Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — One of the most significant changes a property owner can make to be better prepared for storm season is to elevate their home Longboat Key resident Kellie Day says Hurricane Helene storm surge flooded her home and it was time to go higher The sight is going to take Kellie Day some getting used to “Right now it’s close to 13 feet,” she said “This place means a lot to us," she said She and her family have owned their home since 2020 It is close to the water in Longboat Key and has flooded five times Day said the worst happened during Helene’s storm surge The height gives Day a different perspective we don’t have to worry about the water,'" she said It is a decision that will make a difference for Day and her family "Our kids have grown up vacationing here on the boat our families have been here for generations." Day is hopeful her family will make memories here for years to come Day said she expects the elevation of the house to be complete in two weeks but there’s still more work to be done inside the home Regis Longboat Key Resort was just named one of the best new hotels of the year according to Travel + Leisure's 2025 It List Teal O’Fee spent the better part of two decades welcoming guests to Sarasota-Manatee restaurant icon Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key Perhaps you remember her from the upstairs Haye Loft where she worked as the head server and became one of the most familiar faces at the enchanting restaurant the Bradenton resident received a call telling her not to come in for her shift leaving longtime employees stunned and uncertain about what comes next 10 best waterfront restaurants in Sarasota area where the views are as good as the food Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news, reviews, and fun things to do every Friday Amy Whitt relocated to Florida in her early 20s and landed a position as an administrative assistant at Euphemia Haye Whitt worked side-by-side with the owners — Chef Ray and wife D'Arcy Arpke — and the close-knit staff in that position for nearly a decade eventually learning the various aspects of running a fine-dining destination "Now, I'm the owner," Whitt told me while at Euphemia Haye with the Arpkes Whitt could not be immediately reached by phone on Friday Longtime local residents Ray and D'Arcy Arpke told me Friday that when they sold Whitt the Euphemia Haye business they kept ownership of the building and prime property at 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive They also own the land across the street used for offices and parking "I can only tell you this — that there's probably a lot of people who are very interested in keeping that a wonderful restaurant," Ray Arpke told me by phone while in the car with D'Arcy Restaurant News: Longboat Key landmark opened in 1975 has been sold to a longtime employee Whitt seemed like the ideal person to take the reins as the couple settled into retirement was the top reason they gave for selling the restaurant I’m tired," Ray Arpke said with a laugh in 2022 D'Arcy Arpke explained that the transition began a year and a half before the sale in mid-December 2021 with the two planning to stay available to their protégé through 2022 I asked Ray Arpke when he last visited the restaurant and he told me it was just a couple of days ago "I was just going in to check on my property make sure everything's still there," he said Offering an eclectic mix of European and American cuisine with creative twists signature dishes included the roasted duckling and the prepared-to-order classic Caesar salad All of the pies and pastries were made from scratch in-house and could be enjoyed downstairs after dinner or upstairs in the Haye Loft For longtime Euphemia Haye employees such as O’Fee the sudden closure was more than just unexpected — it was personal Many staff members had worked together for years and nightly service in one of the region’s most celebrated dining rooms It’s the kind of camaraderie only those who’ve spent years in the restaurant industry truly know and understand — and a closure like this can feel like losing a second home “It wasn’t just a restaurant to us — we were all really close.” Image: SRQ360 with a 64.6 percent increase in inventory for single-family homes and a 91 percent increase in inventory for townhomes and condos across both counties since the first quarter of 2023 And recently, local price drops have also garnered national attention. The Washington Post reported this week that Sarasota County ranked No 1 in a nationwide list of counties where home values have fallen the most in the past year a property at 612 Juan Anasco Drive on the Manatee County side of Longboat Key is seeking to buck the trend and then some perched on a peninsula with water on three sides placing it among some of the most expensive listings in the area the asking price is currently down $1 million from its original list price.)  