In the early 1990’s, the sandbar just south of Pass-a-Grill Beach known as Shell Island joined with it’s neighboring island to the south to form one contiguous island.
In 2000, Pinellas County acquired a lease from the State of Florida to establish Shell Key (a.k.a. Shell Island) as a Wildlife Preserve. The state lease includes all the submerged areas spanning to the Pinellas Bayway. At that time, new rules regarding alcohol and public use were enacted to comply with the requirements of the state lease.
In 2007, the plan came up for it’s scheduled review and update. After several months of public debate and input from various interests, County staff began formulating proposals to restrict camping, alcohol and pets from Shell Key.
Camping
Camping has been a popular activity on Shell Island since the earliest sandbars began to emerge from the local coastline. As a child in the late 1970’s, my friends and I regularly camped on the north island.
Beginning in April, 2007 shellkey.org offered the idea of camping by permit as an alternative to the proposed camping ban. After consulting with other campers, environmental groups and county staff, we began to receive support for our ideas from representatives of environmental groups as well as County staff in the Environmental Lands division. Eventually, our idea to preserve camping under a permit system was included in the 2007 SK Management Plan. (see our original plan to find practical solutions to the challenge of balancing public use with environmental protection.) By October of 2007, County staff formally included camping by permit into the draft plan. In December, The County Commission formally approved the plan.
Closing of the North Pass
In 2015, the north pass of Shell Key closed due to shifting sands in the area – effectively connecting the island to the mainland. The result was a reduction in water circulation and reports of poor water quality began to increase that summer. Additionally, the new land bridge to the island was a cause for concern due to an increase in domestic pets and other predators like coyotes gaining access to the preserve island. For the next 2 years, the situation was a hot topic of discussion among island advocates. A study was commissioned by Pinellas County to evaluate the problem and make recommendations.
Irma Pass
In early September 2017, Hurricane Irma raked our coast and left in its wake a new pass through the middle of the island. The pass brought fresh water flow from the gulf into the leeward estuary of the island essentially solving the water flow issues caused by the north pass closing.
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- Shell Key 1970-2004
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- Shell Key 1992
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- Shell Key 1996
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- Shell Key 2007
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- Shell Key 1999
Moved here in 1997. I joined a great group of folks called the Shell Key Boat Club. Still have my Shell Key tank top. Fridays we’d meet at The Wharf, those without boats would hop on board and head to Shell Key. Everyone brought a dish to share and the Wharf would bring a big grill, hamburgers, and a couple of kegs.
I also used to take my 35′ sailboat through the cut and around behind the island.
Too bad the county has been such a bad steward of the island.
Is this the island known by some as Capt. Marshek’s Island. We used to go out to Shell Island in the sixties and my memory is that we could see Marshek’s from there. Spent the night few times in an old house to be out of the weather, otherwise it was right on the beach on Shell. Great Times, Cheers!
Hi Walter,
Thanks for sharing that bit of history. History is not always well recorded, so it’s great to hear from people that actually remember.
Clear Skies!
I used to go out with family and friends on boating weekends to the island back in the late 60’s. The parents would set up a canopy and make a sand pit bar b cue, while the kids would explore every inch of the island. We would sleep on our boats and then continue on Sunday. I distinctly remember being on the island once and this strange boat was coming directly at us. As it got closer and closer, we found out we were looking at a hovercraft! The first Id ever seen. It came right ashore and did a couple rounds and then headed back out to the Gulf. I remember all the kids were simply drop jawed at that one. There was a wicked current too by that island you had to be very careful swimming in.
Hi Fred,
Thanks for the tiptoe down memory lane 🙂 I once saw a hovercraft in Boca Ciega Bay near Bay Pines in the mid 70’s. Maybe it was the same one.
Cheers!
PMI or Pinellas Marine Institute had a youth program that brought at risk youth to that island to attempt to set them straight. That was in the 90’s. Not sure when that program ended.
Hi, Jack,
What is the abandoned structure on God’s Island? What did it used to be? My friends discovered it kayaking last weekend. Also, we’d like to know more history of the islands (including what is now Ft. Desoto) if you can recommend a book or resource.
Thanks!
Ken
Hi Ken
As I understand it, that island was once privately owned and someone actually lived out there. The island was purchased by the state around 2000 – and leased to Pinellas county under the auspices of the Shell Key Management Plan. I don’t have a lot of information about the history, but I will poke around to see what I can find. Here is a publication with information about Ft. Desoto history. Hope this helps.
My grandparents owned Shell Key in the 1930’s & 40’s. They had a fishing biz off the Keys & would take folks out there to fish. After my Grandpa died in the 1950’s my Grandma sold it (sadly).
Hi Linda,
Thanks for the historical insight 🙂 If you have any images or other memorabilia from your Grandparents and the island I would love to post an article about it.