Ballast Point

Ballast Point takes its name from the point of land where it meets Hillsborough Bay. The neighborhood runs along the bay between Gandy Boulevard and MacDill Air Force Base, east of MacDill Avenue, and the City of Tampa annexed it in 1953.

Streets here are shaded by mature oaks, and the housing mix runs from historic homes and bungalows to mid-century ranches, full renovations and new construction. Ballast Point Park, with its playground, water play area, picnic shelters and boat ramp, is the neighborhood’s front yard.

Nearby: Bayshore Beautiful to the north, and the streets of Gandy-Sun Bay South, often called South of Gandy, to the west. See all of 33611.

Ballast Point homes for sale span more than a century of building, and price per square foot varies widely by age, condition and distance to the bay:

• Historic homes and bungalows. Older homes on the oak-lined streets near the park and the bay. Condition ranges from restored to original.
• Mid-century homes. Ranches on many interior streets, where much of the value is in the lot.
• Renovations and new construction. Extensive renovations and rebuilds appear throughout the neighborhood. Review each home’s construction details, elevation and insurance requirements individually.
• Bayfront homes and condos. Homes and condo buildings along Hillsborough Bay near the southern end of Bayshore Boulevard. Review seawall condition, elevation, flood insurance and, for condos, the association’s reserves and insurance.
• Condos and townhomes. Condo buildings on Bayshore Boulevard and townhome communities on interior streets, some within a short drive of MacDill Air Force Base.

You’ll also find condos along Bayshore Boulevard and townhome communities on nearby streets. See the condo and townhome communities in Ballast Point below.

Ballast Point Park is a City of Tampa bayfront park at the foot of Interbay Boulevard, with a playground, a water play area, picnic shelters, a boat ramp and Leon’s Lobstah Shack. It has been a gathering place since the 1890s, when it was the end of Tampa’s streetcar line.

The park’s pier, a local landmark, has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged it in 2024. As of September 2026, the City of Tampa is moving its replacement through design and permitting. The rest of the park is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Park facilities and pier status change. Check the City of Tampa park page before you go.

Community names are listed as they appear in the MLS. Review each association’s fees, reserves and insurance before you buy.

Dining nearby

Big Ray’s Fish Camp on Interbay Boulevard is a short drive from the park, and Interbay Meat Market next door is a family-owned Cuban deli and market serving South Tampa since 1983. Mad Dogs & Englishmen is on South MacDill Avenue, and waterfront spots such as Salt Shack on the Bay and Hula Bay Club sit near the Gandy Bridge on the Old Tampa Bay side.

Things to do

• Ballast Point Park: playground, water play area, picnic shelters, boat ramp and Leon’s Lobstah Shack.
• Bayshore Boulevard: walk, jog or bike north along Hillsborough Bay from the southern end of the boulevard.
• Gadsden Park: a park on South MacDill Avenue with a lake and picnic areas, part of the South Tampa Greenway.

Restaurants and venues change often. Check hours before you go.

Living in Ballast Point

• Bayfront setting: the neighborhood sits on Hillsborough Bay at the southern end of Bayshore Boulevard.
• Getting around: Bayshore Boulevard and MacDill Avenue run north toward Downtown Tampa, and Gandy Boulevard leads west to the Gandy Bridge and St. Petersburg. Travel times depend on your address and traffic.
• Near MacDill Air Force Base: the base sits just south of Ballast Point, so many homes and condos here are a short drive from MacDill. Visit at different times of day to get a feel for aircraft activity.
• Schools: consult Hillsborough County Public Schools for current school information and address-specific assignments. Confirm zoning for each home rather than relying on its ZIP code.

1. 1820s Deep-draft ships arriving in Hillsborough Bay dropped their ballast near the southern tip of the Interbay Peninsula before continuing up the shallow bay, giving Ballast Point its name.
2. 1890s Emelia Chapin, whose family controlled Tampa’s first electric streetcar company, developed a tropical park at Ballast Point as the end of the line and named it Jules Verne Park.
3. 1903 The park was renamed Ballast Point Park.
4. 1925 The Ballast Point Pier reopened in April after a 1921 hurricane destroyed the original.
5. 1953 The City of Tampa annexed the Ballast Point area.
6. 2024 Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged the Ballast Point Pier, which remains closed while the City of Tampa designs its replacement.

Sources: Ballast Point Park (Wikipedia), City of Tampa: Ballast Point, Tampa Magazine: Ballast Point, WUSF.

Flood exposure can change from one street to the next in Ballast Point, especially on the streets closest to Hillsborough Bay. The 2024 hurricanes brought storm surge to parts of South Tampa, so ask about each home’s flood history. Review the property’s FEMA flood map, elevation certificate if available, roof age, wind-mitigation report and property-specific insurance quotes before making a decision.

For older homes, budget for a thorough inspection of the roof, plumbing, electrical and foundation, and for bayfront homes, a seawall inspection.

On waterfront and near-waterfront homes, ask for the seller’s flood disclosure and insurance history early in the process. Florida Statute 689.302 requires sellers to provide a flood disclosure before the sales contract is executed.