History of Honeymoon Island

One of the top attractions in Dunedin, Florida is Honeymoon Island State Park. Located only a short drive from the city life of Tampa, it's a popular spot for locals and tourists. The over four miles of beach and a three-mile nature trail offer a multitude of activities for a day spent on the island. 

Like so many things in Dunedin, Honeymoon Island has a long and fascinating history. Originally known as Hog Island, its first known settler is Henry Scharrer who made the island his homestead in the late 1800s. Henry lived on Hog Island with his wife, Catherine, who died in April 1902, and his daughter, Myrtle, who traveled by rowboat to and from Dunedin each day in order to attend school. 

In 1921, a hurricane split Hog Island into two and created what is known today as Hurricane Pass. The land owned by Henry was on the land which would later be known as Caladesi Island. The other half was, at the time, being used as a hog farm. Eventually, the land was purchased by Clinton M. Washburn in 1938, who tried to sell the land a year later but couldn't. After joking that the island would be the perfect location for a honeymoon to a Life magazine editor, the story hit the newswire and soon people were requesting to do just that, eventually leading to its current name, Honeymoon Island.

By the end of 1940, fifty huts were built on Honeymoon Island along with a recreation hall, bathhouse, water tower, landing pier, sewer system, and a chapel. The island had an airstrip for couples to arrive by plane; however, most visitors were brought to the island by a cabin cruiser named Seabiscuit. 

After the end of World War II, storms destroyed the huts on the island, and in 1956, Washburn sold Honeymoon Island to Arthur Vining Davis. Then in 1974, the State of Florida purchased 113 acres, took six more years to purchase the remaining parcels of land, and on December 7, 1981, the area was named Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area. In October 1982, Honeymoon Island State Park opened.

Thanks to the Dunedin Causeway which celebrated its grand opening on December 13, 1964, visitors to Honeymoon Island were no longer limited to only arriving by boat. Over the years, the Dunedin Causeway have seen changes with the addition of landscaping which provides a scenic drive to the island for a day at the beach.

Each day Honeymoon Island provides waves, sand, sunshine, nature, and breathtaking sunsets to its visitors. It is no wonder that it is loved by Dunedin residents and attracts visitors from around the world.