Elliott Key Boulevard
Plans to develop Elliott Key failed, to the benefit of Biscayne National Park and its visitors.
Plan Around Elliott Key Boulevard
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Elliott Key Boulevard Details
In the mid-20th century, there was talk of developing Elliott Key -- first in 1950, when a highway was proposed to connect Key Biscayne to the Overseas Highway via the island, and then in 1960 when developers and some local residents wanted to fill the island with golf courses, luxury hotels, and oceanfront homes. These plans came up against vehement opposition by fishermen and elected state officials who wanted to include the island in the National Park system. At one point, a 125-foot wide swath of land was cleared in the center of Elliott Key, the start of a proposed six-lane "Elliott Key Boulevard." Before the project could get much further, though, the island became part of Biscayne National Monument (and subsequently Biscayne National Park). Today, Elliott Key Boulevard -- also known as "Spite Highway" due to its bitterly contested history -- is an eight-foot-wide, seven-mile-long round trip nature trail.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
3.5 miles
Estimated time
3 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Elliott Key Boulevard
Compare nearby parks around Elliott Key Boulevard when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Elliott Key Boulevard
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Elliott Key Boulevard while the map context is still fresh.
0.2 mi away
Elliott Key
Pioneers once made their homes on Elliott Key, Biscayne National Park's largest island.
4.0 mi away
Schooner Wreck (The 19th Century Wooden Sailing Vessel)
Dive into the mysteries of this unnamed and ill-fated shipwreck.
4.5 mi away
Mandalay Shipwreck
A short trip from the Bahamas to Miami didn't bode well for the Mandalay.
4.5 mi away
Long Reef
Long Reef is ideal for both snorkelers and SCUBA divers, with an abundance of marine life and shipwrecks to explore.
