Black's Island — Hotel in Port Saint Joe

Had an absolutely great week out on Black’s Island. We were the first official renters out there since the recent ownership change so this review may be helpful. First let me say the owners of the island, Scott and Deanna and family/team, and the management company, Brian and team, went out of their way to make our family’s stay one that we will never forget. If you are like us, life is chaotic. Getting away to a place where you can really wind down was just perfect.||The island, although only a quick 10 min boat ride, takes you to to somewhere that doesn’t feel like anything we have experienced in the US. It is an extremely beautiful place. It is situated in the middle of one of the most virgin stretches of marine life left in Florida. Sea life is everywhere, all the time. Clear, protected waters let you see all types of fish, rays, sea stars, crabs, sharks, turtles, sand dollars, etc. Great for fishing, paddling or just for the kids to catch hermit crabs, sand crabs and conch shells in their nets. The island itself is incredible. There is a small, nice beach, hundreds of palm trees, all kinds of places to relax or explore and tons of animals to add to the experience....peacocks, quail, bunnies, chickens, fantail pigeons, lizards...||When you get there, the dock path leads you right up to a beautiful wooden big game lodge with a huge front porch(looks over the pool/hot tub, beach and sunsets), and really well done interior with sitting areas, bar and wooden spiral steps that leads to two additional levels. Once we checked in, we headed to our bungalow where all of our items were already waiting for us. All 20+ bungalows, situated between the palms on the right and left of a raised wooden boardwalk that streches down the spine of the island. Makes you feel like you are in something out of the South Pacific. Odd numbered bungalows are on the sunrise side of the island, evens are on the sunset side of the island. Ours was a single story unit, sunset side. This was perfect for us. We have three young kids (10,4,6). Our oldest liked the loft (ladder up to a queen bed) and the other two slept in the second bed room. The main open room was surrounded with windows that had waterfront views and the balcony had a brand new grill, new furniture and shaded views. Spent a ton of time out there being lazy and grilling shrimp and fresh fish. Beds were comfy, bathrooms were nice, all was very clean, simple, private and laid out really nicely.||Our original plan was to chill on the island for a few days and then get a ride to the mainland (boat does the short trip frequently) to do some things off the island the remaining days (see other beaches, shop, go to dinner, etc). We actually never got back in our car until the end of our trip. We quickly got used to the slower pace and separation from reality of the island ....and found a lot to do without going back to the mainland/car. ||FOOD: Without a doubt, planning out what you need to eat and drink is a must. You will most likely do a lot of eating and drinking! Also, right near the landing where you park is a great shop to pick up fresh shrimp and fish (and bait if you fish). Do that on the way over. I should mention that my wife was really good about freezing some meals and packing plenty of food so we didn’t need to make several trips for supplies. Also, Scott offered to pick us up some things we may be missing on some of his several trips to town...so that was great. On the last night, everyone that was on the island met outside the lodge on the patio and did a huge feast. Scott had picked up some surf and turf and others contributed and we had drinks, ate and enjoyed the sunset. Great way to spend our last night....|They had a light continental breakfast each day, fresh coffee (AM) and fresh fruit available throughout the day. Also, they had the lodge fridge stocked with water and drinks that we could help ourselves. During the soft opening period, the restaurant and bar are not staffed yet, but there were several times during the week when the staff offered a cold drink or had cut some fruit or a fresh carafe of lemon water.||ADVENTURES: |- Ask if someone can take you out to the sandbar at low tide. It is right off the island. We gathered several sand dollars and starfish. Later in the week they had dried the sand dollars and the kids got to paint them.|- Paddled around the island daily. Plenty of kayaks and paddle boards. On the opposite tip of the island, near the pole, is a sandbar that always held many stingray. Also, the water is pretty much always calm, so it is a great place to learn paddle boarding if you haven’t done that. Do yourself a favor and get up early one morning and catch a sunrise out on the water.|- The jet skis available on the island are really in great shape and a ton of fun to rip around the bay. Saw a bunch of sea turtles in the bay...I was told that this is one of the main places where the turtles “grow up” before they head out to sea.|- We booked a family fishing charter with Capt Tim from Bali Hai Charters in PSJ. He’s great! And picked us right up at the island. Wish I would have planned ahead and did a tarpon trip.|- We got a boat ride out to the beaches at the cape. Beautiful white sand and untouched dunes. Saw dolphin, fish and rays....|- Went shark fishing one night with Alex and Zack from the island. Great time!|- Exploring around the island was great. Especially with the kids. We caught lizards, saw the animals and also found a pirate treasure map in the cannon and the buried treasure (pre-trip got some pirate treasure on Amazon, $13! Ha!)||Other notes:|- Pro-tip: My advice would be book now and get out there this summer if you can before all the final improvements are done and, I presume, the rates go up. This place is a huge value right now. |- Although we missed long walks on the beach and maybe some time in the surf, I really enjoyed being in the bay. We could have gone over to the cape and enjoyed those beaches more if we really wanted. The bay’s sea life and calm was just really great.|- No WiFi in the bungalows (around lodge only) but there was TV. We told the kids it was broken. Life without both for a week was a great experiment. Try it.|- Couple things that would have been nice was more hammocks, a couple nicer kayaks and the hot tub was not working until right at the end of our stay (they were on it)|- The island has an amazing history...if you see Billy around ask him about it....he seemed to know the most.||We...

