Big Coppitt Key is resort-free
Big Coppitt Key is among the few Lower Keys that are not dominated by resorts. The modest island is about 10 miles from Key West and sits just north of the city’s Naval Air Station, so it’s not uncommon to hear jets passing overhead. Beyond that, noise isn’t an issue. “Key West can be busy with tourists, but Big Coppitt is much less crowded,” says Amy Prumo, a sales associate with Coldwell Banker Schmidt and a resident of the nearby city of Marathon. Besides a handful of rentable RV lots, Big Coppitt lacks the kind of vacation infrastructure that Stock Island and Key West are known for, meaning the community doesn’t experience the same ebb and flow of people throughout the year. That makes it a comfortable suburb for people who work in Key West but prefer to live on quieter streets. “We have a lot of our police department, teachers and business owners living there,” says Suzanne Moore, principal broker with Suzanne Moore Real Estate and a 30-year resident of the Lower Keys. “It’s probably the one key that’s the most like a suburb of Key West.” Rentals leave plenty of room for military members, while waterfront homes offer a taste of the Keys' famous island lifestyle.
Fishing trips to Marvin Key are a local favorite
Most of the island’s recreation centers on the water. Boating and fishing are popular pastimes, as are diving and snorkeling to the many surrounding reefs. “People like to go out to Marvin Key or Fort Zachary; the beach there is really popular,” Prumo says. Marvin Key, the outermost island on the Gulf side of the Turkey Basin, has a sheltered cove beach that Prumo says is beloved for its seclusion and lack of tourists. No Doubt Fishing Charters offers daily trips with a local captain for those without their own boats. Wilhelmina Harvey Park is Big Coppitt’s only inland park and includes a playground and a walking trail. This dog-friendly, gated greenspace has a small picnic area and benches surrounding its well-maintained field. Boca Chica Beach Park sits at the edge of the Naval Air Station, its natural shoreline shaded by native trees. It’s a 5-mile drive up to Bay Point Park, where parkgoers will find a shaded playground beside courts for sand volleyball, basketball and tennis.
Waterfront homes on Big Coppitt often come with private docks
Many of Big Coppitt’s condos, mobile homes and single-family homes are situated on canals, creating a web of waterfront properties — something nearby Key West lacks. “There’s only one canal in Key West, so if you want to live on the water and have your boat right in your backyard but still be close, Big Coppitt’s an option,” Prumo says. “Plus, there’s more space and bigger lots, so you’re going to get a lot more home for your money.” Two- and three-bedroom homes that aren’t on the waterfront usually sell for around $700,000 to $900,000, while three- and four-bedroom homes with docks range from $1 million to $3 million. Styles include everything from Key West cottages to raised modular homes to two-story Craftsman-inspired builds. Empty parcels are also available, and buildable lots under a quarter acre are usually priced between $200,000 and $300,000.
The gated Shark Key community, which extends off the Overseas Highway just north of Big Coppitt, is considerably more expensive. “Shark Key is upscale luxury homes, but the trade-off is that most of them don’t have any docks,” Prumo says. Some of these estates sit on half an acre or more and are priced between $1 million and $5 million. Empty lots are priced between $500,000 and $900,000, depending on size. This community also has a park, lagoon beach, tennis courts and clubhouse.
Key West hosts events all year
The surrounding Keys host events year round. For 40 years, divers have gathered at Looe Key Reef in early summer for the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival, an underwater radio concert that raises money and awareness for reef protection. In Key West, annual traditions include July's Hemingway Days, a week-long celebration of famed author Ernest Hemingway’s love for the island lifestyle. The city also organizes a yearly Brewfest, a Lobsterfest and a Rum Fest.
Bobalu’s is beloved for its fresh seafood and nightly live music
Big Coppitt is home to several local restaurants, including the ocean-themed Bobalu’s Southern Café. Diners are greeted by nautical murals, hanging buoys and a spacious outdoor patio that echoes with nightly live music. The main draw is fresh seafood, although locals also rave about the café’s New York-style pizza. A few doors down, Karlita’s Café brings an authentic taste of Cuba to the shore. Geiger Key Marina, RV Park & Fish Camp includes the casual Back Side of Paradise restaurant, a dockside favorite. Less than 10 miles south in Key West, two Publix Super Markets are surrounded by salons, banks, casual restaurants and a movie theater. Duval Street, the nightlife capital of the city, is just a few miles away in Old Town Key West.
Career prep at Key West High School
Sugarloaf School, about 9 miles away, receives a B-minus from Niche and serves kindergarten through eighth grade students. B-plus-rated Key West High School offers a robust catalog of career and technical education courses on cosmetology, auto maintenance, engineering, criminal justice and culinary arts. As part of Monroe County School District, students can enroll in charter options throughout the Keys, although the district only provides bus service for students attending their zoned schools.
Reach Key West via the Lower Keys Shuttle
Like most Keys, Big Coppitt relies on U.S. Highway 1, or the Overseas Highway, for most of its transportation. The highway connects drivers with Key West in less than 10 miles, making reaching Key West International Airport easy. The Lower Keys Shuttle also serves the island, and the trip to Old Town Key West takes about 45 minutes by bus.
Preparing for hurricanes and high insurance rates
The Florida Keys are highly susceptible to hurricanes, which can cause damage from high winds and flooding. Residents in the Lower Keys pay some of Florida's highest home insurance premiums, and rapidly rising flood insurance rates affect many homeowners.
Photography Contributed By
Daniele Giuseppe Del Gaudio
