Gated Entrance to Bird Key
Known today for its beautiful homes and lovely beaches, Bird Key was not always the tropical paradise that it is today. While the natural beauty has always been there, the development of this coveted island retreat didn’t begin until the 1920s. At this time, Andrew McAnsh took the first step toward making the Sarasota area the amazing beach and golf destination it is today.
As McAnsh began developing Bird Key, he took numerous initiatives that had never been seen before in the Sarasota area. Not only did he take out full page ads to help spread the word about his development, he also created eye-catching brochures and even took out numerous radio and television ads. Soon, articles focusing on Sarasota and Bird Key real estate were found in national publications such as Sports Illustrated, Time and Life.
Around this same time, John Ringling of the famous Ringling Brothers Circus purchased Bird Key property and built a bridge connecting the island to the mainland. When he died, John Ringling bequeathed the land to his sister, Ida Ringling North. About year after Ida Ringling North passed away in 1950, her son purchased the property as president of Bird Key Development Corp. John Ringling North and his company made several attempts to develop the land and its surrounding acres, but the company’s initial proposal met great opposition and was ultimately shelved. Still, the company managed to gain approval for developing 511 home sites, 291 of which were on the water.
After the project was completed on October 15, 1960, lots were priced anywhere from $9,000 to $32,000. As might be expected, these lots sold very quickly. Today, the cost of Bird Key Florida homes for sale is far more expensive than the lots were in 1960. Nonetheless, for those who wish to call Bird Key home, the price is certainly worth it!
For more information on Bird Key, contact the John Allen Team at 941-544-6467. Our experienced agents will provide you with some Bird Key historyand assist you with a smooth purchase.
