"Created as a floating home in 1975. Weighing 700 tons, the 50-foot wide by 100-foot long island is a self-propelled motor vessel. Above the water, the island features live palm trees, a sand patio, a waterfall and a thatched Tahitian room. The 40-foot lighthouse is complete with a viewing deck for visitors to marvel at the unparalleled San Francisco Bay views. Beneath the water is a dining salon appointed with turn of the century nautical artifacts, a full bar, wine cellar and two staterooms.
A native of New York, Forbes Thor Kiddoo started his career in the Coast Guard. In 1959, he arrived in San Francisco to work as a carpenter spending much of his time working on buildings such as the Palace of Fine Arts and St. Mary's Cathedral. In 1968, he went into business in Sausalito constructing floating homes made of concrete barges with wood homes on top. While doing business as Forbes Ferro Corporation for more than 20 years, he built approximately 100 of these floating homes.
Receiving his inspiration from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Forbes spawned the idea to build his own island paradise. In 1975 he started construction of his dream in a Sausalito shipyard. After 5 years of weekend and evening work, and in between building floating homes for customers, he launched Forbes Island in 1980.
At that point the island was not quite complete for it still needed 120 tons of rock around the perimeter, 100 tons of sand for the beach, and
40 tons of topsoil to plant the palm trees. Completed in 1983, Forbes was then able to enjoy life aboard the world's only man-made floating island.
That's when the news hit and Forbes Island appeared on television shows such as Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and That's Incredible, as well as being featured in the Wall Street Journal.
It was in the fall of 1991 when Forbes decided he wanted to enhance the island by adding a lighthouse, engine house and a white picket fence.
He completed this additional construction and installation at Point Richmond in 1992. There are 56 steps leading to the top of the 40-foot high lighthouse where visitors may step into a 50' circular-viewing platform.
Next, the Island moved up the San Joaquin River to Antioch, California where he remodeled the interior for its anticipated move to PIER 39. February 14, 1999 marks the date the public was invited to tour Forbes Island with none other than the legendary Forbes Kiddoo himself."
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