Indian Key

Florida's ghost towns are railroad towns Flagler built, 1920s land-boom subdivisions that busted, and phosphate and turpentine camps.

Indian Key is an island in the upper Florida Keys off the Hawk Channel passage, in Monroe County, Florida, which was previously part of Miami-Dade County, Florida. In the 19th century, it was an unincorporated community, which later became an uninhabited ghost town. It is currently part of the Florida State Park system, located just a few hundred yards southeast of U.S. 1. It is frequently visited by tourists and is the subject of an archaeological project to uncover the historic building foundations. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

The on-the-ground condition of Indian Key is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Indian Key is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Indian Key is roughly 24.8781, -80.6769 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.