Bird Key Florida Entrance

Bird Key Entrance

Bird Key is one of Sarasota’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Pictured above is the entrance, located just off of the John Ringling Causeway. Bird Key Park is located just across the street from Bird Key.  This Park is a popular location with residents and visitors who want to bring their dog to the beach.  Most beaches in Sarasota do not allow dogs.  Windsurfers find Bird Key Park an attractive location too.  There is hardly a day that at least three surfers are not gliding the waves along this shoreline.

History of Bird Key

Bird Key Florida was originally a narrow strip of land connected to downtown Sarasota and St Armands Key by a tree-lined a Causeway. The island was named Bird Key because of a very large population of birds that flocked there regularly.

 In the early 1920’s, circus magnate John Ringling purchased the island. John Ringling’s sister, Ida Ringling North, lived in a mansion there and was the islands only resident until her death in 1950. Although her home is no longer there, the Bird Key Yacht Club has taken the place of the first home on the island.

In the late 1950’s Arvida Corporation purchased the Ringling’s interest in the island and started development plans. They dredged in nearly 277 acres of land and to make room for 511 home sites. 291 of the sites are on the Bayfront or canals, while 220 are off the water.

Bird Key Home

Today, Bird key is home to some of the most impressive waterfront estates on the Gulf Coast of Florida. It is a boaters paradise with many homes on deep water canals or directly on the Sarasota Bayfront with quick access to the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, the neighborhood has its own private yacht club. Residents love the prime location, only a few minutes drive to downtown Sarasota and St Armands Circle.

Welcome to Sarasota’s Bird Key

Welcome to our brand new Bird Key Blog on WordPress.com. We’ll be updating this blog regularly with photos and news on one of Sarasota’s finest neighborhoods – Bird Key!