Sunset Key
Encyclopedia
Sunset Key is a 27 acres (109,265.2 m²) residential neighborhood and resort island in the City of Key West
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...

, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It is located about 500 yards (457.2 m) off the coast of the island of Key West. The island is privately held among its residents, one of which is the Key West Westin
Westin Hotels
Westin Hotels & Resorts are an upscale hotel chain owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. As of 2011, Westin operated over 160 hotels in 37 countries.-History:...

 which operates a small number of guest cottages. The island is only accessible by a shuttle boat that runs from the Westin Marina out to the island. The island consists of a total of 48 single-family homes and 21 vacant lots, all of which are valued at over $1.5 million.

Its closest neighbor is Wisteria Island
Wisteria Island
Wisteria Island, also known as Christmas Tree Island, is a federally owned, uninhabited island in the lower Florida Keys 645 yards northwest of the northwestern corner of the main island and City of Key West, Florida, Monroe County, United States...

, about 200 yards (182.9 m) north.

History

Sunset Key's official name is Tank Island. The United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 constructed Tank Island to serve as a fuel tank depot during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...

. Dredging began in 1965 to form the island as well as to build passageways for submarines and other large vessels. However, the Navy's plans changed and the island saw little military action. Only two of the twelve planned fuel tanks were constructed, and although the fuel lines were run, the tanks were never filled.

In 1986, the Government sold off Tank Island and other anchorages in Key West in an auction to developer Pritam Singh from New England. In 1988, the tanks were dismantled while the remaining fuel lines served as conduits for water, sewage, and utility. Power cables were later laid alongside the existing fuel pipes.

In 1994, the island was re-purchased and renamed to Sunset Key. The island is now owned by Tom Walsh, who also owns the Westin Key West Resort & Marina.
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