walker's cay was named after thomas walker, a british judge sent to the island to deal with piracy in the early 1700s. after his death in 1721, the island remained uninhabited for over two hundred years until buzz shonnard, a businessman from palm beach, florida, leased the land from the bahamian government in 1935 and built a small hotel, attracting anglers and tourists to the island. a 75-slip marina was built, and an airstrip, walker's cay airport, with a runway suitable for light aircraft.