Star Island

Star Island is a man-made island in the Biscayne Bay, part of the vibrant city of Miami Beach, FL. It is not part of the famed Venetian Islands but is nonetheless a coveted address for millionaires and celebrities alike. The artificial islands situated in the bay were created by dredging materials from the bay floor and using the fill to build the islands and no-bridge parts of the Venetian Causeway. Its location, just between Palm and Hibiscus Islands and Miami Beach, is prime real estate for the Miami elite. The island was built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1922. They built the island by dredging sand around a parcel of land that land developer Carl Fisher originally owned. Fisher purchased the land that eventually became the City of Miami Beach. The MacArthur Causeway connects the island to the mainland and barrier islands.

The island is perhaps best known for its celebrity residents. Current and former residents include the likes of Sean Combs, Gloria Estefan, Shaquille O’Neal, Rosie O’Donnell, and Miami Vice star, Don Johnson. The mystique of “stars” inhabiting the island garnered quite a bit of urban legend over the years, however, as false claims have been made about numerous other celebrities owning homes on the island.

Tourists often enjoy the Star Island experience by taking the Star Island Boat Tour. This trip offers views of the island from a bi-level yacht with a shaded upper level and air conditioning on the lower level. A full bar allows for cocktails in the sun while sailing around the Star Island mansions. Perhaps the best part of the tour is the incomparable view of downtown Miami and Miami Beach.