Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The canals at the southern tip of Pine Island are also home to Bob and Annie's Boatyard, York Road Marina and Fishin' Fever Marina.

Bokeelia is homeport for many of the island's commercial fishermen and the site of several historic buildings. Jug Creek Marina offers cruiseboat service to Cabbage Key, North Captiva and Boca Grande. The Jug Creek Cruiseboat at the Marina and the "Tropic Star" Cruiseboat nearby, both offer day-long and specialty cruises to the outer islands. Although the "Tropic Star" is the state-designated concessionaire for service to Cayo Costa Island State Park, service to Cayo Costa is also provided by Jug Creek Marina and Ghost Rider Cruises which is based at Four Winds Marina. Fishing charter services are also available at Four Winds Marina. In addition, the Useppa Island Shoreport is located at the Bocilla Island Club Marina.

Bokeelia is also the primary location of many of Pine Island's thriving, subtropical agribusinesses featuring mangoes, pineapples, citrus, row crops and a wide variety of exotic tropical fruits including the carambola, longan, papaya, lychee and loquat.

Pine Island Center is the only completely off-water community and the hub of the island's commercial activity. It "harbors" the main shopping center, a community park with pool, lighted tennis courts and ballfields, Pine Island Elementary School, the Museum of The Islands, a modern library, medical and dental offices and the island's main fire station, complete with EMS rescue and medical support services.

Pine Island's fishing heritage has supported generations of island families. Sport fishermen long ago, also discovered the abundance of finny creatures in Pine Island Sound, San Carlos Bay, Matlacha Pass, Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico.

The sport of tarpon fishing originated in Pine Island Sound in the late 1880s. Boca Grande Pass (just 20 minutes across Pine Island Sound from Bokeelia) is considered the "Tarpon Capital of the World." Other popular game fish are snook, redfish, seatrout, grouper, snapper, cobia, mackerel, barracuda, blacktip shark, sheepshead, seabass and many others.

Until you know Pine Island's estuaries and the feeding preferences and habits of our local fish population, you might want to consider doing a few charter trips with a fishing guide. Choose half-day or all-day, offshore, inshore, back-bay (even saltwater fly) fishing. Catching fish is guaranteed! If you like "Fish'nTrips", you'll love Pine Island! By the way, summertime "fishin' is easy" and there's more of it to enjoy, mainly because of the occasional windy days of downtime that occur from January into March during winter season. So come on down for a less crowded and less costly vacation or fishing happening. (See MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU at the end of these DISCOVER PINE ISLAND Community Pages.)

While Pine Island beaches are limited to minimal, young-children-oriented, wading beaches, "the scenic boat ride to an outer island beach" is considered by many to be, "the most glorious 15 to 30 minutes of the day!" From either end of the island, St. James City or Bokeelia, that's all it takes to reach the renowned beaches of our barrier islands: Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva and Cayo Costa (a Florida State Park). No waiting in long lines of traffic, no parking fees, no crowds . . . and the passing parade of seabirds and graceful dolphins is unsurpassed! You may use your own boat, one of many water-taxi services, or a tour or cruiseboat to accomplish your mission, be it fishing, beaching, shelling, sealife and seabird watching, nature loving or just enjoyable, relaxing or refreshing and passive transportation.

Because the subject of boating encompasses sailing and cruising, we feel we would be remiss if we did not leave you with a favorite excerpt from Claiborne Young's Cruising Guide to Southwest Florida: "You could literally spend weeks exploring Pine Island Sound alone and still not exhaust all the possibilities. Secluded anchorages, good marinas, historic inns with fabulous dining, deserted, white sand beaches, beautiful state parks . . . well, the list could go on and on, but perhaps you are beginning to get the idea. There is no other portion of the Western Florida coastline that combines, in such delightful measure, the fortunate qualities of ready accessibility and fabulous, often unpopulated cruising grounds as does the stretch between the Caloosahatchee River and Gasparilla Island! Get ready for a genuine cruising treat!"Pine Island is truly a Fishing and Boating Paradise!

Pine Island's remote and natural environment is home to many varieties of exotic and tropical wildlife. More than seven known nesting pairs of American bald eagles soar through Pine Island's sunny (maybe 350 days a year) skies. Other island birds include the osprey, heron, roseate spoonbill, endangered wood stork, egret, brown and white pelicans, pileated woodpecker, ibis plus the usual array of hawks, owls and songbirds.

Area waterways hold endangered manatees (the gentle giants also known as sea-cows), sea otters, sea turtles and the rolling dolphins, often seen "surfing" our many canals in search of their daily supply of sashimi (without rice) or sushi (we are told, "that comes with the rice!")

