Florida’s $12 million private island goes on sale for the first time in 150 years – complete with a secret library and glass ‘rainstorm’ chandelier

A unique private island in the heart of Florida has gone on the market for the first time in around 150 years, offering one very wealthy buyer the chance to own a slice of the Sunshine State’s pioneer history.

Bannon Island, a 23.3-acre estate in Lake Marion near Haines City, is asking $12 million and can only be reached by boat, helicopter or seaplane.

And while private islands are hardly unusual in Florida, this one has a rather unexpected setting.

Rather than being surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys, Bannon Island is inland, almost exactly between Orlando and Tampa – meaning its future owner can enjoy complete seclusion while remaining within roughly 45 minutes of two of the state’s biggest cities.

‘It makes it a great location for somebody who craves privacy but at the same time wants to be in the middle of it all,’ listing agent Lisa Kleine of Red Bird Realty told Realtor.

‘Saltwater islands are common as you get down to the Keys, but to have one in the interior of Florida, specifically in between Orlando and Tampa, makes it a great location.’

The property has remained in the same family for generations, beginning with Irish-born carpenter Patrick Bannon, who acquired the island in the 1880s and set about creating his own private retreat.

Today, his descendants are selling the sprawling estate – complete with an original two-story home, a huge modern addition, a separate duplex, fruit groves and multiple outbuildings.

And despite the property’s hefty price tag, it isn’t simply a luxury new-build. At its heart is a house with more than a century of history.

Before Bannon arrived, the island had a much older history. Its first known resident was Echo Emathla Chipco, also known as Chief Chipco, who maintained a Seminole camp there until the 1880s, according to local historical accounts.

Bannon subsequently acquired the island for around $1.25 an acre.

The Irish-born Catholic carpenter had moved south from New York after suffering a serious bout of pneumonia. He was already an accomplished craftsman and was reportedly involved in work connected with prominent New York families.

In 1887, he began building what would become the centerpiece of the island. The unusual two-story structure was designed around an octagonal central section and shaped like a Celtic cross, reflecting Bannon’s Irish heritage.

He used cypress and pine lumber, with some of the timber transported from Tampa.

The house was not simply a family residence, either. Bannon and his wife, Annie Marie Ryan, raised their six children on the island, with the home even containing a classroom for homeschooling.

It also became an important gathering place for the local Catholic community. In 1895, the first Catholic Mass in Polk County was reportedly celebrated there for the Bannon family and nearby railroad workers.

Bannon eventually established a citrus grove and fish camp on the property, making the island both a home and a working estate. He remained there until his death in 1942. More than a century later, the island is still in the hands of his descendants.

The original house has survived hurricanes and more than a century of Florida weather, including Hurricane Charley in 2004, which passed directly over the area.

But the family eventually decided the historic property needed more space. Rather than replacing the old house, they expanded it.

The result is an expansive 5,034-square-foot main residence that effectively combines two eras of Florida architecture.

The historic section retains its reclaimed cypress walls and distinctive Celtic-cross design, while the newer addition introduces vast expanses of glass and contemporary interiors. The two are connected by a glass walkway.

‘It’s two in one,’ Kleine says.

‘You can literally walk on one side of the house and experience old Florida and the reclaimed cypress wood… and then you move to the other side of the house and you’re in the kitchen that can serve two people or 40 people.’

The main residence currently has three bedrooms and four bathrooms, with additional spaces that could potentially be used as sleeping quarters.

Among its more unusual features is a suspended library, which appears to float above the living space on cables and incorporates a glass floor.

Then there is the chandelier. Made from around 100 individually blown-glass drops, the dramatic multi-story installation was commissioned by the owners and designed to resemble a rainstorm.

The family even installed split air-conditioning units specifically so the glass pieces could move gently in the air.

‘The chandelier mimics a rainstorm and was commissioned by the owners,’ Kleine says. ‘They even thought to put in split air conditioning units to move the glass so that it’s always in motion, like a rainstorm would be. It’s glorious to look at.’

Another highlight is the property’s L’Orangerie, a glass-walled space designed to make the most of the Florida landscape.

Its walls of glass frame views across Lake Marion, while the surrounding windows allow natural light to flood into the house. The result is a striking contrast with the darker, timber-heavy historic section.

There is also a large kitchen capable of catering for anything from an intimate dinner to a gathering of around 40 people.

‘It is luxurious and timeless and state-of-the-art in its whole expression of honoring what was in old Florida but what is the new Florida,’ Kleine says.

The main residence isn’t the only accommodation on the island. A separate 2,698-square-foot duplex, known by the owners as the Dog Trot, contains two identical units, each with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

It was used by the family while the main house was being expanded. According to the listing, the structure also reflects traditional Florida architecture, designed to make the most of breezes coming off the lake while providing shelter during cooler weather.

There are also four additional accessory buildings scattered around the estate.

The island itself is just as important as the houses. Its 23.32 acres contain native woodland, landscaped areas and historic citrus groves, with Valencia oranges among the trees alongside grapefruit, guava and other fruit.

Wildlife is abundant, too, with the surrounding lake and forest providing a habitat for numerous native species. And because there are no roads connecting the island to the mainland, the new owner will have the ultimate luxury in today’s increasingly crowded world: privacy.

Bannon Island is completely surrounded by Lake Marion, with access by boat, seaplane or helicopter. That isolation is likely to be one of its biggest selling points.

The estate could appeal to someone looking for a private family compound, a conservation project or an exclusive event venue, according to Kleine.

Or it could simply be a retreat for someone who wants to disappear from the outside world without actually being far from civilisation. Despite its secluded setting, Orlando and Tampa are both within relatively easy reach.

‘You could be somebody who’s seeking an incredible venue for weddings, special occasions, family reunions, or somebody who just wants complete privacy but wants access to Tampa and Orlando within 45 minutes,’ Kleine says.

For Kleine, the listing is also the culmination of a relationship that began more than 20 years ago. She first visited Bannon Island after being invited to a party there.

‘I felt like I stepped into another world,’ she recalls. ‘I felt like I was a time traveler.’

That first encounter ultimately led to her representing the family decades later when they decided to sell the property.

The estate has also received a Century Pioneer Family Farm designation from the Florida Department of Agriculture, recognising more than a century of continuous ownership by the same family.