10
Living The Dream On Anna Maria Island
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Back in the 1940's, Floyd and Florence Myers had a dream. They lived in Ohio, and spending winters on the beach in Florida sounded sublime, so they purchased a 1948 Airstream Continental from Harold P. Young of Young's Trailer Sales & Service in Fremont, OH and started an adventure that lives on today. Floyd and Florence purchased a lot on a white sandy beach for their Airstream. Today it's called "Three Pines Cottage" and is located at 2214 Gulf Drive North on Bradenton Beach, FL. From the road the structure looks like any other house, but this one has quite a story. Floyd was a carpenter with an imagination. When the 29-foot Airstream became too small, he decided to expand the living space. Each year, when Floyd and Florence came down to Bradenton Beach to escape the winter, Floyd would start another project. By the time Floyd died in 1958, the house had grown from 29 to 1,180 square feet. Florence continued living in Three Pines Cottage until her death in 1982. Their granddaughter, Judy Kuhlman and her husband, Richard purchased the cottage in 1983, but challenges were soon to come. In 1985 the Gulf Coast of Florida was hit hard by Hurricanes Elena and Juan, causing significant damage. Nearby homes were partially washed out to sea, but sturdy Three Pines Cottage escaped with minimal damage thanks to the rugged Airstream shell and Floyd's expertise. In 2000, the Kuhlman's placed the property under the rental management division of Wagner Realty's Anna Maria Island Office, located directly across the street. For more than 20 years, vacationers from around the world have come to enjoy this historic piece of "Old Florida" paradise. Many guests come back every year enjoying a retreat to this cozy, vintage knotty pine cottage with direct beachfront views. Debra, a regular guest from Dartmouth, MA, has been coming to Three Pines Cottage for 21 years. She looks forward to the annual retreat, noting "Year-after-year, Three Pines Cottage is our paradise hideaway. Its quaint, homey atmosphere makes it unique from the other vacation rentals, and since it's ADA (Americans with Disabilites Act), I've been able to bring my disabled mother with me. We love sitting on the back porch and listening to the waves lap the shore." The property offers the best of both worlds, with a retro and relaxed Old Florida feel, while also providing updated amenities throughout. The cottage accommodates five comfortably, with a spacious living area. The updated kitchen offers spectacular Gulf views to enjoy while preparing meals. The master bedroom has a queen bed, there's a full bed in the guest room and a twin in a small private alcove. You can dig your toes in the powdery sand just outside your door, ease into your day on the open back porch while sipping your morning coffee, and enjoy a meal or a glass of wine while you take in the spectacular hues and views of the Gulf of Mexico at sunset through the large picture window. This is absolute paradise for a beach lover. Three Pines Cottage is available for weekly rentals throughout the year. For more information contact Wagner Realty Rentals at 941.778.2246 or go to www.rental.wagnerrealty.com. |
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