A Sanctuary for Bird Life on Useppa Island

Did you know that bird watching is one of the fastest growing nature hobbies in the US? 

Why is bird watching so popular? Birds are beautiful, entertaining and inspiring.  This year-round hobby appeals to every age group; whether for school-age natural science exploration activities, or pure pleasure.

Southwest Florida is a mecca for a wide variety of bird life. Abundant natural habitats, including the Everglades, mangrove forests and tidal flats offer a haven for many species of water birds. Depending on the season, you’re likely to see White Pelicans, Reddish Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, and perhaps you’ll even catch a glimpse of the endangered Roseate Spoonbill. 

The climate lends itself to year-round displays of dazzling birds of prey including Bald Eagle, Osprey, along with an assortment of hawk and falcon. Woodland species include the Pileated Woodpecker and Great Horned Owl.

Today bird watching on Useppa Island is popular with island residents. Useppa is located just west of Pine Island, in the Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve. The Preserve contains the three largest colonial bird rookeries in the area, located on Broken Islands, Hemp Key and Useppa Oyster Bar.  

Laura Stokes, Useppa resident, professional nature photographer and Chief Medical Officer for Useppa Island’s Fire Department says “Our Great Horned Owls are always a treat and every year, around Christmas, they produce an owlet! It’s fun to watch the little one grow. This year the fledgling was very outgoing and would swoop down to have his picture taken every day around dusk!”

A stroll along Useppa’s private beach, or a walk on the Pink Path, shaded by tall native trees, is a bird photographer’s paradise. Experience the spectacular show of birds for yourself surrounded by sea, sky, and abundant natural beauty.  

Improved Price - 124 Useppa Island

REDUCED BY $61,000 - NOW $899,000

A classic American bungalow on the high ridge that forms the center of Useppa Island, this comfortable home includes the essence of Useppa Island living: broad water views of Pine Island Sound, a front door right on the historic Pink Promenade, and stairs that lead down to the beach. 

This is Private Island living at its finest with granite kitchen and bath counters, tile and carpet flooring, 3 bedrooms, 4 baths and a study. Off the entry foyer is a grand living-dining combination with soaring ceiling. The study and kitchen are also on the entry level. 

The kitchen features Jenn-Air cooking appliances as well as all stainless steel. A pass-through window allows convenient service to the screened porch that extends the length of the dining and living areas. Centrally, an open staircase leads up to the large master suite, with two walk-in closets, a small office overlooking the main floor, and balconies with views both east and west. Central stairs down from the foyer lead to 2 bedrooms with private baths, both opening onto a full length screened porch, and then stepping out to an open deck. The home is wrapped by age-old Live Oaks and palms, with orchids dripping from the branches.

Stunning Views - 306 Useppa Island - Price Reduced

BIG PRICE REDUCTION
Custom built on a quite cove with a protected dock and stunning views. Offered fully furnished with 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, Chef's kitchen and golf carts included.

3,652 Sq. Ft.
Private Dock for 40' craft
NOW $1,225,000
Property Details

Offering plenty of space for family, friends and entertaining, features include an expansive screened porch, fireplace and hardwood floors. The spectacular second floor master suite boasts an office, water-view bath and whirlpool, sauna, huge walk-in closets and private open deck.
 

What and Where is Useppa Island...And Who Lives There?

We wondered about that when we saw Useppa Island featured in Islands Magazine in 1985, while staying at a friend’s house on Sanibel. Although we never met any neighbors before we bought our Useppa home, the community was terrific and we can’t imagine our lives any other way.

After years of living on Useppa, Mary and I continue to invite new and wonderful people to join this welcoming community.

The entrance to Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound is the focal point for boaters and vacationers seeking protected cruising and fishing grounds, as well as Florida vacation home opportunities second to none. If you had a Useppa Island Home, you would be 3 miles south of Boca Grande Pass and 15 minutes from Captiva or Boca Grande with a 22-foot runabout. 

What sets Useppa apart is the lack of a bridge, cars and traffic, with coveted privacy, island amenities and a private club. If you can drive a boat, take the club launch or hire a water taxi, no bridge -- no problem. In fact, you can make your way to major grocery and drug stores more quickly from Useppa than you can from other areas burdened by 2-lane roads, tourists and seasonal residents.  

On this 100+ acre sparkling jewel, the Useppa Island Club includes great amenities and recreation, except for golf, as our land is limited. Much has been written about the Club, the island and its history, but not much describes the physical reality of living here.

Like most places, Useppa is what our residents make it. Seeking a calm respite and weekend escape, 49% of residents are Floridians. A small percentage of residents are from other countries, while 30 percent hail from the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. They represent a broad age range that is continually trending lower as multiple generations love living private island life.

Easter Sunrise on Useppa Island

A Glorious Day of Renewal

by Karen Kauffman

As several hundred gather on the beach, we wait for the sun to rise upon this unique location. Neighbors and friends sharing a blessing for what has been and what is to come.

 We arrive from as near as Naples, Ft. Myers, Sarasota and Tampa. We make our way from Georgia, New Jersey, New York and New England, from across the Midwest and New Mexico, Montana, Washington, Canada and the United Kingdom.

 What we have in common is this island paradise, a small jewel of an island that rarely appears on a map and barely shows on a chart. Yet, whether you are 9 months old, 90 years old, or anywhere in between, we welcome you.

