Living in Plantation Key Colony, Islamorada: A Complete Neighborhood, Boating & Real Estate Guide

Plantation Key Colony is one of those Upper Keys neighborhoods that makes particularly good sense for people who plan to live in the Florida Keys full time. Located around Mile Marker 90 on Plantation Key, the neighborhood combines dry-lot homes, canal-front residences and a limited number of direct Florida Bay properties, private bayfront homeowners park, beach and boat ramp. It is also exceptionally close to Plantation Key School and Coral Shores High School, restaurants, shopping and everyday conveniences. For boaters, the canals provide quick Florida Bay access with the Atlantic reachable through nearby Tavernier Creek, while even dry-lot homeowners can join the voluntary civic club for access to the neighborhood boat ramp.

But Plantation Key Colony is more than a convenient place to keep a boat. It is one of the Upper Keys neighborhoods where you still see the everyday side of living here: kids riding bikes through the streets, fishing from the homeowners park, families out walking in the evenings and the occasional weekend lemonade stand. Halloween brings families into the neighborhood, and holiday golf-cart traditions and Christmas gatherings reflect the strong full-time residential character. For buyers moving to Islamorada with children, that combination of community, boating, schools and convenience is difficult to reproduce.

Where Is Plantation Key Colony?

Plantation Key Colony is located around Mile Marker 90 on the bayside of Plantation Key, at the northern entrance to Islamorada. Although many properties have Tavernier mailing addresses and the 33070 ZIP code, Plantation Key is within Islamorada, Village of Islands, meaning residents receive Village services and pay Village taxes.

The location is one of the neighborhood's biggest advantages. Plantation Key Colony sits almost directly between Tavernier and Islamorada, allowing residents to reach the commercial conveniences of Tavernier while remaining within Islamorada. Grocery stores, restaurants, schools, medical offices, gyms, marinas and other everyday services are all nearby. For someone living here full time, that convenience can matter considerably more than it initially appears when comparing neighborhoods on a map.

What Is It Like to Live in Plantation Key Colony?

Plantation Key Colony has a noticeably residential feel. There are second homes and investment properties throughout the neighborhood, but it is also home to many full-time residents and families. Unlike neighborhoods dominated by vacation rentals or seasonal residents, PKC has the everyday activity that comes from people actually living there throughout the year.

This is the type of neighborhood where you can see children riding bikes, families heading to the homeowners park, kids fishing along the water and the occasional lemonade stand set up along a residential street. Halloween is particularly popular with families, while golf carts, holiday decorations and neighborhood Christmas traditions add to the small-community atmosphere. These aren't amenities that appear in a property search, but they are a meaningful part of why Plantation Key Colony appeals to buyers looking for a neighborhood rather than simply a house in the Florida Keys.

Its physical layout helps create that atmosphere. The residential streets are tucked away from the Overseas Highway, while the neighborhood park gives residents a shared place on Florida Bay. At the same time, schools, restaurants and everyday errands remain exceptionally close.

What Do Homes Cost in Plantation Key Colony?

Plantation Key Colony offers three distinct residential markets: dry-lot homes, canal-front homes and direct Florida Bay properties. The difference between those categories can easily be several million dollars, which makes a single neighborhood-wide median less useful than understanding the market by waterfront type.

Dry-lot homes generally represent the most accessible way to buy into Plantation Key Colony. Based on recent sales, current listings and property values, a practical range is approximately $700,000 to $1.2 million, with price determined heavily by construction, elevation, condition, lot size, pool and renovations. A Hibiscus Street home sold for $680,000 after being offered at $715,000, while other renovated dry-lot homes in the neighborhood have been valued or offered in the $800,000 to $1 million-plus range. A major advantage of this category is that buyers can own away from the water while still having the option to join the voluntary civic club and gain access to the private bayfront park and boat ramp.

