In the year 1513, famous Spanish explorer, Ponce de Leon, finding no suitable anchorage for his 3-ship flotilla on the southeastern coast of Florida proceeded to sail around the tip of the state and then north, up the Gulf coast.

On May 23rd, he discovered the "islands that jutted out into the sea." Finding an opening between Cayo Costa and Gasparilla Islands, he sailed into Charlotte Harbor, anchoring eventually in a protected sound off an 18-mile-long island covered with tropical foliage. The "sound" was Pine Island Sound and the tropical island, of course, Pine Island. In a return trip to the area in 1521, de Leon was fatally wounded by an arrow in a fight with native Calusa Indians, dying a few days later in Hispaniola.

Whether the subject is the Calusa Indians and their mysterious ceremonial shell mounds, Ponce de Leon and the Spanish explorers, or the notorious coastal pirates of a later century, such as Jose Gaspar (Gasparilla), the history and folk legends of Pine Island make for fascinating reading.

Largely forgotten during the first half of the century (electricity did not come to the island until 1941), Pine Island, with its enchanting natural beauty, is now being rediscovered by thousands of people looking for a place to live that still retains the authentic charm and natural splendor of "Old Florida."

Still comprised primarily of unspoiled natural terrain, featuring lush, tropical and subtropical foliage, stands of Lob-lolly pines, and hundreds of inlets, creeks, bays and sounds, all teeming with fish and wildlife... Pine Island today is one of the last areas on the Gulf Coast that pretty much looks the same as it did a hundred years ago.

The island's current population of approximately 7800 year-round residents is for the most part congregated in four basic communities.

Pronounced Mat-la-shay, this sleepy fishing village still reflects the charm of days-gone-by, with bait shops, seafood signs, fishing nets frying in the sun, and shrimp boats common sights year-round. Actually a small island in its own right that connects Pine Island proper to Cape Coral via bridges, Malacha still depends on commercial fishing for its livelihood as it has for decades. The old wooden swing bridge at Matlacha (finally connecting Pine Island with the mainland in 1927) was known as the "fishingest bridge in the world" and its more modern replacement, completed in 1968, continues to be a popular spot for anglers, with impressive catches of snook, redfish, sheepshead and mangrove snapper recorded year-round.

Located on the west coast of Pine Island, a little to the north of Pine Island Center, Pineland is a small, cozy community of cottages built on ceremonial Calusa Indian mounds, facing out to Pine Island Sound. In the distance lie Useppa and North Captiva Islands and the Gulf of Mexico.

Although a popular marina and daily ferry boat to Useppa and the out-islands are the major attractions that draw visitors to this off-the-beaten-path community today, it is worth the trip simply for sheer beauty of its picturesque setting. The view out into Pine Island Sound is breathtaking and the lush tropical foliage, featuring many stately coconut palms and the old gumbo limbo trees, creates an especially exotic atmosphere. John L. Lewis, former president of the United Mine Workers, lived for several years in one of the homes situated on the old Indian mounds overlooking Pine Island Sound. It is the Pineland area where you will find many of the famous Pine Island tropical fruit orchards and palm tree groves. Pineland was first settled in the 1870's.

Located at the northern tip of Pine Island, with a sweeping view of Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande Pass, Bokeelia is a gem of a spot, sprinkled with resort cottages, two marinas and some of the greatest fishing piers in the world. In 1904, H. W. Martin built the first house where a popular restaurant is today. Inside was Bokeelia's first post office and store, and his wife ran a boarding house for passengers off the boats. It was the pioneer settlers of Bokeelia who made the Pine Island mangoes famous. The piers at Bokeelia and nearby Jug Creek are legendary in Southwest Florida for great snook fishing. And, of course, Boca Grande Pass... the most famous tarpon fishing spot in the world, is just minutes away by boat.

Pine Island is poised to take advantage of the mushrooming marketplace occuring in Cape Coral (the "giant next door"), and more specifically, along State Road 78 (Pine Island Road).  As development occurs on State Road 78 and additional commercial and industrial ventures are bulit along that critical corridor, the growth in Cape Coral is expected to explode.  When that occurs, a significant portion of the Cape Coral population seeking to live in a more quiet, country-like suburban setting can be expected to then relocate to Pine Island to lower density subdivisions offering a more water-oriented environment -- yet located in close proximity to all of the conveniences assocated with an urban lifestyle.

With its unique position, surrounded by water, including the Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound and Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserves and San Carlos Bay ... and its close proximity to outer islands of Sanibel, Captiva, Cayo Costa and Boca Grande, Pine Island represents the "last frontier" for those searching for the best of the Florida Gulf coast lifestyle.  Pine Island ... for many is destined to become "The Enchanted Island" of the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast.