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Pine Island - Only 15 minutes from Cape Coral, Pine Island is an out-of-the-way
destination. Fringed with mangroves rather than white sand beaches, Pine
Island's secluded, quaint and "country waterfront" atmosphere is a huge part of
its charm. Its colorful community steeped in fishing lore, sweetened by a
tropical and exotic fruit industry and embellished by a strong artistic
presence, defines the island.
Pine Island consists of Matlacha (Mat-la-shay), Pine Island Center, Bokeelia
(Bo-keel-ya), Pineland and St. James City. Each community treasures its own
distinctive ambiance.
Matlacha looks like an "old Florida" fishing village ("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 the island's only golf
course at Alden Pines Country Club. It is also site of Pineland Marina, a
full-service marina. There are several water taxi, fishing charter and boat
rentals services based at the marina, including the "Tropic Star" Cruiseboat.
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.
Bokeelia is homeport for many of the island's commercial fishermen and the site
of several historic buildings. Fishing charter services, boat rentals and water
taxi services are also available. 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.
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Links of Interest (3rd party links will open in a new window):
The Greater Pine Island Chamber of
Commerce
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