The natural beauty of Honeymoon Island draws daily crowds to this Florida state park.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 133
generate more income to offset these
costs, Kreuziger, Bon Appétit’s CEO,
suggested leveraging the history of the
island. The name “Honeymoon Island”
itself implied romance; therefore,
weddings and receptions made perfect
sense as added services that could be
offered on the island. The state agreed,
and architectural drawings for an event
facility were drafted. Bon Appétit Group
made a large investment in the facility
in return for a contract extension. The
project was completed in 2011, and within
the following year, Honeymoon Island
reached another milestone – 1 million
annual visitors.
Since 2011, it would appear the secret
is officially out. Honeymoon Island has
it all. An enchanting history, 4 miles of
beautiful beaches, nature trails teeming
with wildlife, and new this year, a scenic
bike trail running through the park, which
also connects the island via the Dunedin
Causeway to the Pinellas Trail. Romance
is still very much part of the island’s story,
as over 5,000 couples have said “I do.” In
addition, those looking to celebrate an
engagement or anniversary get the VIP
treatment when they book a Beachfront
Dinner for Two on the island. It’s no
wonder that each year the park welcomes
more visitors than the last.
This story is a prime example of how the
right partnerships between the public and
private sectors can make all the difference.
Pulling together ideas and resources from
both parties has had a positive impact for
the state park and the Dunedin community
through local business growth.
With Downtown Dunedin only 3 miles
away from Honeymoon Island, the area
itself has become a must-visit location
for out-of-state visitors and Tampa Bay
area residents. The numbers speak for
themselves. According to Visit St. Pete-
Clearwater, Dunedin captured 5.8 percent
of visitors to the region in 2018 and is listed
as an attraction destination. Two years
earlier, the area wasn’t even mentioned
in the report at all. This exposure has
been the result of a joint effort between
Dunedin businesses and city, county and
state officials. Improvements to public
amenities, such as parks, recreation
facilities, transportation and festivals,
again show how strategic partnerships
can offer increased benefits to the
communities they serve.
Change and growth may be inevitable,
but when businesses and government
entities work together, steady, sustainable
growth is possible. As the Tampa Bay
population continues to grow, media
coverage of Dunedin is sure to increase.
Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands are
already receiving national recognition for
all they have to offer. It’s likely that more
records will be broken soon.
“From the very beginning, we have felt
it a privilege to establish a relationship
with state park staff and management,
both here in Dunedin and in Tallahassee,”
says Kreuziger, CEO of Bon Appétit Group,
“They go to work for all the right reasons,
because they treasure the environment and
work to protect it.” 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Caladesi Island Ferry
leaves Honeymoon Island every half hour for
those who want to enjoy the charms of this
incredible natural paradise. For more information
about the ferry, call (727) 734-5263.
The pavilion on Honeymoon Island has become its most popular meeting spot.
SHANNON LIVINGSTON
CARA DEHART LEWIS