Windley Key


Windley Key is an island in the upper Florida Keys in Monroe County, Florida, United States.
U.S. 1 crosses the key at approximately mile markers 84—85.5, between Plantation Key and Upper Matecumbe Key.
All of the key is within the Village of Islamorada as of November 4, 1997, when it was incorporated.
Windley Key is home to Theater of the Sea, a popular tourist attraction since 1946.
A Florida State Park Service geological site, and the popular Holiday Isle resort are also on the island.

History

Prior to the building of the Overseas Railroad, there were two separate islands there, known as the Umbrella Keys. Railway construction involved filling between these two keys which then became known as Windley Key, after a settler. This is the site of several extensive quarries which for many years supplied building stone, known locally as keystone. The railway station on Windley Key was known as Quarry.