Indian Bluff Island, A Must See if Searching for a Palm Harbor Waterfront Home

Indian Bluff Island is Palm Harbor’s best kept secret neighborhood.  Most Palm Harbor residents have never even heard of Indian Bluff (the residents refer to it as IBI), and that includes many folks that have lived in Palm Harbor for years.  Indian Bluff is a secluded neighborhood north of Alderman Road, West off of DeSoto Avenue and then West on Oceanview (the causeway to the island), just south of Wall Springs Park.  Most of the homes are either on the Gulf of Mexico or on canals with easy access to the gulf.  The more luxurious homes are well appointed and stunning in their own right, and feature luxurious finishes.

Many classify IBI as prestigious and exclusive, as there are many $1M+ estates on the gulf.  Yet part of the charm of the island is that there are still many of the original ranch homes here, and so it’s certainly got an eclectic and sometimes funky flair to it.  Homes here were built anywhere from 1957 to 2008, are anywhere from 1 to 4 stores, and include many architectural styles.  Most of the waterfront homes include docks, boat lifts, davits, etc. and the gulf-front homes feature unsurpassed gulf views.

Perhaps the best part of Indian Bluff living is that everyone on the island knows each other.  There are the annual Christmas, Easter and Halloween events for the children, hosted on a rotating basis amongst the residents who choose to participate (and most do).  Then there’s the annual Indian Bluff Island Summer Slam and Fishing Tournament, with a roaring barbecue with live music in recent years.  All proceeds go to support local charities.  IBI is a non-deed restricted neighborhood and there’s a voluntary $35 per year homeowners association.

Originally, Indian Bluff was a separate island from the mainland.  In 1914, Robert Guase paid $27.93 for the entire island, as homesteading records show.  It wasn’t until 1957 that the causeway was built and the island was subdivided into lots and modern home development began.  Sadly, there were discussions about building a community boat ramp, but they never came to fruition.  However, nearby there are numerous nearby public and private boat ramps for those residents not on the water.

The Pinellas trail meets the end of the short causeway to the island, and Wall Springs Park is a block to the north.  Wall Springs features playgrounds, fishing docks, trails and picnic areas.  Just across the street is the renowned Innisbrook Golf Resort.  There’s plenty of shopping, restaurants, museums and recreational activities in the area, and major sporting events and Tampa Bay cultural activities are a short drive away.   The Pinellas County schools serving the Island are highly acclaimed.  The school bus picks and drops of kids at the end of the causeway, and, to make Island living just that much sweeter, a very special island resident has lovingly sat at the bus stop supervising the kids each day for more years than any of us can remember.

Contact us here or give us a call at (727)366-0324 to schedule a tour or receive the latest offerings on Indian Bluff Island.