who owns the home with his wife through a local LLC purchased the land in 2021 for $7.5 million it housed a substantial concrete structure built in 1998 “It was a big poured-concrete house,” Wilson says the water closes in: Whitney Bayou to the west Harris Canal to the east and a narrow slip leading south The property sits on just over an acre of land This version—their version—took two years to build popular on barrier islands for its breezy rooflines painted millwork and mix of covered outdoor living spaces and formal interiors “What I really fell in love with was the lot,” Wilson says great for boating—you can sit out there and just watch everything pass by though development has become something of a second act for him he sold a web services company in 2020 that specialized in building websites for car dealerships—more than 6,000 of them nationwide moved down here a little after that,” he says Wilson and his wife have built and sold several homes along the west coast “Our first one sold for $14 million,” he says This home was built by EBG Builder Group and designed by Beacon Home Design It spans more than 9,200 square feet of air-conditioned living space and more than 21,000 square feet in total There are six bedrooms (each with its own bath) a guest suite with private entry and a garage setup that can accommodate up to nine cars a 77-foot-by-30-foot heated pool and a 13-by-13-foot hot tub dominate the central courtyard Four low-profile boat lifts—one rated for vessels up to 30,000 pounds—ring the seawall It’s also the kind of place that tends to take time to sell by people like Wilson: recent transplants with liquidity and a taste for water access “The people who buy my homes are usually people who’ve just sold a business,” Wilson says and they want a house that feels like something special.” Call Charles Buky of Coldwell Banker Realty at (941) 228-6086 — Longboat Key will be enforcing a new re-entry program after hurricanes Frank Rubino, the interim chief of the Longboat Key Police Department, says he helped develop the idea to improve storm season preparation “I’ve been covering hurricanes since 1980," he said The program will help residents get through checkpoints after a storm The police department is currently handing out decals for the program “We’re going to meet with the manager from Ace Hardware," Rubino said "This particular hardware store is the only one on the island We want them to reopen as soon as possible (after a storm) so we’re going to give them a green sticker.”          • Tier 1: For emergency responders          • Tier 2: A green decal for relief workers such as insurance agents and businesses like Ace Hardware          • Tier 3: A red decal for other business owners and residents “These go right inside (the vehicle)," Rubino said We’re hoping this will expedite entry for you and also reduce congestion.” This new system means drivers won’t have to stop for ID checks “It’s quicker than the system we had before which didn’t work for us," Rubino said As Rubino continues making his rounds on the island he knows educating people about the program now is a key step in improving storm preparation Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLONGBOAT KEY a General Election took place for the Town of Longboat Key was a referendum that would allow or deny the town to move forward with a $33 million loan to replace the town’s underwater wastewater pipeline “It’s a project that we have to do,” said Charles Mopps the Public Works Director for the Town of Longboat key “We have a piece of 50-year-old infrastructure that’s a steel pipe underneath a saline environment and we need to replace it.” Mopps said the pipeline transports the town’s wastewater to the treatment facility in Manatee County He said it was constructed in 1973 and then placed into operation in 1975 The pipeline is the towns sole mode of wastewater transmission from the barrier island to the mainland They collect all this sewage from every house There’s a pump that pumps it to the center part of the island where that pipe is located currently and where the other pipe would be placed would be right next to the existing one and that’s what gets all of the sewage off our island,” said Mopps there was a small leak in the pipeline that resulted in a portion of the pipe being replaced He explained the spill happened 400 feet from the open waters of Sarasota Bay in the mangroves it pushed around 11 million gallons of sewage into the environment LBK FM Permit Support Documents by Bailey Striepling on Scribd “It just pointed out the fact that this could be a real real disaster if that had happened somewhere in the middle of the bay the thought of it is hard to think about,” said Rusty Chinnis a resident and board chair for Suncoast Waterkeeper Chinnis said he has lived on Longboat Key for over 40 years and explained the pipeline needs to be replaced the decision was in front of voters on the ballot According to Mopps voters got to either approve or deny the town’s request to pursue a loan of $33 million from the state The best thing to do is to do it now and get it moving as fast as possible,” said Chinnis Chinnis touched on how important the project is for the area and environment every time someone puts something in the sink A lot of us I think just think it’s a given that you know you flush the toilet and its taken care of but no It needs to be done properly or in the long run everyone suffers people come here for the clean water because of the habitat this is just really important,” said Chinnis Mopps said the referendum is the best option for residents He said it has the cheapest interest rate of 2.89 percent and wouldn’t impact residents’ utility bills “We’d be able to like massively save on the project by allowing this to move forward but our sewer rates are based off this being approved,” said Mopps Mopps said the other options are revenue bonds with interest rates of at least five percent and costing either $58.5 million or $45.9 million Based on unofficial results on the Supervisor of Elections websites, Sarasota County shows over 95 percent voting in favor of the loan. Manatee County’s website showed over 92 percent voting in favor of the loan LBK FM