That’s quite a lot of clams.
Pine Key — an uninhibited, uninhabited 9-acre paradise in Tampa Bay, Florida, that’s known colloquially as Beer Can Island — is on the market for $14.2 million.
Cole Weaver, James Wester, Russell Loomis, and John Gadd shelled out about $64,000 in 2017 for the hotspot between MacDill Air Force Base and Apollo Beach, FOX 13 Tampa Bay reports. But now, the party’s over.
“We thought that we brought something fun and enjoyable to Tampa Bay, and I believe it’s just time for us to type of close the chapter and move on,” Weaver told the news station.
The soused sanctum, now closed to the general public, went in the marketplace in February for cryptocurrency and money offers.
A planned auction was canceled “as a consequence of multiple money offers,” Loomis told The Post on Wednesday, but “we now have yet to just accept or log off on any deal up to now.”
The owners describe the vacant spit of land that dates back to the Forties as an “extraordinary haven” that encompasses “roughly 9 acres of picturesque pine tree-covered upland, together with roughly 60 +/- acres of shoal area.”
Loomis told the Tampa Bay Times that after they splashed out for the sandy sanctuary their “vision was no different than a state park with adult amenities.”
People who purchased memberships got to enjoy features comparable to a full-sized tiki bar, a sand volleyball court, and an enormous inflatable slide. The unique space also hosted festivals, weddings, and live shows.
The offshore oasis attracted tourists but in addition trouble — one Hillsborough County commissioner called it an “eyesore” last yr and expressed concern about access for first responders within the event of an emergency evacuation.
In 2022, 11 people needed to be rescued after their boat capsized near Beer Can Island.
Zoning has also been a sticky subject — the island isn’t zoned for any use.
The county is pushing for it to turn into a privately owned nature preserve, as an alternative of a non-public party place. Activities have ceased while the zoning imbroglio is worked out.
The Times reports that the owners dropped $1 million on zoning-related attorney fees over time — in 2023, they grossed $750,000 and paid $1,800 in property taxes.
They poured an estimated $5 million into renovations, per Benzinga, and weathered significant damage last yr from Hurricane Idalia.
Weaver told Fox 13 that the brand new owner could have the island zoned for residential use and construct a house.
“This opportunity is exceedingly rare, as Pine Key is one among the one privately owned islands in Tampa Bay,” Weaver explained. “We’re grateful for the outpouring of support we now have received from the community and our members over time, but all good things must come to an end sooner or later, and for us, that point is now.”
