Florida is considering purchasing nearly 28 acres at Mandalay Point, at the northern tip of Clearwater Beach, through its Florida Forever program. The property sits across Dunedin Pass from Caladesi Island State Park and includes beach, dunes, coastal grassland and mangroves.
The owners proposed selling the land outright to the state, according to a preliminary evaluation prepared for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Florida’s Acquisition and Restoration Council began considering the proposal in December and has since advanced it through the state’s acquisition process.
“Acquisition of this site would protect some of the few remaining undeveloped coastal habitats in the region,” state environmental reviewers wrote.
The approximately 27.9-acre property extends about six-tenths of a mile along the coast. Preserving it would add to a nearly 18-mile stretch of protected barrier islands that includes Caladesi Island, Honeymoon Island and Anclote Key Preserve state parks.
The Florida Natural Areas Inventory evaluated Mandalay Point as part of the Florida Forever process. FNAI, which is part of Florida State University, provides environmental data and land evaluations to DEP under an agreement with the state.
Reviewers identified about eight acres of beach dune, six acres of mangrove swamp, five acres of coastal strand and two acres of coastal grassland. Another five acres consist of marine unconsolidated substrate.
Several of those habitats are scarce: FNAI considers the beach dune, coastal grassland and coastal strand “rare/imperiled” statewide. Their vulnerability stems from both their naturally limited range and continued development pressure along Florida’s coastline.
The property borders the Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve, and reviewers argued the keeping Mandalay Point undeveloped could benefit nearby waters, including Clearwater Harbor and St. Joseph Sound.
The state found potential wildlife benefits as well. Although formal surveys have not documented rare species within the proposed acquisition boundary, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) records contain numerous observations of imperiled species on or adjacent to the property, according to the evaluation.
The beach could provide nesting habitat for green and loggerhead sea turtles. Reviewers also identified potential habitat for American oystercatchers, snowy and Wilson’s plovers and least terns, along with feeding areas for piping plovers and red knots.
Most of Mandalay Point remains natural. About one acre of the proposed acquisition is developed and contains a residence: a home at 1198 Mandalay Point is currently marketed as part of a $37.5 million property.
The listing describes a three-bedroom waterfront home built in 1987. The property first hit the market for $37.5 million in February 2024, later dropped to $27.5 million and returned to $37.5 million in October 2025.
The real estate listing and the Florida Forever proposal use different acreage figures. The listing associates 1198 Mandalay Point with more than 42 acres, while the state’s proposed conservation acquisition encompasses about 27.9 acres. The state evaluation, rather than the real estate listing, defines the land currently under consideration through Florida Forever.
Clearwater land use attorney Brian Aungst presented the proposal to the state in December as the landowner’s representative. Official Acquisition and Restoration Council records show Aungst spoke in favor of the Mandalay Point proposal during a Dec. 11 public hearing.
The following day, the council considered whether Mandalay Point and three other properties should continue through the evaluation process for potential inclusion on a future Florida Forever priority list. DEP records show the council approved moving the proposals forward.
Mandalay Point also scored highly under several measures the state uses to evaluate potential conservation purchases. At least 93% of the property contributes to priorities involving strategic habitat conservation, natural floodplain function, surface water protection and fragile coastal resources, according to FNAI.
The evaluation also accounts for the effects of recent storms. Reviewers primarily relied on 2023 aerial imagery, and noted that Hurricane Milton likely altered portions of the property in 2024, reducing some coastal grassland, strand and mangrove habitat while expanding areas classified as beach dune.
Florida Forever is the state’s primary program for acquiring land for conservation and recreation. Advancing through its evaluation process does not guarantee the state will ultimately buy a property.
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