Ramrod Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys

Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...

. Originally named Roberts Island, Ramrod Key was renamed for a ship named Ramrod, which was wrecked on a reef south of there in the early nineteenth century.

Description

Until the construction of U.S. Route 1

U.S. Route 1

U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,377 miles from Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border south to Key West, Florida. U.S. 1 generally parallels Interstate 95, though it is significantly farther west between...

 in the 1920s, the only building on Ramrod was a post office that was alongside the train tracks. U.S. 1 (or the Overseas Highway

Overseas Highway

The Overseas Highway is a highway carrying U.S. Route 1 through the Florida Keys. Large parts of it were built on the former right-of-way of the Overseas Railroad, the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway. Completed in 1912, the Overseas Railroad was heavily damaged and partially...

) crosses Ramrod Key at approximately mile markers 26—27.5, between Summerland Key

Summerland Key

Summerland Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys approximately 20 miles east of Key West.U.S. 1 crosses the island at approximately mile markers 24—25.5, between Ramrod Key and Cudjoe Key. The name appears on U.S...

 and Middle Torch Key

Middle Torch Key

Middle Torch Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys.It is located between Ramrod Key and Little Torch Key.The southernmost tip of the key is on U.S. 1 , at approximately mile marker 28....

.

Ramrod Key is a popular tourist site due to the short distance between the island and Looe Key. Amenities include a store, a bar, and a putt-putt course.
Boondocks Grille and Draft House is a local favorite. They offer everything from onion rings to elaborate fish entrees, a miniature golf course, a gift shop, and weeky bar specials.