Uninhabited Little Pine Island consists of 4700 acres and is now involved in a process called the Wetland Restoration & Mitigation Bank. A unique ecological transformation is taking place with removal of "exotic" non-native trees and vegetation that have virtually destroyed the ability of the wetlands to support the original native mix of flora and fauna. With the removal of the prolific and invasive Australian pines, the melaleuca (paper trees) and the Brazilian pepper, the return of the bird and animal life is already well under way. Welcome back, Mother Nature! For an interesting look at the scope of this fine project, you are invited to take a detour to Little Pine Island (but remember to use your "Back" button to return to this site)

While Pine Island automatically provides for superb, passive enjoyment and relaxation, it is also a great place for interactivity and exploring. Enjoy kayaking in the sheltered waters of Matlacha Pass and the Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve. Maneuver (or womaneuver) your own canoe through Jug Creek. Camp out at several island facilities or head for those across the sound at Cayo Costa Island State Park (accessible only by boat). Fish off the Matlacha Drawbridge. Hire a fishing guide and let him or her "do the driving" and "guarantee" to find you some nice, fresh fish! Enjoy an invigorating trip on one of the many water-taxis, or cruise/tourboats to the islands of Cabbage Key and Cayo Costa. Stop for luncheon at the islands of Cabbage Key, Captiva, Sanibel or North Captiva. On Pine Island, check out the local shops, dine and relax at a number of local, waterfront or off-water eateries and restaurants, specializing in fresh seafood, served up with a casual, low-key, islandish atmosphere.

We have more good news! See below under MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU, about having a FREE copy of PINE ISLAND REAL ESTATE GUIDE mailed to you! It includes all of the island's current offerings by all of our island's realtors. You should know that the GUIDE also includes a wealth of other information about Pine Island services in various categories such as Attractions, Accommodations, Boat and Kayak Rentals, Charter/Cruise Boats, Fishing Guides, Galleries/Gifts/Shopping, Island Services, Marinas, Restaurants & Food Services and more! If you like what you see in the GUIDE, you may want to "subscribe" to our FREE publication. The subscription form provides for first-class mailing for the five issues that we publish each year.

From time to time, there are new real estate subdivisions "in bloom" on our idyllic and bucolic island. Three are south of Pine Island Center in the larger community of St. James City. They are Island Acres, Hidden Lake and Conifer Lake Subdivisions. In general, growth here on Pine Island is somewhat snaily, certainly far from rampaging, and that seems to suit most of us islanders and new natives, "just fine."

In addition, we invite you to check out a sampling of various listings of other local area properties, all with full-color photos and descriptive text, on the SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNET REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE. This SHOWCASE specializes in Cape Coral real estate and has listings in other nearby, Lee County communities including Ft. Myers and North Ft. Myers. If you might want to find out more about Sanibel and Captiva, we are happy to refer you to a very informative site called  BEST OF SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA.

To receive your first FREE copy . . . poste-haste,  of the latest 60-page issue of PINE ISLAND REAL ESTATE GUIDE, please send us your request by e-mail or call 941-283-0345. In either case, be sure to give us your postal address! If you would like to continue to receive our publication after reviewing your first issue, we invite you to complete a "subscription" form found in the magazine, and to send with your check or M.O. to help us defray the first-class postage and first-rate handling expense.

To learn more about our nature-based, UNDERTOURISTED PINE ISLAND PARADISE and to receive a complete information packet (with the Real Estate Guide and Pine Island map), please mail check or MO for $4.75 (US funds) for S & H (First Class Mail) to PINE ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, PO Box 525, Matlacha FL 33993-0525. You may also want to look in on the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce's new and developing Website.

For a great look at the surrounding region including Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Ft. Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, Lehigh Acres, Boca Grande, Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva and the outer islands, check out the LEE ISLAND COAST web site presented by the Lee Island Coast Visitor and Convention Bureau. (Remember to use your browser's "Back" button to return to DISCOVER PINE ISLAND, or look for our link on their pages about Pine Island).

---

DISCOVER PINE ISLAND Community Pages and PINE ISLAND REAL ESTATE GUIDE Magazine, Copyright 2001 Pine Island Publishers and Tedd C. Lincoln. All rights reserved.

PHOTO CREDITS: Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau, Lee Island Coast, Pine Island Publishers, Mike Shevlin and Dr. John Flower

INTERESTED IN WORLD WIDE WEB ADVERTISING FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
Advertising in the PINE ISLAND REAL ESTATE GUIDE Magazine?
Send e-mail to: teddsy@cyberstreet.com