Construction on sandy beach front has changed a lot in 80 years, with easier access, higher standard of living, FEMA rules, and wealthier newcomers. Many older properties have been remodeled and often demolished to be replaced by larger houses.
Here are a few examples of houses built since the island’s early visitors through to today’s new construction.
Built c.1940
Built c. 1965
Bean Point beach Anna Maria
When is the Anna Maria Island High Season? That depends on who you ask. For the rental industry, most tourists come in winter, between Thanksgiving and Easter. Rates go up towards the end of November and down about the beginning of May.
But times are changing and the “shoulder” seasons are extending into all of November and after April. Summer is also the busiest time for day visitors, who escape the inland heat for the cooler beaches and water activities and bring their kids who are out of school. Longer daylight hours attract after-work beachgoers. However, these visitors don’t have an impact on the rental real estate market as much as they do on the restaurant and bar trade.
As a year-round resident, who endures the high humidity and storms of summer, my respect for the wisdom of the snowbirds grows every year. From October through May, there are many days that are just about perfect. The people who come here during that period avoid a lot of discomfort and worry. They don’t have to worry about whether they are in a structure that will withstand the high winds of summer hurricanes. They don’t have to postpone a walk for fear of being struck by lightning, as often is the case in summer. The good news for those of us who stay here year-round is that high tourist season does not fill the entire period from October through May, so we get to enjoy many days that are near perfect, without crowds.
The busiest time of year seems to be around Presidents’ Day, the third Monday in February. Schools are on break and warmer weather brings out the winter hibernators. Travel can be brought to a standstill for hours as cars search for parking spots and bridge openings stop traffic flowing. Congestion is increasing each year as more people discover Anna Maria Island and try to squeeze onto a finite space.
The 2018 “Tour Of Homes” is Saturday, March 17th, from 10 am to 4 pm. This year will mark the 25th for the event that raises money for the non-profit community center “The Center of Anna Maria Island”, which provides educational and recreational programs for youths, teens, seniors, and a disaster shelter.
These are the 5 homes open to visitors and a bazaar at The Center.
242 Gladiolus Drive, Anna Maria
420 Magnolia Avenue, Anna Maria
1 Palm Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach
627 Emerald Lane, Holmes Beach
628 Key Royale Drive, Holmes Beach
Admission charge is $30 with tickets available at The Center, home tour locations, and local businesses.
Proceeds benefit The Center of Anna Maria Island programs.
The Center Of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Avenue, Anna Maria
For the Tour Of homes, The Center holds a bazaar, with original arts and crafts for sale and auction, in addition to a raffle to win a handmade quilt created by the Eyeland Needlers (tickets $1). Food and refreshments are available from vendors.
Free parking is available at Crosspointe Fellowship Church located at 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.
Park and Ride at the Crosspointe Fellowship Church
You are encouraged to bike, shuttle bus, ride The Center van, or take volunteers’ complimentary golf cart rides to the Tour of Homes locations as street parking is limited.
Real-time traffic conditions on island bridges and roads are available at:
http://www.localconditions.com/weather-bradenton-florida/34215/traffic.php
Weather conditions can be found at:
https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/fl/anna-maria/KFLANNAM2
2017 Named storm tracks
Summary:
Anna Maria City Pier hurricane damage Photo: Jack Elka, The Islander
Some Ficus, Banyan, Norfolk Pines blew over
The 2017 hurricane season was more active than predicted by the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project forecast team. Three major hurricanes struck the United States: Harvey, Irma and Maria, causing devastating destruction to islands in the Caribbean and other portions of the tropical Atlantic:
“The 2017 hurricane season was extremely active. Overall, our predicted numbers from our early July and August issue dates for named storm and hurricane formations were relatively close to what was observed, but our early season predictions and our predictions for integrated metrics such as Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) were far too low,” said Phil Klotzbach, lead author of the forecast at CSU.
| Atlantic Hurricane Season | | 2017 Actual |
| Named storms (>35mph) | | 16 |
| Hurricanes (>72mph) | | 10 |
| Major hurricanes (>111mph) | | 6 |
| US landfall likelihood | | 31% |
| Gulf Coast landfall | | 13% |
The Named Storms:
Arlene – Tropical Storm Apr 19-21 pre-season in Eastern Atlantic
Bret – Tropical Storm Jun 19 – 20 landfall Venezuela
Cindy – Tropical Storm Jun 20 – 23 landfall central Gulf Coast
Don – Tropical Storm Jul 17 – 18 no effects on land
Franklin – Hurricane Cat 1 Aug 7- 10 affecting Yucatan Peninsula and eastern Mexico
Gert – Hurricane Cat 2 Aug 13 – 17 no effects on land
Harvey – Hurricane Cat 4 Aug 17 – Sep 1 Landfall Yucatan and massive flooding in Houston,Texas
Irma – Hurricane Cat 5 Aug 30 – Sep 12 Devastated Leeward Islands, northern Cuba, landfall SE Florida with coast to coast hurricane force wind
Jose – Hurricane Cat 4 Sep 5 – 21 no effects on land
Katia – Hurricane Cat 2 Sep 5 – 9 Landfall eastern Mexico
Lee – Hurricane Cat 3 Sep 15 – 29 no effects on land
Maria – Hurricane Cat 5 Sep 16 – Sep 30 Landfall in Caribbean islands, badly affecting Puerto Rico
Nate – Hurricane Cat 1 Oct 4 – 9 crossed central America and Yucatan
Ophelia – Hurricane Cat 3 Oct 9 – 15 no effects on land
Philippe – Tropical Storm Oct 28 – 29 crossed Cuba and Florida Keys
Rina – Tropical Storm Nov 6 – 9 no effects on land
Anna Maria Island hosts the 11th Annual Arts event for 2017 with exhibitions, performances and shows.
Thursday, November 9th:
6pm – 8:30pm public reception for “10byTen,” exhibit in honor of the The Studio at Gulf and Pine’s 10th anniversary.
8pm “The Game’s Afoot” performed by “The Anna Maria Island Players” at the Island Playhouse.
Friday, November 10th:
10am – 3:30pm Ice Cream Social and Museum Tour at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.
5pm – 7:30 PM, downtown Gallery Walk, Holmes Beach with local art, refreshments, art demonstrations, live music and a chance to meet the artists.
8pm “The Game’s Afoot” performed by “The Anna Maria Island Players” at the Island Playhouse.
Saturday, November 11th:
12 – 5pm Bridge Street Gallery Walk, Bradenton Beach.
4:30 – 7:30pm “Symphony on the Sand” by The Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra at Coquina Gulfside Park beach.
8pm “The Game’s Afoot” performed by “The Anna Maria Island Players” at the Island Playhouse.
Sunday, November 12th:
2pm “The Game’s Afoot” performed by “The Anna Maria Island Players” at the Island Playhouse.
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