Sunset Key facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sunset Key

Sunset Key is located a few hundred yards west off the island of Key West, Florida
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Geography
Location	Gulf of Mexico
Coordinates	24°33′42″N 81°48′48″W / 24.561781°N 81.81334°W / 24.561781; -81.81334
Administration
United States
State	Florida
County	Monroe

Sunset Key is a small, private island located near Key West, Florida, in the United States. It is about 500 yards (457 meters) away from the main island of Key West. This 27-acre (11-hectare) island is mostly a neighborhood with homes and a resort.

Only people who live or stay on Sunset Key can access it. A special shuttle boat takes visitors and residents from the Margaritaville Marina in Key West to the island. Sunset Key has 48 single-family homes and 21 empty lots. Each of these properties is worth a lot of money. The island's closest neighbor is Wisteria Island, which is about 200 yards (183 meters) to the north.

The Story of Sunset Key

Sunset Key was not always called that. Its first official name was Tank Island. The United States Navy created Tank Island to store fuel during the Cold War. The Cold War was a long period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Building Tank Island

Work on the island began in 1965. The Navy used a process called dredging to build the island. Dredging means digging up sand and mud from the bottom of the ocean. This also helped create paths for submarines and other large ships.

The Navy planned to build twelve fuel tanks on the island. However, their plans changed, and the island was not used much by the military. Only two of the twelve tanks were ever built. Even though pipes were laid to carry fuel, the tanks were never filled.

Changing Owners and Names

In 1986, the government sold Tank Island. A developer named Pritam Singh bought it at an auction. Two years later, in 1988, the fuel tanks were taken down. The old fuel pipes were then used for new things. They became pathways for water, sewage, and other important utilities like electricity.

In 1994, the island was sold again. The new owner renamed it Sunset Key. Today, the island is owned by Tom Walsh. He also owns the Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina, which is where the shuttle boat leaves from.

Getting to Sunset Key by Boat

To get to Sunset Key, you need to take a special ferry boat. These boats are designed to carry people back and forth between Key West and the island.

Images for kids

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  Sunset Key, with Wisteria Island nearby.