Canal-front homes generally occupy approximately the $1.2 million to $2.9 million range, although larger, newer or unusually well-improved properties can exceed it.  Direct Florida Bay frontage is the premium segment of Plantation Key Colony. These homes are limited in number and benefit from open-water views, western sunset exposure and substantial waterfront positions. A bayfront residence at 406 South Coconut Palm Boulevard sold for $3.725 million in May 2026, while another bayfront property at 380 South Coconut Palm Boulevard carries a current automated estimate around $2.6 million. Based on recent and historical activity, a practical general range for direct-bay homes is roughly $2.5 million to $4.5 million-plus, with larger or newer estates capable of moving above that range.

These ranges also illustrate why price per square foot can be misleading in Plantation Key Colony. A $900,000 dry-lot home with access to the homeowners boat ramp, a $1.6 million canal home with a 20,000-pound lift and a $3.7 million bayfront residence are all located in the same neighborhood but provide fundamentally different real estate and boating experiences.

The Plantation Key Colony Homeowners Park and Boat Ramp

One of Plantation Key Colony's most valuable amenities is its private homeowners park on Florida Bay, located at the end of Jasmine Street. The park includes bayfront access, a beach area, dock and boat ramp, along with parking and space for residents to enjoy the waterfront. The Plantation Key Colony Civic Club controls access to the park, and membership is voluntary rather than mandatory.

This is especially valuable for dry-lot homeowners. Instead of paying the substantial premium associated with private canal frontage simply to launch a boat, an eligible resident can purchase a dry-lot home and join the civic club for access to the neighborhood ramp. It also gives non-waterfront families a shared place to enjoy Florida Bay, fish and spend time by the water.

The park has rules designed to keep it functioning as a neighborhood amenity rather than a marina. Current published rules prohibit overnight docking and storage, require boats to use the ramp for prompt loading and unloading, and restrict unattended boats at the dock or beach area. Short-term renters are not eligible to purchase their own access key and may use the facilities only when accompanied by the property owner.

Is the Plantation Key Colony HOA Voluntary?

Yes. The Plantation Key Colony Civic Club is voluntary, and membership is limited to Plantation Key Colony homeowners and qualifying long-term renters with owner permission. The club maintains and controls access to the private park, beach, dock and boat ramp rather than functioning as a conventional mandatory HOA governing every property in the subdivision.

The latest publicly accessible membership information I found lists annual membership at $250, although buyers should verify the current year's fee directly with the civic club because dues and access policies can change. The club has also undertaken significant improvements to the park infrastructure, including a replacement boat-ramp and dock project.

For buyers who prefer neighborhoods without a traditional mandatory HOA but still want access to private community amenities, this structure is a significant advantage.

What Is Boating Like From Plantation Key Colony?

The canal-front section of Plantation Key Colony provides direct access to Florida Bay, and nearby Tavernier Creek provides a convenient crossover to the Atlantic Ocean. Current property listings specifically market PKC canal homes around this combination of immediate bay access and easy ocean access through Tavernier Creek.

This makes the neighborhood practical for several types of boaters. A flats or bay fisherman can quickly access Florida Bay and the backcountry, while an offshore fisherman can cross through Tavernier Creek toward the Atlantic. As with every Florida Keys canal neighborhood, buyers should still evaluate the specific property's water depth, canal width, turning radius, seawall, dock configuration and lift capacity rather than assuming every canal property accommodates every boat.

The neighborhood's private ramp adds another layer of flexibility. A buyer does not necessarily need canal frontage to enjoy the boating lifestyle, which is one reason Plantation Key Colony can work particularly well for families who want to keep housing costs below waterfront pricing while still owning a trailerable boat.

One of the Most Convenient Boating Details: The 7-Eleven

One of those hyperlocal conveniences that rarely makes it into a traditional neighborhood guide is the nearby 7-Eleven at 90270 Overseas Highway. It functions as both a convenience store and fuel stop, and its waterfront position makes it unusually useful to Plantation Key Colony residents.

