Florida officials are considering buying coastal land beside Caladesi Island State Park in a move that could protect wildlife habitat and create a possible land-based link to one of the state’s most secluded beaches.
The property at Mandalay Point, on the northern tip of Clearwater Beach, is being assessed for acquisition through Florida Forever, the state’s conservation and recreation land-buying programme. The deal has not yet been completed.
The wider estate is advertised as covering about 42.57 acres and includes a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house. However, a preliminary state evaluation describes the proposed purchase as covering approximately 27.9 acres of undeveloped barrier-island land.
The property has been on the market since February 2024 and is currently listed for $37.5 million. Florida began considering it for conservation purchase in 2025, and it was added to the anticipated acquisitions list in June 2026.
Potential expansion of Caladesi Island State Park
Mandalay Point lies across Dunedin Pass from Caladesi Island. The state evaluation says acquiring the land would extend a protected chain of barrier islands running for almost 18 miles and including Caladesi Island State Park, Honeymoon Island State Park and Anclote Key Preserve State Park.
Caladesi Island currently covers about 2,420 acres and can only be reached by boat or by ferry from Honeymoon Island. Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector said joining the properties could eventually allow visitors to walk from Clearwater’s North Beach into the state park.
“By joining it now with the city of Clearwater, you’ll be able to walk up North Beach Clearwater into Caladesi State Park,” he said.
Mr Rector has backed the potential purchase, arguing that improved access could attract more visitors and strengthen tourism in the area.
Coastal habitat under consideration
The land includes beach, dunes, coastal grassland and mangroves, according to the preliminary evaluation. The document says those habitats are increasingly vulnerable to residential development along Florida’s coast.
Officials say the site could provide nesting or feeding habitat for sea turtles and shorebirds including snowy plovers, least terns and American oystercatchers. Nearby observations have also recorded loggerhead and green turtles, Wilson’s plovers, piping plovers and red knots.
The evaluation says protecting the property could also help safeguard water quality in Clearwater Harbor, St Joseph Sound and the Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve, as well as nearby seagrass beds.
The fate of the existing house has not been decided. It is unclear whether the property would be removed, retained for a park-related purpose or dealt with in another way if the state proceeds with the acquisition.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is continuing to assess the proposal under the Florida Forever programme. The department had not provided further details on the next steps.
