Quick Facts
- State
- Florida
- County
- Palm Beach County
- Status
- Unknown Status
- Access
- Unknown Access
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
Some ghost towns feel like museums. Ritta Island feels like an interruption — a place that stopped mid-sentence. Ritta Island is an island and ghost town in Lake Okeechobee, Florida. Ritta Island is located near the southern shore of the lake, and the settlement was situated in Palm Beach County, 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Clewiston.
Palm Beach County holds 15 documented ghost towns, including Apix, Bean City, Bryant — Ritta Island keeps them company on the map.
The story of Ritta Island
Florida's ghost towns are railroad towns Flagler built, 1920s land-boom subdivisions that busted, and phosphate and turpentine camps.
Ritta Island is an island and ghost town in Lake Okeechobee, Florida. Ritta Island is located near the southern shore of the lake, and the settlement was situated in Palm Beach County, 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Clewiston.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Ritta Island is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.
Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to Ritta Island is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.
Good to know
Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.
Ritta Island FAQs
Where is Ritta Island located?
What county is Ritta Island in?
What is the history of Ritta Island?
What remains at Ritta Island today?
Can you visit Ritta Island?
Sources: description based on Wikipedia (“Ritta Island, Florida”), CC BY-SA.