From parts of the neighborhood, residents can reach the area easily by golf cart, while boaters can also access the fuel stop from the water. That means a boating morning can start with a quick run for fuel, ice, drinks and last-minute supplies without having to make a major detour by car. For someone who boats regularly, seemingly small conveniences like nearby marine fuel and ice can make a meaningful difference in how easy the neighborhood is to use.

How Close Is Plantation Key Colony to the Schools?

This is one of the strongest reasons families choose Plantation Key Colony. Plantation Key School, serving PK–8, and Coral Shores High School, serving grades 9–12, are both approximately half a mile from many homes within the neighborhood. Current property records for South Coconut Palm Boulevard show both schools approximately 0.5 mile away, while other PKC listings specifically market the ability to reach both Upper Keys schools within minutes.

That proximity has a meaningful effect on the neighborhood's character. When both the local elementary/middle school and high school are immediately nearby, it naturally attracts more full-time families than communities located farther from the schools. For parents, school drop-off and pickup are also dramatically simpler than they would be from Lower Matecumbe or neighborhoods farther north in Key Largo.

I would not put a specific number on how many children live in Plantation Key Colony because there is no reliable public neighborhood-level count. What can be said is that its proximity to both schools, residential streets, homeowners park and concentration of full-time residents make it one of the Upper Keys neighborhoods where family life is especially visible.

Restaurants and Everyday Conveniences Near Plantation Key Colony

Plantation Key Colony is unusually well positioned for dining because several local restaurants sit within roughly a mile or two of the neighborhood. Capt Craig's Restaurant is located at 90154 Overseas Highway and is one of Tavernier's long-running casual seafood restaurants. Nearby Crooked Palm Cabana (Islamorada Brewery & Distillery) at 90184 Overseas Highway offers a more casual brewery, cocktail and outdoor-cabana atmosphere.

Along the Old Highway, Old Tavernier Restaurant & Lounge is a longstanding local dinner destination, while Lido 73 at 90451 Old Highway offers waterfront dining and a dock-and-dine setup accessible from Tavernier Creek. That concentration of restaurants is an underrated advantage of PKC: residents can live on a quiet residential street while still having several distinctly different dining options immediately outside the neighborhood.

Shopping, medical offices, gyms, marinas and other everyday services are similarly concentrated around Tavernier and the northern end of Plantation Key. This is one of the reasons Plantation Key Colony works particularly well for full-time living. You get the boating and neighborhood environment without giving up practical access to everyday necessities.

What Are the Homes Like in Plantation Key Colony?

Plantation Key Colony contains a broad mixture of housing because the neighborhood has developed over many decades. Buyers will find classic ground-level concrete homes from the 1960s and 1970s, elevated residences, extensively renovated properties, newer construction, canal homes with substantial dockage and larger direct-bay residences. Recent examples include a 2003 ground-level concrete home on Bougainvillea Street, renovated older homes throughout Hibiscus and Azalea streets, and much larger bayfront properties along South Coconut Palm Boulevard.

That diversity creates opportunities at several price points, but it also means construction should be evaluated carefully. Two $1.5 million homes can have very different insurance profiles depending on elevation, year built, CBS construction, roof age, impact windows and doors, wind mitigation and flood zone. Older homes may also contain additions or downstairs spaces that should be checked against permit records before purchase.

Why Plantation Key Colony Appeals to Families

The family appeal of Plantation Key Colony is difficult to capture through MLS statistics because much of it comes from the way the neighborhood functions day to day. Both public schools are immediately nearby, the streets are primarily residential, and the homeowners park gives families a shared place on Florida Bay. There is also enough full-time residency that children actually encounter other children outside rather than living in a neighborhood composed primarily of vacant second homes.

This is where you can find kids fishing at the homeowners park, riding bikes through the neighborhood or setting up a lemonade stand on the weekend. Halloween is one of the times that residential character becomes particularly obvious, with families and children moving throughout the neighborhood, while Christmas decorations, golf carts and holiday traditions create the kind of small-community atmosphere that many people moving to the Keys hope to find.

