Little Bokeelia Island Establishes A New Record For Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and Lee Counties

Little Bokeelia Island, a private island situated just minutes off Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast—midway between Sarasota and Naples—sold today for $14.5 million, establishing a new record price for a single residential property sale in Southwest Florida.  

Co-listed by agents Klaus Lang and Jennifer Calenda, respectively of the Longboat Key South and Burnt Store offices of Michael Saunders & Company, the property was sold to buyers represented by Victoria Stultz, of the firm’s Palmer Ranch office. 

Little Bokeelia Island was listed for $24.5 million, a price that included its 104 acres of waterfront land, a 1920’s Spanish-style estate home with attached guest wing, a cluster of several old Florida cottages that have been beautifully restored then neatly arranged around a village green; and the basic infrastructure and permitting rights for 29 construction-ready home sites. 

“To sell a property of this magnitude takes time; so the sellers knew they had to be patient until a buyer finally emerged who felt as passionate as they did about owning such a unique and high-value property,” says Klaus Lang, who co-listed the property and facilitated its sale.   “Earlier this year, their desire to pursue new lifestyle goals after 26 years on the island prompted them to offer-up the island for immediate sale with the guarantee that all reasonable offers would be considered.   By the April 30 deadline, offers had poured in from such far-flung places as India, South Africa, China and Canada, as well as from Florida and several other U.S. states.”

Once home to the inventor of the dry cell battery, Charles Burgess—who frequently entertained fellow inventor Thomas Edison on the island—Little Bokeelia Island also served as a strategic outpost for the Calusa Indians, who in earlier days took advantage of its unusually high ridges to assure dry land for their encampments; as well as to monitor the movements of ships in and out of Charlotte Harbor.   They also chose the island for the abundance of fish that can be found just beyond its 3-1/2 mile perimeter of shoreline.  Today these same waters provide the official site for the World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament & Festival, hosted annually in the Village of Boca Grande, on nearby Gasparilla Island.  

“This is yet another instance in which our agents connected a motivated seller with a qualified and motivated buyer; and both parties to the transaction came out on top,” adds Michael Saunders, whose firm facilitated both sides of the transaction.  “As was their wish, the sellers were able to sell very quickly and begin the next chapter of their lives; while the buyers took ownership of a magical property at an exceptional price.  I am tremendously proud of the agents who participated in transacting this very complicated sale, as well as the MS&C marketing team who left no stone unturned in making sure that qualified buyers around the world were made aware of the opportunity to purchase this extremely unique property. Congratulations to all for a job well done.”