A long-running effort to protect one of Tampa Bay’s most ecologically sensitive island systems has reached a new turning point with the private sale of Rattlesnake Key.
The 724-acre tract of mangrove islands and submerged lands stands south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Manatee County.
According to Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court records, Cayo Cascabel LLC conveyed Rattlesnake Key and portions of the surrounding bay bottom to the Rattlesnake Key Preservation Co. LLC for $18 million in a special warranty deed recorded Oct. 30. The four-page deed conveys the seller’s interest in the island and adjacent submerged lands and includes public-trust exceptions preserving access to navigable waters and maintaining state and federal authority over those waterways.
The property comprises most of Rattlesnake Key, an expanse of unplatted mangrove shoreline and tidal flats lying between Tampa Bay and Terra Ceia Bay, west of Terra Ceia Island and north of Snead Island.
Rattlesnake Key Preservation Co. spokesperson Sally Dee provided The Islander with a statement Dec. 3 that described the purchase as “intended to preserve the natural character of this special property for local residents, sportsmen, and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy for generations. As part of this effort, we plan to work closely with officials from Manatee County and the State of Florida, as well as regional environmental leaders, to determine the most effective strategy for future management and public use of Rattlesnake Key.”
Dee did not provide details about the company’s mission, operational plans or whether the property will remain unchanged.
Honey Rand, a spokesperson for the seller, Cayo Cascabel LLC, also confirmed the transaction Dec. 3 and said the company supports the new owner’s general conservation-oriented outlook.
Rand declined to comment on how the property might be managed or used.
Efforts by Manatee County and the state to acquire Rattlesnake Key for a preserve or park collapsed in 2023. There was a wide gap between state-certified appraisals and the owner’s sale price. After the collapse, the owners listed the property in 2024 as part of a $75 million package sale.
The failed deal followed a 2022 legislative appropriation aimed at securing more than 1,000 acres for $23 million for a proposed county administered preserve.
Manatee County also had earmarked about $2 million as a partner in the
conservation effort and the Legislature in 2024 approved $8 million exclusively for Rattlesnake Key after the larger multiparcel proposal stalled.
County officials are expected to review any applications related to the property. As of Dec. 3, the county reported none on file.
Rattlesnake Key remains one of the most intact natural landscapes at the mouth of Tampa Bay, supporting expansive mangrove forests, fish nursery habitat, bird rookeries and shallow-water wetlands.