Permit Support Documents by Bailey Striepling on Scribd Image: Courtesy Photo Image: Jenny Acheson Despite its growing reputation, Longboat Key maintains a serene vibe that appeals to travelers seeking a quieter alternative to more crowded Florida destinations like Siesta and South Beach. and the island's With a mix of upscale amenities and natural beauty, the island continues to solidify its place on the map for both visitors and prospective homeowners in search of water views. Here's what you need to know to plan a trip to Longboat Key. Justin Nadeau/Wirestock Creators/Adobe Stock Courtesy of The St. Regus Longboat Key Resort Eddie Kirsch/Courtesy of Visit Sarasota County Maurice Rivenbark/Courtesy of Visit Florida United StatesChevron FloridaChevron Longboat KeyChevron Book for Caribbean luxury on the Gulf of Mexico and the first-class service expected from the St Regis; stay for the delightful experience of snorkeling in the unlike-any-other (at least in the continental US) underwater lagoon—(friendly) stingrays included You’re right outside Sarasota, Florida but you feel as if you could be in the Caribbean or—dare I say it—maybe even Europe The crowd is varied—couples taking a weekend away and locals hitting up the lobby bar to enjoy a local favorite singer crooning the best of Sinatra The vibe is more relaxed than other luxury properties I’ve been to (you are in Florida so resort chic or Palm Beach colors will do for dinner with a customized motif that marries Old Florida with classic carnival and even on the innertubes for the Winding River (more on that later) The rooms are well-appointed and comfortable though nothing points to its Floridian location—lots of gray and neutral tones which are reminiscent of other luxury Marriott properties The suite I stayed in was incredibly spacious—more really than I could enjoy on my own I could’ve slept in a different bed almost every night of my stay though I didn’t because I’m partial to taking up as much space in a king bed as I can The balcony stretched the entire length of the suite spanning the entire front of the wing I was in and overlooking the Gulf (which was steel gray the day I arrived but eventually relented into the beautiful teal and sea foam tones I’ve come to associate with the Florida Gulf.) which featured very classic wood paneling and sumptuous leathers I even got to select my preferred Laguiole steak knife from a box proffered by my waiter which was tucked away inside CW Prime to emulate a speakeasy—complete with light switch to indicate when I was ready for another the most standout offering is at the al fresco Oshen Situated right above the pool area and overlooking the water a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines championed to me heartily by Executive Chef Alberto Taboada and I thoroughly enjoyed the omakase experience I had (the gorgeous sunset in front of me didn’t hurt either.) While I had an excellent massage and facial at the spa the real highlight for me was the thermal spa I’m usually intimidated by thermal treatments but the set-up felt much more inviting than usual—low lighting so I could transition seamlessly between each feature I breathed deeply in the steam room and braved the cold plunge before finally relaxing in the wading pool-cum-hot tub with a cold glass of sparkling water very kindly offered by the attendant on duty I heard plenty of talk from the staff about the nearby Ringling Museum that give the area its moniker of Florida's Cultural Coast Regis is known for its bespoke Butler Service My butler Lena was lovely—she answered all the questions I had and made sure I was stocked up on pastries from Caroline’s the resort’s onsite coffee shop named for Caroline Astor my suit was clean and ready to be packed—no drip drying necessary “lounging” (see: still swimming) in the Winding River or marveling at the resort’s onsite Aldabra giant tortoises But the little girl dancing to the aforementioned crooner in the lobby bar after dinner one night was having the most fun of them all which provides activities for kids to engage them with the nature and marine life around the property and/or lifts are available all over the property The program is open to most ages, but you certainly don’t have to be a child to be as enchanted with the lagoon as I was. All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world The sun was unforgiving above Pastor Julia Piermont and her volunteers Monday as they carried waterlogged books out of the Christ Church of Longboat Key’s annex library Piermont’s personal library in her office was filled wall to wall with high I had the wherewithal to put the less valuable stuff at the bottom shelves,” Piermont said the church’s nave was elevated enough that the seawater couldn’t reach it But the two biggest impediments for Piermont to resume services there was to clear the parking lot and get the power back on it was 86 degrees inside the annex as Piermont hustled to salvage what was left Christ Church was able to collaborate with the Kirkwood Church of Bradenton to provide a service on Sunday “It was really important for people to get together because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete entire houses were gutted by Hurricane Helene’s rampage The storm seemed to have shifted the earth itself Entire front yards were coated in a foot of sand while the shore was depleted Public workers had cleared the road north from Lido Key and the residual mounds of sand at the curbs were as high as five feet Howard Tipton spent the storm trapped during Longboat Key’s town hall with no power he