 Coming to a new location, at any age, can be intimidating. Wondering how you will like it, and if it will like you, is daunting. The Useppa experience is quite different. We have all felt the magic here. From the moment you step onto these shores, our community embraces you. We are here for one another, exemplified by the serenity we feel when our children go out to explore, when neighbors readily lend a hand and when all share a commitment to maintain the Island’s sacred beauty and history. We, collectively, create an unmatched experience for all to enjoy.

 

A sanctuary for exploration and rebirth, on this island, we shed our personas from the past and strive to be the people we always knew we could be. Whether it is your first time visiting, you’ve lived here for months, or maybe decades, all are welcome.

 On Easter morning, let the sun rise and shine gently upon you. Open your hearts and your minds. Look with gratitude to your left, then to your right, and know that you are welcomed to share, as one of us, this Easter morning -- a glorious day of renewal.

Useppa Island Living - A Daily Celebration

For a tiny Island accessible only by air or water, Useppa is really very cultured.  We have a comprehensive Historic Museum, a Book Club, Bridge Club, Yacht Club, Tennis Club, Croquet Club and Beach Church.  We also have the Isaak Walton Club, Fitness Center and Bocce Ball.  

For the little ones that frequent the Island, there’s fishing, bike riding, swimming at the pool or the beach, a playground and lots of nature to explore. And, they grow up together; learn to drive boats and golf carts, maybe even go to college together. The friendships forged on Useppa last a lifetime.

What about Holidays you ask? Well, we Celebrate! Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, Memorial Day, St. Patrick’s Day and all holidays in between. Our traditions include a December 23 walk to view Christmas décor displayed around the Island, just before Santa arrives, by boat, on the 24th. The Annual Christmas Eve Wassail Bowl includes Christmas Carols and Eggnog, while New Year’s brings the Annual Bonfire on the Beach, along with dinners and parties for the kids. We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a parade of festive golf carts, followed by lots of green beer and welcome the Easter Bunny to kick-off the Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Celebratory cookouts, flags, parades and parties are the norm, while we Celebrate our captivating sunsets Daily.

Socials, Movies on the Beach and Happy Hour Friday assure neighbors have the opportunity to engage and socialize on a regular basis. Then, there are the games, along with our Island version of tailgating. Croquet almost every afternoon, which includes tailgating on Wednesdays and Cat Boat racing every Saturday during season, followed by a cookout on the beach. 

Here, relationships and friendships are cherished. You can be as unique as the Island itself. A welcoming attitude is not concerned with where you came from, your profession, nor your social status. We’re just glad you’re here.

Well, Guess Where We Just Went?

The 32nd Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show
 

Held March 23-26, 2017, this is one of the top five boat shows in the country - featuring more than $1.2 billion worth of boats, yachts and accessories from the world's leading marine manufacturers. It is truly an International Show. The event includes hundreds of boats from 8-foot inflatables, power boats, fishing boats, center consoles, bow riders and personal watercraft, to super yachts over 150 feet. The finest pre-owned yachts, tents full of the latest electronics and accessories, seminars and kid's fishing clinics, exotic cars, live music and fun for all.

On Day Two – the show promoters announced the sale of two boats over 200 foot.
 

We were in the VIP Pavilion. This is a literal glass building, half the size of a football field.  There was a marble bar in the center, scattered bistro tables for 3-4 around the bar, constant music, and along the sides of the room were 8' X 10' seating areas offering groups of leather couches, love seats, burled wood and glass tables, populated by service vendors specializing in luxury living, as much as boating.  

Our neighbors were providers of personal jet services/sales, the largest global marina management firm, delivery services for yachts over 200 feet, a ship designer, exotic car broker, a console (looked like space ship) designer/manufacturer, an entertainment and events concierge service and a specialty floral design company serving jet and boat owners.

The Pavilion was the designated "get away from the crowd/heat/wind and make a deal" spot, so designed for the benefit of the yacht vendors and their VIP customers.  The traffic flow was everything from huge yacht owners, to boat reps., and everything in between.  The Press was a big part of the crowd --newspapers, boating magazines, travel magazines and trade (mechanical) magazines, as well as the Save the World's Oceans crowd. 

 

We attracted people from all of those populations, and they all had the same question. "Where is this place?" Most thought it was some exotic location in the Islands.  People were intrigued, then inquisitive, then wanted to know details.  They wanted to know how big a boat could come to our marina. Was the Island truly private and quiet?  Was it like Ocean Reef (high dollar and crowded) in the Keys?  And, people were shocked by how reasonable the cost of Useppa homes, fees, access, etc.

One woman was disappointed she couldn't get her 200+ foot yacht in, but was glad she could bring her 74-foot cruiser.  Another wanted to reserve a slip for November; wanted the name of the dock master, NOW!  Another, an owner of a Chicago plumbing company could not wait to bring over every friend he'd made at the show to reveal his new "find" as a destination, promising five Useppa visitors next season.  Another woman -- who had, long ago, been in this area, texted us on the way home, saying our information ''spoke to her.”  She and her husband were here this past weekend, and will be back in four weeks. 

Dozens of people gave us their email and asked for additional information.  Several were ‘’big league’’ fishermen and wanted the details of what was running and when.  Several had been to Useppa, tried to dock and were told they had to be members or invited/sponsored by a member in order to disembark. To those people, we have extended warm invitations.

If was a fun and exciting four days and we couldn’t have been more pleased to represent the incredible lifestyle of Useppa Island. Just to see their expressions when we proudly proclaimed we were in Florida, NOT the Islands...priceless!