For Immediate Release Aug. 3, 2011
Research concludes Navy has no claim to Wisteria Island
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast real estate experts examined available records regarding ownership of Wisteria Island as brought forth by public inquiry.
Navy records show that on Aug. 11, 1924, Executive Order 4060 reserved certain areas for naval purposes. The boundary description included the area where Wisteria Island is now located.
In September 1951, when the State of Florida advertised the sale of Wisteria Island, the U.S. Navy filed a formal objection to the sale, claiming the United States, not the State of Florida, owned the island. After the state sale of the island the Navy advised the Bureau of Land Management of the Florida sale and expressed a federal claim to the land.
No further relative documents have been found until March 11, 1982, when Public Land Order No. 6214 revoked Executive Order 4060. With the revocation of Executive Order 4060, any Federal claim to the lands reverted back to the Bureau of Land Management and were no longer controlled by the Navy.
The Navy will not be conducting further research as they do not have any property interest.
For more information, call the NAS Key West Public Affairs Office at (305) 293-2027.
-USN-