Looking for a bit of “old Florida” here in the St. Petersburg-Tampa area? One of our favorite neighborhoods is Treasure Island. It has history, lots of charm, miles of white sandy Gulf of Mexico beaches, a laid back attitude, great restaurants and it’s convenient to literally all of what makes our area the premier part of Florida’s west coast.
Sandwiched between Madeira Beach to the north and St. Petersburg Beach to the south, Treasure Island is the epitome of a small Florida beach town that attracts knowledgeable visitors from throughout the U.S. and from abroad. But it’s also a very desirable town in which to live, retire or lay down roots and raise a family.
Sure, the days of buying an acre of land for $1.25, as you could in the early 1900s, are long gone, but home prices remain attractive and value continues to be strong. Many homes dating back to the 1950s have been renovated over the years and blend well with newer construction.
Original residents date back to around 300 A.D., when the Timucan Indians called what is now Treasure Island their home. In the 1600s, Europeans started arriving, established a fishing industry and began harvesting turtles. Their influence is still evident. In 1848, what was called the “Great Gale” created John’s Pass on Treasure Island’s north end, creating two smaller islands, the Isle of Palms and Capri Isle, both interesting and attractive beach communities.
At the beginning of the 20th Century, the St. Petersburg-Tampa area experienced a real estate boom, and new residents and visitors were quickly drawn to our area’s fabulous Gulf beaches. (Eventually, included among them was the legendary Babe Ruth who maintained a beachfront home.) No bridges to Treasure Island existed at the time, so ferry service shuttled visitors back and forth to the mainland until the first bridge was completed in 1939. Following World War II, homes and hotels began springing up, and the City of Treasure Island was incorporated in 1955.
As to the name “Treasure Island,” it was a 1915-marketing ploy created by early property owners seeking to boost sales by burying and then “discovering” a few wooden chests supposedly filled with treasure. It worked.
Florida Beach town near Tampa, St. Pete
If you’re looking for a Florida beach town that combines history, charm, all the necessary conveniences and proximity to best of the St. Petersburg-Tampa area, consider Treasure Island where you can still discover a laid back Florida lifestyle.
Chris Hounchell & Associates is the leader in general real estate, pre-foreclosure, short sale and foreclosure markets in the Pinellas County area. For more information on buying vs. renting, contact Chris today at 727-642-9107.