Neighboring Munyon Island

Munyon Island is a small island situated in the Lake Worth Lagoon in North Palm Beach. The island is currently owned by John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, so park visitors can rent kayaks and paddle over to it to birdwatch, snorkel, or just hang out.  

The island was originally called "Nuctsachoo" by the Seminole Natives, which means "Pelican Island," as it was reportedly one of the largest wading bird breeding grounds in South Florida. 

The first "resident" of the island was a man named Rodgers who lived as a castaway and made a living selling sea turtles he caught out of the lagoon in 1884. In 1892 the Pitts family bought the island and built a two-story house upon it. 

The Pitts sold the island to Dr. James Muyon in 1901 who built a hotel there in a matter of two years. He called it Hotel Hygeia, naming it after the Greek goddess of health. It was 5 stories high, had 21 rooms, and attracted wealthy Northerners who wanted a relaxing tropical getaway. Dr. Munyon also bottled and sold his famous "Paw-Paw Elixer" drink here, which consisted mostly of fermented papaya juice. In a relatively unexplained accident, the hotel burned down to the ground overnight in 1917. 

Since then, the 15-acre island has been primarily uninhabited. It is a popular recreational destination for Singer Island paddle boarders, kayakers, and boaters. The island has picnic tables and grills and is surrounded by clear water. It still serves as a habitat for many bird species, sea grass, and fish including sardines, snapper, and mullet.