When the Heron Lagoon Club and Lodges was built as an upscale fish camp right after World War II, advertising for the seasonal beachfront rentals on Siesta Key touted “cypress paneling, adequate ventilation and foot showers.” Today, the six-and-a-half-acre neighborhood just south of Sanderling Club—these days known simply as Heron Lagoon—still has just 12 homes, now owned by permanent residents. A current beach restoration project has made it possible for residents to walk all the way to Casey Key and the new Palmer Park, the only wild beach park in Sarasota with dunes, native plants and wetlands.

Number of Heron Lagoon properties: 12
Number of sales 4/2006-4/2007: 0
Most recent sale: October 2006
Range of square footage: 1,100 to 3,900 square feet

Sample Listing
The “House of Three Waters,” a charming Old Florida cottage at 8528 Heron Lagoon Circle, is offered for $1.149 million. The original 1940s cottage has an extensive addition constructed in the 1970s. The four-bedroom home has whitewashed walls, terrazzo floors and picturesque water views from almost every room. The pool and hot tub overlook the two-mile long lagoon, which is filled with tarpon and mullet and home to a variety of birds and wildlife. Barbara Dumbaugh of Michael Saunders & Company is the listing agent.

Recent Sale
A two-bedroom cottage at 8534 Heron Lagoon Circle sold in May 2006 for $825,000. The 1,400-square-foot cottage, built in the 1940s, does not offer central air conditioning or a swimming pool. It has tranquil water views with lush, natural landscaping. Tom Nay of Tom Nay Realty was the selling agent, and Judi Summers of Michael Saunders & Company was the listing agent. Previous sale: $32,000 in 1972.

MLS statistics courtesy of Barbara Dumbaugh of Michael Saunders & Company. MLS records transactions and listings by members of the Sarasota Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.

Top of the Market
A Longboat Key beachfront estate at 5919 Gulf of Mexico Drive claims the top spot for Sarasota’s residential sales this month: $6.5 million after a list price of $6,999,000. The five-bedroom home has 20-foot ceilings, marble floors, an elevator and a 1,200-square-foot master suite with his-and-her baths. An interior marble stairway leads to three private bedroom suites with their own terraces and family room on the home’s second level. Meticulously landscaped grounds are enhanced by a private tennis court and elevated and heated lap pool, while an automobile collection can be safely ensconced in the six-car garage. The buyers, says co-selling agent Erin Reid, are avid tennis players. Michael Moulton and Annette Rogers of Michael Saunders & Company are the listing agents; Reid and John Peterson of RoseBay Real Estate Inc. are the selling agents.

Sales information provided by Kim Ogilvie of Michael Saunders & Company.

HIGHER AND HIGHER A four-acre beach-to-bay estate has set a new Sarasota County record in residential pricing: $20,035,000 for a north Casey Key compound with an elegant main residence and three unique guesthouses. SKY Sotheby’s International Realty sales associate Joel Schemmel has the exclusive listing.


The signature residence took four years to complete and is constructed entirely of coral stone. The owner purchased an entire quarry in Central America for its creation, shipping the stone to Casey Key where masons and craftsmen labored to bring together all of the elements in this exceptional property. Hand-carved touches include architectural niches, a grand staircase, intricate balustrade, three fireplaces, dramatic dining room buffet and whimsical fountain.

The main house has multiple guest suites, a home theater, game room and wine cellar with tasting room. A waterfall pool surrounds the main home and a Har-Tru surface tennis court creates separation from a Bermuda-style guesthouse overlooking the bay. The remaining two guest homes, set at either end of an additional tennis court, lap pool and recreation area, are south of the estate.

FRENCH ACCENTS Palais du Lac, a grand new residence with classic French architecture, has established the mark as The Lake Club’s most expensive home at $6.2 million.

Fittingly situated on Showcase Circle in Lakewood Ranch’s newest and most lavish community, the 7,554-square-foot maison occupies the largest parcel on the street with stunning views of the lake, Tuscan-styled clubhouse and charming stone bridge. Designed by architect Randall Sample and built by Westwater Construction, the home has such authentic details as limestone exterior trim, French doors and windows, vaulted ceilings, travertine floors and fireplace mantel, a copper bathtub and fixtures, and exquisite woodworking.

“To bring the true sense of French style to the area, we felt it was imperative to design a home that was architecturally correct in every aspect,” says Jimmy Stewart of Westwater. “From the limestone on the outside to the home’s lush landscaping and excellent views, this residence is distinctly French and uniquely Florida.”