For someone relocating with children, those characteristics can matter more than whether a house has the newest kitchen. A home can be renovated. Recreating a neighborhood with nearby schools, boating access, restaurants and an existing community of families is considerably harder.

Is Plantation Key Colony Good for Full-Time Living?

This is one of the neighborhoods I would place particularly high on the list for full-time Upper Keys living. The reason is not any one feature but the combination. Plantation Key School and Coral Shores High School are roughly half a mile away. Restaurants and everyday businesses are nearby. Residents can join the civic club for private bayfront park and boat-ramp access. Canal-front owners can keep their boats behind their homes. Tavernier Creek provides ocean access, and the surrounding Plantation Key/Tavernier area contains much of what a household needs on a weekly basis.

For someone commuting north toward Key Largo or the mainland, Plantation Key also provides a more convenient starting point than central or southern Islamorada. At the same time, residents remain within the Village of Islamorada and have relatively easy access south toward Founders Park, Windley Key and Upper Matecumbe.

Who Is Plantation Key Colony Best For?

Plantation Key Colony is particularly compelling for buyers who want the full-time neighborhood experience without giving up the Florida Keys boating lifestyle. Families benefit from being extremely close to both schools. Dry-lot buyers can enter the neighborhood at a lower price while retaining the option of private boat-ramp access. Canal buyers can keep boats directly behind their homes and reach Florida Bay quickly. Bayfront buyers can access a much smaller inventory of open-water properties with sunset views.

It also works well for buyers who value convenience. Being able to reach restaurants such as Captain Craig's, Old Tavernier, Crooked Palm Cabana and Lido 73 within minutes, run over to the nearby 7-Eleven for fuel and ice, reach both schools quickly and still return to a quiet residential street is a combination that is difficult to find farther south in Islamorada.

Is Plantation Key Colony One of the Best Family Neighborhoods in Islamorada?

For a family planning to live in the Upper Keys full time, it deserves to be near the top of the list. Indian Mound offers a similarly strong family-oriented environment slightly north, while Venetian Shores carries a larger premium because of its extensive deep-water boating infrastructure. Plantation Key Colony occupies an interesting middle ground: dry-lot homes around roughly $700,000 to $1.2 million, canal homes around $1.2 million to $3 million, limited bayfront properties generally around $2.5 million to $4.5 million-plus, a voluntary civic club, private bayfront park and boat ramp, and both public schools approximately half a mile away.

Those characteristics make it accessible to a broader range of buyers than some of Islamorada's predominantly multimillion-dollar waterfront communities while still providing many of the same lifestyle benefits.

Final Thoughts on Living in Plantation Key Colony

Plantation Key Colony is a neighborhood where the value is as much about how easy it is to live here as it is about the individual house. Dry-lot owners can join the voluntary civic club and use the private bayfront park and boat ramp. Canal-front owners can keep their boats behind their homes and reach Florida Bay quickly, with Atlantic access available through nearby Tavernier Creek. A small number of direct-bay properties provide open-water frontage and sunset views at the upper end of the market.

At the same time, Plantation Key School and Coral Shores High School are approximately half a mile away, restaurants and everyday businesses are concentrated nearby, and even small conveniences such as being able to reach the local 7-Eleven for fuel and ice by golf cart or boat make the neighborhood particularly functional for people who actually live in the Keys year-round.

But the part that is hardest to communicate through a listing is the neighborhood itself. This is where you can still find kids fishing at the homeowners park, bikes in driveways, a lemonade stand on a Saturday afternoon, families out for Halloween and golf carts decorated for Christmas.

For buyers trying to decide where to put down roots in Islamorada, that distinction matters. Plantation Key Colony isn't simply a collection of dry-lot and waterfront homes near Mile Marker 90. It is one of the neighborhoods where the everyday, family-oriented version of the Florida Keys lifestyle is still particularly easy to find.