Island Features

As soon as you arrive on Gasparilla Island, you’ll feel the pace slow from the hustle of everyday life. Without a traffic light in sight, golf carts and bicycles are the preferred way to get around the island. Boca Grande, our historic island village, is lined with palm trees and peaceful streets with shops, restaurants, art galleries, and truly unique stops you won’t want to miss.

One of a string of barrier islands along Florida’s southwest Gulf Coast between Fort Myers and Tampa, Gasparilla Island is bordered by of the Gulf of Mexico, Charlotte Harbor, Little Gasparilla Pass, and the Boca Grande Pass. Fishermen are rewarded with grouper, snapper, mackerel, and kingfish in the surrounding waters. Boca Grande has also earned the distinction of being known as “The Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World.”

The island’s beaches are an important nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles, an endangered species. In March, the sea turtles begin laying their eggs in the sand; peak nesting occurs between May and August.

As you bike the shady inland pathways, visit lighthouses and historical sites, or casually stroll the white-sand beaches, you will be awed by the island’s natural beauty. Adult and children’s bicycles, as well as golf carts, are available for rental through Inn Adventures, located at The Inn’s Beach Club.

For more information, please call The Inn’s Concierge Desk at 855-200-3250 or Gasparilla Inn Adventures at 941.964.4625.

Local Facilities & Services
To enhance your experience on the island, here is a sampling of some local resources available to you:

	Friends of Boca Grande Community Center This community center offers an array of educational programs, parades, fun runs, youth camps, and more. For more information about upcoming events and programs, please call 941.964.0827 or visit www.friendsofbocagrande.com
Boca Grande Health Clinic Board certified physicians provide primary healthcare and urgent care services at the clinic year-round. If you should require medical attention, a physician is on-call 24 hours per day, seven days per week. To schedule an appointment or reach the on-call physician, call 941-964-2276. For more information, visit www.bghc.org.
	Boca Grande Historical Society The museum displays numerous artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, and a wealth of stories that shaped the island’s past. The museum and gift shop are located on the corner of Park Avenue and Banyan Street. For more information call 941.964.1600 or visit http://www.bocagrandehistoricalsociety.com/.
Johann Fust Community Library Built in 1949, this architectural gem features a pink stucco exterior, carved cypress doors, and an open-air loggia, complete with formal gardens and fountain. Readings, lectures, children’s activities, and other public events are offered. A three-block walk from The Inn, the library is located at 1040 W. 10th and Gasparilla Road. For more information, call 941-964-2488 or visit https://sites.google.com/a/jfcl.org/johann-fust-community-library/.
	Lighthouse & Museum The Port Boca Grande Lighthouse was built in 1890 to mark the southern tip of Gasparilla Island. A working U.S. Coast Guard Light, the lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places and features a museum of island history. There is no admission fee, but a $3 donation to the State Park is requested. For more information, call 941-964-0060 or visit http://www.barrierislandparkssociety.org.
Gasparilla Island Places of Worship Most Boca Grande communities of faith provide traditional religious services and programs for residents and visitors on a year-round basis. Many are available for traditional wedding ceremonies. For times of worship service and other information, contact the individual churches listed below or call The Inn’s Concierge desk at 855-200-3250. Amory Memorial Chapel Gasparilla Island State Park 941.964.0060 * Available to rent for public or private events. Not an active church. First Baptist Church 421 4th Street West 941.964.2386 firstbocagrandebaptist.com “Lighthouse” United Methodist Church 325 3rd Street West 941.964.2479 bglighthouseumc.com Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church 240 Park Avenue 941.964.2254 St. Andrews Episcopal Church 380 Gilchrist Avenue 941.964.2257 www.standrewsbocagrande.org