found the experience rather frustrating we could only go 100 feet in either direction because (Gulf of Mexico Drive) was a river.” Longtime residents have told him Helene was the worst hit the island has taken from the parade of storms in the Gulf and across the Florida peninsula over decades Tipton estimated across 400 properties on Longboat Key an exclusive retirement and resort destination with some of the region's priciest real estate there were "hundreds of millions" of dollars in damage Longboat Key initially opened only to residents on Sunday after emergency crews spent days clearing the roads and working to restore basic infrastructure "We certainly got the highest storm surge we've ever had in our recorded history," Tipton said Longboat Key’s fire protection was compromised after the storm surge caused a leak in the reserve tanks’ main Only more than half of the island had electricity as of Sunday And the road north to Bradenton Beach was destroyed The town also urged residents Monday night to restrict wastewater usage as much as possible “due to the system capacity being exceeded by all incoming flows.” He was hopeful that power would be fully restored by the end of the week the town was testing the water so residents would no longer be required to boil it Town Hall had its power restored around noon on Monday with the town's government opening back up on Tuesday morning Among his top priorities were island-wide damage assessments and allowing people to receive emergency building permits to start the process of recovering The permits are required by the town to remain compliant with federal regulations "FEMA requires you to have a permit for that stuff," he said "And your insurance company will want that The town also hired two debris contractors to help with the clean up Tipton said the larger businesses on the island will likely fare well but noted some of the smaller ones will take longer to bounce back older places on the beach were significantly damaged and it's hard to know if those places will come back online during the season," he said Tipton felt that Longboat Key dodged a bullet compared to its neighbors all you have to do is look to our north and to our south and it just could have been so much worse," he said “I think what you'll see is people in good spirits trying to figure out how to rebuild." assessing damage and just listening to residents share their experiences sand once shaped as beach dunes along the Gulf of Mexico was cast everywhere Three of the eight cottages built in 1949 had been shoved off cinder block foundations by the powerful storm surge pushed forward by Hurricane Helene as it drove water further inland than in generations Dee Rome and Maria Jimenez worked together Monday at about 1 p.m to clean up the mess and assess the damage She joked that she moved to Longboat Key for three weeks back in 2012 and just never left she built her very own secret garden in a hidden nook beside her deck where she kept two fans to create her own gulf breeze on even the most calm her deck has more dips and bends than a Coney Island roller coaster Her garden has been breached by storm debris and muck the owner of the property was "evaluating options," but she's hopeful they'll want to rebuild Many of the guests that stay in the rental units are annual visitors with more than one guest offering to help repair the damage suffered to the property "A couple from Tennessee said they would be down here with their own shovels," Harrison said The eight cottages built in 1949 sat on 1.2 acres of beachfront property on Longboat Key's Gulf of Mexico Drive The owner has listed the property for $15 million although it's been listed for more than 190 days multi-million dollar beachfront homes tower over a slice of old Florida that's quickly disappearing Derek Gilliam covers real estate for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune Email him at dgilliam@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ReporterDerek Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Email him at ccasale@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @vanityhack 2024 at 8:40 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}This barrier island off the coast of Sarasota and Manatee counties is among the “Top 12 Destinations for 2025,” Forbes Travel Guide said FL — A barrier island off the coast of Sarasota and Manatee counties landed on Forbes Travel Guide’s list of “Top 12 Destinations for 2025.” Longboat Key offers 12 miles of white-sand beaches, as well as “luxury resorts, waterfront golf and upscale dining,” according to Visit Florida The barrier island is split between both counties though the Forbes listing focuses on the island’s Sarasota side “Unless you are a local, you might not know about this tranquil barrier island off the coast of Sarasota. Here, visitors will discover 12 miles of soft white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and nature preserves,” the Forbes’ listing reads. “But the secret is out with the opening of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort the only hotel from the brand to debut in the U.S in 2024 and the largest development on the island in 50 years.” The 18-acre beachfront hotel has more than a half dozen restaurants and a 500,000-gallon lagoon wildlife experience for snorkelers with 40 rays 2,800 local reef fish and resident Aldabra tortoises Forbes’ full list includes global destinations from Amsterdam to Monaco to Bhutan in South Asia Check out what other locations made the top 12. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.