Private Island Mansion With Its Own Helipad and 5 Acres of Seabed Hits the Market in Florida Keys for $16 Million

An idyllic private island retreat in the Florida Keys that is accessible only by water or air has returned to the market for $16 million, offering up a rare opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds: "extraordinary privacy" and metropolitan proximity.

The beautiful isle sits just a quarter-mile off the coast of Marathon, FL, and is surrounded by beautiful turquoise waters that serve as the ideal spot for "snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and watersports."

And, while boats, Jet Skis, and helicopters are the only real methods of transport to the island, residents and guests can be on the mainland in mere minutes using one of those options, creating a level of convenience rarely enjoyed at properties of this kind.

According to Vladimir Rochebrun, who is co-listing the property with Aaron Rosenthal, both of The Chad Carroll Group at Compass, the island's location on the Atlantic Ocean side of Marathon also comes with several other advantages.

“It's on the ocean side so you don't have a lot of the issues that you deal with on the Gulf side, where you're dealing with all these bugs and all these things that impede on your quality of life,” Rochebrun explains.

“If you do own an island on the [Gulf] side, there's so many more things that are nuisances that kind of impede on the value of being able to freely be outside and be comfortable.”

The impressive property is currently home to a three-bedroom primary residence and a separate one-bedroom guesthouse, as well as a private helipad and a large dock that can house a sizable boat. Yet there is much more to the property than meets the eye.

In addition to the land that is easily viewable above the water, the property also comes complete with approximately 5.8 acres of seabed that surrounds the island—creating a private underwater paradise that only a few have had the chance to enjoy.

“You have to factor in the surrounding seabed, which you have ownership and rights to, so all that reef, everything like where people are snorkeling, that's all owned under this folio for this property,” Rochebrun explains.

“It has just enough depth to where you can come in with a substantial boat, but it's not so deep to where you can't comfortably snorkel with a bunch of people and go lobstering.”

The sellers have done a lot of updates to the 2,304-square-foot main home since it was last listed for $11.7 million in 2021, including a major kitchen renovation.

“I think my favorite part about the island is just how much it's been cared for,” Rochebrun says. “You feel the love on that island. It doesn't feel like a spec property that someone built to sell. You can tell that it's something that's been cared for and maintained in excellent condition. It’s just such a special property that you can tell it feels like something that's generational.”

The main home has two bathrooms and there is also a bathroom in the guesthouse, with the total living space spanning about 5,000 square feet.

The home has no public utilities but is certainly not primitive.

“It has its own solar and wind system entirely, so it's completely off grid and self-sustained,” Rochebrun says. “I were a buyer, it's definitely a place that I would have a lot of pride in owning. You're giving your family something that is just so special and irreplaceable.

"The energy of the island is just unreal. We didn't want to leave our first time there. It felt like home. You feel like you're at home instantly.”

In addition to the sleeping spaces, there is also a pool, a protected snorkeling area, and a fishing pier.

“My favorite thing about this property is you can literally catch fish off the dock and filet the fish because everything's fresh from the ocean,” Rosenthal says. “My other favorite thing is you can have multiple boats on the property. You can have your tender and you can also dock your fishing yacht.”

The island is only accessible via helicopter (there is a helipad) or boat (the listing includes a dock on the mainland), but it’s a short ride either way.

“You're about a quarter-mile offshore, so it's easy to get to and from,” Rochebrun says, adding it’s even swimmable if you wanted.  “Once you're [on the mainland], you have dock space and space to park cars, and then the grocery store is literally a three-minute drive from the dock.

“Literally everything you need is maybe within a 10-minute drive once you're on the mainland, so it's really ideally located.”

The island has also been a successful business venture over the years as well as a family getaway.

“[The sellers] historically have used this as an investment property and they have repeat business, which makes it very special,” Rochebrun says. “It's very lucrative from a business standpoint and whenever it's not rented, they can easily just go and stay there, so it's generating a substantial income, but it's also something that's been in their family for over 30 years.”

According to one rental listing, the place rents for a standard weekly rate of $13,500 with a $1,000 discount during September and October. The rate goes up to $17,500 for holidays like Christmas and New Year’s.

The location is ideal for many kinds of buyers.

“This is one of the most unique properties there is. Just by the accessibility and how easy it is, and you're really close to civilization and you're away from civilization at the same time,” Rosenthal says.

Rochebrun agrees.

“It's for someone who wants their privacy but doesn't want to be so far away from the mainland to where it's going to feel like a trek,” he says. “It's literally every boater's and salt-life lover's dream.”