An inventive approach to island living

The Life: An island off the Gulf coast which was once owned by a famous inventor is on the market for $29.5 million. But it is a long way from the waters of the Arabian.

Little Bokeelia Island, Florida, United States. $29,500,000 USD. Credit: Christie's International Real Estate

A private island off the Gulf coast which was once owned by a famous inventor is on the market for US$29.5 million (Dh108.3m).

But you will need something a little bit more sturdy than an island-hopping speedboat to reach it, as Little Bokeelia Island is located not in the UAE's backyard but thousands of kilometres away in the Gulf of Mexico off Sarasota, Florida.

The 104-acre oasis is surrounded by state and privately owned islands.

The Calusa Indians, a tribe Spanish explorers wrote home about in 1513, were the first to colonise the area due to the abundance of fish off its shores.

And centuries later it caught the attention of the inventor of the Duracell battery, Charles Burgess, who is said to have bought the island in 1942 so his wife, who suffered from an illness that made her susceptible to cold weather, could live in a hot climate.

But he is not the only famous inventor with connections to the island.

Mr Burgess was friends with Thomas Edison, who is said to have visited Little Bokeelia frequently. After one of his stays, Edison, the fourth-most prolific inventor in history with almost 1,100 US patents to his name, left a note in Little Bokeelia's guestbook that reads: "We do not know one millionth per cent of anything," according to an article on privateislandnews.com.

Edison is also said to have planted a banyan tree on the island that still stands today.

The current owner, Tom Munz, 75, never expected to become custodian of the island.

He told The Wall Street Journal he offered a throw-away bid of $1.5m when the property was listed for at least twice that value in 1989.

It was accepted and turned out to be a rather good investment.

The island is on the market for $29.5m, which buys a main 8,000 square foot mansion, a swimming pool, tennis courts, acres of gardens and an "old Florida village".

The enclave of bungalows features a pavilion and an informal museum displaying inventions Burgess left behind on the island.

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