Welcome to Stock Island
Just across the Cow Key Channel bridge from Key West lies Stock Island—a thriving, eclectic community that blends authentic island grit with a wave of creative renewal. Often described as “the Old Key West before tourism,” Stock Island offers a glimpse into the island’s working-class roots and maritime heritage while embracing a new era of art, culture, and culinary innovation.
Historically, Stock Island earned its name from the livestock—“stock”—that early settlers kept there to supply Key West with food. For generations, it served as the heart of the island’s boating and fishing industry, home to shrimpers, boatbuilders, and craftsmen who helped shape the Keys’ seafaring identity. The island’s working waterfronts, marinas, and boatyards remain vital to this day, preserving the character and charm that once defined all of Key West.
In recent years, Stock Island has experienced a thoughtful transformation. Industrial docks now share space with boutique hotels, waterfront restaurants, art studios, and marinas, giving the area a creative energy that feels both authentic and new. It’s home to popular destinations like Hogfish Bar & Grill, Stock Island Marina Village, and The Perry Hotel, which have become gathering spots for locals and visitors alike.
Residentially, Stock Island offers a mix of older Conch cottages, new developments, and waterfront communities, all with a more laid-back, unpolished character than neighboring Key West.
Today, Stock Island stands as a vibrant, evolving extension of Key West—where salty tradition meets contemporary island living, and where the true spirit of the Keys still hums through the docks and marinas at sunset.
