— Community Guide
Davis Islands
Tampa, FL
“Davis Islands is Tampa's only true island neighborhood — two man-made islands built from dredged Tampa Bay mud in the 1920s, connected to downtown by a short bridge, with no traffic lights, a working general aviation airport, and Mediterranean Revival homes that have stood for a century.”
Man-made island · 5 min to downtown Tampa · Plant High School district · Sailboat water · No traffic lights
What locals love
- Mediterranean Revival homes from the 1920s–1940s alongside modern waterfront estates
- Plant High School attendance zone — top-ranked public high school in Hillsborough County
- Peter O. Knight Airport (KTPF) — general aviation on the island tip; bay views on takeoff
- Davis Island Yacht Club — active sailing community with direct Tampa Bay access
- No traffic lights — golf-cart-friendly streets and a genuine walkable village feel
A brief history
D.P. Davis purchased the natural grassy keys at the mouth of the Hillsborough River in 1924 for $350,000 and dredged Tampa Bay mud to create a planned resort community with hotels, a golf course, and over 300 residential lots. He sold all 306 original lots on opening day for $1.68 million. The Florida Land Boom collapsed two years later, and Davis disappeared mysteriously at sea in October 1926 during a voyage to Paris. Airport construction in 1935 — the Peter O. Knight Airport, built as a Works Progress Administration project — reduced the original three islands to two by filling in a canal. Tampa General Hospital later occupied the northern tip of the secondary island; the residential island retained its Mediterranean Revival character through the decades.
The housing mix
Davis Islands has three distinct housing layers: original 1920s–1940s Mediterranean Revival homes (tile roofs, stucco, arched entries) concentrated along the waterfront and interior streets; mid-century cottages and smaller bungalows on the interior blocks; and newer luxury custom builds and tear-down replacements pushing toward the upper end. Waterfront homes with private docks and direct bay access start around $2M and run well past $10M for bayfront estates. Interior island homes trade in the $900K–$1.5M range. There are no high-rise condos on the residential island — the character stays firmly single-family and townhome scale.
Who lives here
Davis Islands draws buyers who want genuine island living without the isolation — downtown Tampa is five minutes by car, and the island's walkable streets and lack of traffic lights create a pace that feels nothing like urban Tampa. Plant High School is a primary draw for families with school-age children; the IB program and strong athletics reputation make it one of Hillsborough County's most sought-after public schools. A secondary buyer profile is the pilot or sailing household who wants hangar access at Peter O. Knight Airport or a slip at the yacht club as part of their daily routine. Relocations from the Northeast and Midwest are common — the island's layout, price point relative to comparable waterfront in other metros, and 10-mile proximity to Tampa International Airport make it a practical landing spot.
Landmarks & things to do
- East Davis Boulevard — the island's restaurant and café corridor (restaurants, coffee, shops)
- Davis Islands Trail — 1.3-mile linear waterfront park running the length of the island
- Davis Islands Dog Beach — off-leash dog beach on the bay
- Davis Islands Park and Seaplane Basin Park — waterfront recreation with historic seaplane basin
- Davis Island Yacht Club — sailing and powerboating on Tampa Bay, racing programs
- Peter O. Knight Airport (KTPF) — general aviation with bay views; plane-watching from the park
- Roy Jenkins Pool — city-operated outdoor pool, renovated 2014
- Sandra W. Freedman Tennis Complex — 10-court city facility on the island
Schools in the area
Detailed school zone + rating pages are rolling out progressively. Ask Ben about school-zoned home searches in Davis Islands — he'll pull the exact attendance map and closed-sale data for each feeder pattern.
Frequently asked about Davis Islands
How was Davis Islands created and who built it?
Davis Islands was built by developer D.P. Davis starting in 1924. He purchased the natural "Grassy Keys" at the mouth of Tampa's Hillsborough River for $350,000 and hired dredging crews to pump Tampa Bay mud onto the islands, raising them above water. The entire community was man-made — there was no pre-existing residential land. Davis sold all 306 original lots on opening day for $1.68 million before the Florida Land Boom collapsed. He disappeared at sea in 1926. The Peter O. Knight Airport was added in 1935 as a WPA project and served as Tampa's main airport until 1945.
Is Davis Islands in a flood zone?
Yes. Davis Islands is surrounded by Tampa Bay and sits substantially in FEMA Zone AE — a high-risk flood zone where flood insurance is required for federally-backed mortgages. Budget $2,500 to $5,000+ per year for flood insurance depending on the property's elevation certificate, structure type, and distance from the water's edge. Hurricane Helene's storm surge reached 7.18 feet in Tampa Bay in October 2024, demonstrating the real exposure. Always confirm the specific FEMA flood zone designation and request an elevation certificate before making an offer on any Davis Islands property.
What schools serve Davis Islands?
Davis Islands feeds into Gorrie Elementary, Wilson Middle School, and Plant High School in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Plant High School is consistently ranked among the top public high schools in Florida, with a well-regarded IB diploma program and competitive athletics. Private options in the area include Academy of the Holy Names and Tampa Preparatory School. Verify your specific address assignment at mysdhc.org — boundary lines within the island can shift.
What is the Davis Islands real estate market like in 2026?
The Davis Islands market is softening from the 2021–2023 peak but remains expensive. Typical home values run around $1.35M blended (Zillow February 2026: $1.39M, down 1.6% YoY). Average days on market have increased to roughly 38 from 20 the prior year. Waterfront homes with private docks start around $2M and can exceed $10M. Interior island homes are more accessible at $900K–$1.5M. Inventory is thin — typically fewer than 40 active listings at any time. Flood insurance costs and post-hurricane insurance premium increases are headwinds for the broader market.
How does Davis Islands compare to Harbour Island?
Both are man-made islands minutes from downtown Tampa, but they have different characters. Harbour Island (built in the 1980s) is largely gated, condo-heavy, and more urban. Davis Islands (built in the 1920s) is all single-family and townhome scale, has no high-rises, no traffic lights, and a walkable village feel. Davis Islands has older Mediterranean Revival architecture; Harbour Island has newer development. Davis Islands also has the airport, the yacht club, and direct bay access — it has more of an authentic neighborhood identity than Harbour Island's newer master-planned feel. Davis Islands generally commands higher prices.
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