The Story of Fisher Island Fisher Island was a wedge of land
with coconut palms and mangroves that sat in Biscayne Bay. Miami
Beach founder and developer Carl Fisher bought it from Dana
Dorsey, South Florida's first black millionaire. Fisher, when
trying to expand the island and build deep-water docks,
experienced quite a bit of push back from the County, which
delayed his progress. The construction of the Port of Miami
served to separate the lush appendage from Miami Beach, creating
an entirely distinctive island. 1906 – Government Cut created
Fisher Island. 1918 – Herman B. Walker sold to Dana A. Dorsey
(21-acres). 1919 – Dorsey sold Island to Alton Beach Realty
Company (owned by Carl Fisher – who quadrupled the area in land
mass to develop for real estate) 1920's – Carl Fisher traded
7-acres of Fisher Island for a yacht from William K. Vanderbilt
II The Legendary Trade - Carl Fisher met William Kissam
Vanderbilt II, an avid sportsman and frequent visitor to Palm
Beach, Miami and Key West. Fisher, a fan of