Manasota Key has always been the “forgotten key.” Everybody knows Siesta, Longboat and Casey. But Manasota is off by itself, south of Venice, not very easy to get to, and not convenient to anything—except Old Florida perfection.

It’s a great spot for those who want a beach house set on a big, unspoiled piece of land. This week’s home, in fact, typifies what makes the key so special. It’s a large modernistic place (4,600 square feet) that has an arty, bohemian vibe—lots of glass, sleek lines, and views out to the Gulf in one direction and toward the Intracoastal Waterway in the other. It was built back in 1973 but has been added to and updated over the years. A lot of money went into the place—the finishes are very high end—and you’ll find 180 feet of waterfront, a dock, but, oddly enough, no swimming pool.

Manasota Key has never really been developed and the homes, particularly those on the northern half (which lies in Sarasota County; the southern half is in Charlotte) have large lots, usually more than an acre. It’s the “anti-Longboat” key. Things are not manicured but rather left to nature in an eco-friendly way.

It’s easy to picture a celebrity living here. He or she would be in good company. Early residents included William Vanderbilt. Today, singer Bobby Vinton of Blue Velvet fame has an estate nearby and disco queen Donna Summer passed away several years ago in the home she owned, just down the road.

806 N. Manasota Key Road is priced at $4.39 million. For more info call Deborah Funari Healy at (941) 468-5872.