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All things Siesta Key. Stories, news, and event information about Sarasota, Florida's beautiful beach.
Get to Know Siesta Key
When you consider how long it’s been since Florida was first discovered, it’s a little amazing to realize how young Siesta Key actually is. While conquistadors and other Spanish explorers began encountering Native American tribes throughout Florida in the early 16th century, the barrier island of Siesta Key wasn’t truly inhabited until the early part of the 20th Century. The local experts at The Best Western Siesta Key are fascinated by the advancements made to this area in such a short span of time, and we’re eager to share our little island’s history with you.
Siesta Key Shops Sign
Humble Beginnings
Of course, Siesta Key hasn’t always been great shopping, dining, and beach-combing. There was a time when it was simply natural Florida at its finest. But that typically means thick undergrowth, wild animals like boars, wildcats, and snakes, and more mosquitoes than you can fathom. But a few brave families pioneered here anyway, taming the wild vegetation and bringing their supplies by boat. Today, Siesta Key is home to more than 6,500 permanent residents and is divided into four main sections: Siesta Beach, Crescent Beach, Turtle Beach, and Siesta Key Village. But that’s all since the early 1900s when one man’s vision for the island led to a huge transformation.
Siesta Key Beach
The Rise to Stardom
Harry L. Higel came to the Sarasota area in 1904, a transplant from Philadelphia to Venice, FL who discovered the booming new city and wanted to be part of something big. He envisioned a tropical getaway for wealthy snowbirds and is consequently credited with much of the 20th-century development that created what we now know to be Siesta Key. Starting with a docking venture that eventually failed, Higel built the Higelhurt Hotel on Big Pass in 1915. Promoting Siesta Key as “A Place to Rest and Have Peace and Comfort,” it was not long before the barrier island became a destination for the Hollywood Elite of the time, thanks to a renovated home-turned-hotel by Captain Roberts and his wife.
Becoming Accessible to All
The natural beauty and peaceful eloquence of the island were quickly noticed by architects at The Sarasota School of Architecture in the 1940s and 1950s. Thanks to the construction of the famous bridge connecting the mainland to the island in 1917, plus the connection of Stickney Point in 1927, building materials and labor forces could be easily brought to the island. The Sarasota architects began to create lush neighborhoods, beautiful shopping districts, and restaurants and the entire island began to flourish into what we now know and love.
Much of the historical charm and local delights remain today, attracting locals and tourists alike to our beautiful quartz sand beaches, eclectic shops, dining and nightlife, and beautiful sparkling waters. The Best Western Siesta Key is honored to be part of such a gem of a location, right in the heart of paradise. To learn more about Siesta Key, its history, and what to do while you’re here, talk to us at The Best Western Siesta Key. We’re happy to share our knowledge of this beautiful island with you!