Beer Can Island, a popular party spot in Tampa Bay, Florida, has been ransacked by trespassers, prompting the owners to announce plans to rebuild and sell the island.
Nestled in the heart of Tampa Bay, Beer Can Island has long been a beloved party destination known for its lively atmosphere and stunning views. However, in the six months since it was closed to the public, the island has become a victim of rampant vandalism and trespassing.
Co-owners Cole Weaver, Russell Loomis, James West, and John Anthony Gadd purchased the nine-acre manmade island in 2017 for a mere $64,000, envisioning it as a storage facility for their tiki bar. Little did they know that Beer Can Island would soon become a popular boating and party spot.
Since closing the island, the owners have faced an onslaught of trespassers who have broken into storage sheds, stolen property worth tens of thousands of dollars, and left a trail of destruction in their wake. The island's iconic tiki bar has been particularly hard hit, with speakers and generators falling prey to theft.
"We had no idea that it was such a popular boating destination and party destination," Loomis told Fox News Digital. "Once we bought it, slowly we learned that, and it's been a crazy ride ever since."
In an effort to manage the island's popularity, the owners had planned to upgrade it with amenities such as toilets, alcohol sales, food service, and VIP areas. However, these plans were met with resistance from locals who had enjoyed unrestricted access to the island for decades.
Undeterred, the owners are now offering 1,500 shares of Beer Can Island for $1,000 each. The proceeds will fund expenses related to zoning, attorneys, architects, engineers, landscaping, breakwaters, sand replenishment, and rebuilding the tiki bar.
"Even though the island is closed to the public, hundreds of boats visit the island every weekend, including dozens of trespassers who roam the island daily," Loomis said. "Since people have been partying for decades, it's impossible to keep people off the island without staff or police there."
The property is currently unzoned, which has presented numerous challenges for the owners. They have been working with local officials to determine the appropriate zoning for the island and to ensure that it is utilized responsibly.
"We're having to jump through a lot of hoops to actually get the property zoned the way that we want, and that's something we're working on as we speak," Loomis said. "What we want to do is get the community involved, and they can purchase shares from us."
Weaver and his co-owners are optimistic about the future of Beer Can Island. They have a lot of work ahead of them, but they are determined to clean it up and make it an enjoyable destination once again.
"Getting all of this back into place and being able to make it an enjoyable destination for the Tampa Bay would be kind of what we're shooting for right now, to beautify the island, get the tiki hut back up and running and then keep the trash and the vandalism and that kind of stuff under control where we have security and that stuff going on," Weaver said.
With its iconic status and unique location, Beer Can Island has the potential to be a thriving entertainment destination. The owners' plans to rebuild and sell the island could breathe new life into this popular party spot, providing a safe and enjoyable experience for both locals and visitors alike.
