MARKET SNAPSHOT: Bird Key
An island between town and beaches
By Chris Angermann, Correspondent Sarasota Herald Tribune
Bird Key, one of the most prized luxury communities in Sarasota, originally
was just a 12.8-acre island, barely rising above the shallow grass flats in the bay
accessible only by boat.
and
In 1911, Thomas Worcester of Cincinnati, Ohio, bought the island for $25 from the state at the suggestion of his wife, Davie Lindsay,
who had fallen in love with it on a visit to Sarasota. Worcester had the channel to his dock dredged and used the slit to enlarge the
key and build it higher above sea level. He also started construction on a home to be called New Edzell Castle, after Davie Lindsay’s
ancestral home in Scotland. Unfortunately, she died before it was completed in 1914. It was the first expensive home on any island
in Sarasota Bay.
In 1922, circus magnate John Ringling bought Bird Key along with other islands and built a causeway connecting it, Lido Key and
St. Armands Key to the mainland. But the collapse of the 1920s Florida land boom put an end to his ambitious development plans,
and Bird Key remained without further development for many years.
For a time, Ringling’s only sister, Ida Ringling North, lived there. After her death in 1950, her son, John Ringling North, decided to
develop Bird Key by enlarging it to nearly 300 acres. After much wrangling with the city commission - the master plan, which
included the south end of Lido Key, was revised at least eight times - he managed to gain approval for the project in 1953.
Not much happened for the next six years, however. Then, Arvida Corp. purchased the Ringling holdings and oversaw the
expansion, creating 511 home sites, 291 of them waterfront properties on the bay and interior canals. The remaining “garden homes”
are on off-the-water lots.
Ahead of its time in residential development, Arvida put utilities underground; nearly 146 miles of electrical cable were laid. Work
was completed in October 1960. Lots were priced from $9,000 to $32,000, although sales were slow in 1960. Construction soon
began.
Today, Bird Key is almost completely built out and has a reputation for luxury in a
relaxed, inviting atmosphere. Bird Key offers examples of just about every architectural
style built in Sarasota since the 1950s, including multi-story Mediterranean-style
mansions, Key West-style residences, ultra-modern houses and traditional Florida ranch
bungalows. While some of the older structures have been torn down to make room for
large, contemporary homes, many original buildings are left. Many have been renovated.
The unique location of the island offers panoramic vistas of the bay on all sides. Active
residents can walk or bike to St. Armands and Lido Beach, or head over the Ringling
Bridge to downtown.
Marine wildlife is abundant. Manatees swim up to the private docks of the waterfront homes. Dolphins leap in the bay, and wild
parrots chatter in the trees.
The Bird Key Yacht Club, which was built in 1960, sits on the site of New Edzell castle. Recently renovated, it offers kayak storage
and docking for sail and motor vessels, Har-Tru tennis courts, a fully equipped fitness center and an Olympic-size swimming pool.
The dining room has a spectacular view of the Sarasota skyline. Members who want to golf enjoy reciprocal privileges with Laurel
Oak Country Club.