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.

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. The Randell Research Center (below) offers tours and information and is located next to the Pineland post office.

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. The Museum is located near Pine Island Center on Sesame Drive, next to the library building.

-

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 (at left) and provides us with 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.

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 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 remote and natural environment is home to many varieties of exotic and tropical wildlife. There are more than eighteen, active American bald eagle nesting sites whose residents are often seen soaring 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,

Nature and wildlife, as well as the environment, are protected on Pine Island by the island's largest organization, the Calusa Land Trust and Nature Preserve of Pine Island, Inc. With over 800 members, the Trust is a local, non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable organization devoted to protecting the natural diversity and beauty of Pine Island. It does so by acquiring and preserving in perpetuity, environmentally sensitive, native Pine Island habitats.

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