Bay Island

Bay Island is one of Pinellas County's largest and most vibrant 55+ waterfront condominium communities, occupying its own private island in the Intracoastal Waterway between St. Pete Beach and mainland South Pasadena. Developed between 1971 and 1980, the community consists of 708 condo units spread across 15 mid- and high-rise buildings — each named distinctively (Admiral, Ambassador, Presidential, Essex, Saratoga, Yorktown, Heritage, and others) — connected by a 1.5-mile waterfront walking and biking path that rings the entire island. Access is controlled through a 24-hour attended guard gate, and each building has elevator access, secure entry, storage units, and (in some cases) air-conditioned hallways. Condos are available on a resale-only basis, ranging from roughly 540-square-foot one-bedroom units to three-bedroom floor plans topping 2,600 square feet, with one to three-and-a-half bathrooms. Many units have been updated with granite or quartz countertops, stainless appliances, hurricane-impact windows, tile flooring, and private screened balconies overlooking Boca Ciega Bay, the marina basin, or the Intracoastal — where dolphins and manatees are a regular sight. Lifestyle at Bay Island is genuinely resort-style. The community offers six heated outdoor pools, two hot tubs, four lighted tennis courts, pickleball courts, four shuffleboard courts, his-and-hers fitness centers with Nautilus equipment, billiards, ping pong, card rooms, an arts and crafts studio, a library with internet, and a two-story clubhouse with a grand ballroom, lounge, dance floor, and commercial kitchen for events. Outdoor amenities include a tiki area with gas grills overlooking the bay, picnic areas, waterfront fishing docks, dog walk areas, and a marina with boat slips available for lease. An on-site social director organizes a full calendar of weekly events, trips, and clubs — poker, dancing, biking, crafts, swim groups, tennis, and shuffleboard leagues are all active. Location is a major draw. St. Pete Beach is just half a mile west across Pasadena Avenue, while Treasure Island, Sunset Beach, and Gulfport's art-festival scene are all within a short drive. Palms of Pasadena Hospital sits less than a mile from the gate, downtown St. Petersburg is about seven miles east, and the new SunRunner bus stop in front of the entrance offers easy transit to the beach and downtown. Tampa International and St. Pete-Clearwater International airports are each roughly 35–40 minutes away. The community is pet-friendly (small pets, typically one dog up to 15 lbs or two cats), and HOA fees cover basic cable, water, sewer, trash, exterior/common maintenance, and recreational facilities — giving residents a genuinely low-maintenance coastal lifestyle wrapped inside a large, socially active community.