Butterknife – Sanibel Community Guide

Near-Beach Gated Community | Butterknife Real Estate
Butterknife is a near-beach gated residential neighborhood on Sanibel Island, located off West Gulf Drive across from Casa Ybel Resort. The community consists of 34 single-family homesites along Starfish Lane, offering privacy, beach access, and a quiet island setting.
This guide helps buyers, sellers, and homeowners understand the Butterknife real estate market, neighborhood features, and Sanibel location advantages.

About Butterknife

Butterknife is a single-street residential community with a north and south cul-de-sac along Starfish Lane, creating a quiet and private neighborhood atmosphere.
Owners enjoy deeded beach access directly across West Gulf Drive, along with convenient access to Sanibel’s bike path system just steps away.

Community details include:

• Total homesites: 34

• Property type: Single-family homes

• Minimum rental period: 28 days

• Location: Starfish Lane off West Gulf Drive

Because Butterknife is a smaller gated Sanibel neighborhood, resale opportunities are limited, which helps support long-term buyer demand.

Butterknife Community Amenities

Community amenities focus on beach access and neighborhood recreation:

• 🏖 Deeded beach access

• 🏊 Heated community pool

• 🛁 Spa

• 🎾 Tennis courts

• 🔐 Gatehouse entry

• 🚲 Access to Sanibel shared-use paths

These features contribute to consistent buyer interest in near-beach gated neighborhoods on Sanibel.

Real Estate in Butterknife

Real estate in Butterknife consists of single-family island homes on residential lots, many featuring preserve views, private outdoor living areas, and elevated construction typical of Sanibel homes.

Recent listings in the community indicate homes ranging from approximately:

• 2,700 to over 4,100 square feet, depending on property design and updates.

From a real estate sales perspective, Butterknife offers:

• Gated Sanibel neighborhood living

• Near-beach location desirability

• Limited inventory availability

• Larger single-family homesites

• Strong seasonal and second-home buyer appeal

This makes Butterknife relevant for both buyers searching for gated Sanibel neighborhoods and sellers preparing to market near-beach single-family homes.

Location Advantages

Butterknife’s West Gulf Drive location places residents near beaches and island services.
Approximate drive times:

• Gulf beach access: 2 minutes

• Bailey’s Shopping Center: 5 minutes

• Periwinkle Way: 10 minutes

• Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge: 15 minutes

• Sanibel Causeway: 15 minutes

• Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW): 45 minutes

The combination of gated privacy and deeded beach access is one of the neighborhood’s strongest lifestyle advantages.

Why Butterknife Matters for Buyers and Sellers

For buyers, Butterknife offers:

• Gated Sanibel neighborhood living

• Deeded beach access

• Single-family homesites

• West Gulf Drive location

• Quiet residential setting
  For sellers, the neighborhood benefits from:

• Limited inventory competition

• Strong near-beach buyer demand

• Gated community recognition

• West-end Sanibel appeal

• Long-term ownership interest