I LOVE THIS PLACE. This year we stayed in Bungalow #2- 2 bedroom, loft. We have stayed many times over the years during scalloping season with our kids and grandkids and many friends from Pensacola. We pack up everything in the world we think we will need for meals and scalloping and sit back and relax. You will access this island by boat, seaplane or helicopter. The staff has been known to assist in getting you to the island if you have none of those available. You can also rent a patio boat on the mainland for the duration of your stay.||||The staff on island is extremely helpful and accommodating. They greet each boat and assist with bringing gear up to the bungalows and keep the grounds natural and impeccable. ||||While there is not a restaurant on island, there are lots of gas grills under the clubhouse and normally ample room for a couple large groups to gather (birds prevented that this year). New this year, bottles of water and Miller Light were available. We still brought all our own beverages, but it was nice to grab a bottle if we didn't want to run back to the bungalow. The club house is beautiful with gorgeous spiral staircase up to a widows watch, outstanding woodwork, decks and places to read or gather to play games after the kids all go to bed. There is a great lawn for outdoor games or chilling in a hammock (your own) between the palm trees. The pool is well maintained. We tend to go from the pretty little beach to the pool back and forth all day with the kids. You will live outside and in your bathing suit-so pack lightly. Kayaks are available for guests to use. ||||The bungalows have a full size kitchen with ample space to store all the groceries you pack in. Every bungalow has stunning views. Bathrooms and showers are well appointed. Very nice Tommy Bahama amenities are provided along with towels and beach towels, paper towels, toilet paper, dish soap, dishwasher cubes, and a few laundry pods. There was also a sweet welcome gift bag this year with lotion, local soaps, sugar scrub and local hot sauce. Bring your own reef friendly sunscreen. While you spend most of your time outside in the sea breeze, the cool AC is nice for sleeping. However you can turn it off and allow the breeze to cool you but most of the windows don't have screens. The Bungalows endured a major hurricane several years ago and repairs are still being made. So some of the decks have holes or broken boards. Think Swiss Family Robinson but with AC and electricity! I love that there are NO TVs in the bungalows. ||||The accommodations get better each year, however, there are still a few improvements I would like to see...like a full set of pots and pans in the unit without having to search for large pots around the different bungalows and a Set of Large Bowls for mixing batters and big salads. A crockpot would be nice too. A citrus reamer would be helpful. I bring my own favorite knife and reamer to make ceviche with those fresh scallops and a couple big bowls because those are things I want to be sure to have. While the list says these things are available, most the time, they are not. It would be nice if that was one of the checks during each cleaning. The king bed in the master bedroom may be broken or too soft- something was wrong with it. It was impossible to sleep two people in this king bed (bungalow #2). We have never had that problem before. ||||The last thing and only reason I gave 4 stars is that there were two caged birds under the clubhouse during our visit this year (see dancing photo). They continually squawk at ear piercing levels and make it impossible to fully use that area. Because of where they are located, it blocks off full use of one of the counter spaces due to smell and noise. We like to gather as a group and use 1 of the 2 counters for a buffet. Pets are not allowed at this time and I am glad since it is a very intimate location, but these birds are caged and must be someone' pets. They detract from the relaxing environment and fluid use of the space. The kids love all the other animals around the island that roam free and spotting the chickens, bunnies, peacocks, and guinea hens is so delightful and beautiful. If these birds lived in the trees, it would be much better.|| ||The scalloping this year was plentiful and we were able to get our daily limit just walking and snorkeling right around the island. ||||This island a magical place and we hope to continue to make it an annual destination. There are very few places I like to repeat visit because there are so many places in this world to explore. But this island resort is truly a one of a...

This is a fantastic destination family/adult experience! This is not Panama City, this is not "30A", but it is like 30A was before all of Atlanta moved there in the 80's. I was concerned the Atlanta ties were going to mess Black's Island up, but it turns out the owners have Florida Roots, and their long term plans will honor the island. ||Being from North Florida we knew how bad Black's Island was hit by Hurricane Michael, so bad they are just now reopening 4 years later, and we wanted to support them. We came from Apalachee Bay over to St. Joseph's Bay, 4 couples, on 4 boats, with a 3 hour boat trip broken up half way by oysters and beers in Apalachicola. We all rented a Bungalow, but Bungalows sleep 4-6 comfortably we learned, so we could have shared.||The docks are new, the walk ways are new, appliances are new, and the family cookout summer kitchen style is straight up North Florida style every night, with flat tops griddles, gas grills and a fantastic Mexican deep fryer!! If you want to go out to dinner, you don't really want to come here. If you get along with others, know how to clean up after yourself, enjoy fishing, cooking out, family community, sharing yours or someone else's fish and shrimp and tasting new dishes in a beautiful and unique setting, this is it! You can also just cook in your Bungalow!||Great pool, great dock, great fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, relaxing reading spaces, ring game, cards and more... ||Guierrmo and his Partner Alexandra are hard working and positive, they help you experience island life. Their garden is beautiful, with chickens, Guinea's, peacocks, McCaw's, Cockatoo's and Quail for domestic birds on the island, but we saw in addition to Pelicans, seagull's and terns, Black Skimmers, Willets, Imperial terns, all of those are endangered species.||Here is the tip of the day if you read this far. Order your groceries in advance delivered to your bungalow. Order less. Carry less. Pack less. You have a washer and dryer.||Did I mention pack less? Pack less...||We will be...