Introducing Holmes Beach:
- Located In: Manatee County
- Population: 4,966 (Source: U.S. Census 2000)
- Community Type: Beach residential and tourist
- Size: 1.7 square miles
- Government: City commission and mayor/mayor and five at large commissioners are elected to two-year staggered terms.
- Zip Codes: 34217-34218
History of Holmes Beach:
Sam and Annie Cobb first homesteaded 160 acres on Anna Maria Island in 1896 in the area now called Holmes Beach. John R. Jones and Jose Casanas soon joined the Cobbs. Jones piloted boats running between Tampa and Cuba. Casanas relocated from the Canary Islands in search of mullet fishing grounds.
The first island post office was established in 1902 in the home of the Cobbs.
The city derives its name from Jack Holmes, a developer who arrived on the island after World War II and created a 600-acre community. The city was incorporated in 1950 and Halsey T. Tichenor served as its first mayor.
Things To Do In Holmes Beach:
Residents and visitors alike find excellent fishing in the waters surrounding Anna Maria Island and the community is home to a number of fishing guides and charters like http://www.captainlogan.com/]Captain Logan Bystrom Fishing Charters, 8025 Marina Isles Lane.
Renting a scooter can provide a fun and easy mode of transportation around the island. Businesses such as the http://www.islandscooterstore.com/]Island Scooter Store, 5347 Gulf Drive, Suite 6, offer scooter rentals.
The Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., hosts annual exhibitions and offers a broad range of classes for adults and children.
Dining In Holmes Beach:
- Beach Bistro, 6600 Gulf Drive
- Da Giorgia Ristorante, 5702 Marina Drive
- Melinda’s Café, 5315 Gulf Drive
- Ooh La La! Bistro, 5404 Marina Drive
- Tortilla Bay Southwest Grille, 5318 Marina Drive
What Makes Holmes Beach Special:
Located in Manatee County, Holmes Beach is the largest of three island communities on Anna Maria Island, which is found on the Gulf of Mexico just south of the mouth of Tampa Bay. Bordered on the north by Anna Maria and on the south by Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach boasts three miles of gorgeous white, sandy beaches. The city also offers easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway which traverses Anna Maria Sound.
A century’s worth of development may mask it, but early residents had to hack through dense jungle just to create a sandy washboard road. Back then, facing rattlesnakes, wildcats and panthers was a common occurrence.
In 1948, just two years before Holmes Beach was incorporated, Hollywood brought Esther Williams, Peter Lawford, Ricardo Montalban, Jimmy Durante and Cyd Charisse to community to film portions of On an Island with You.
Today, Holmes Beach remains a popular tourist destination with a wide array of vaction rentals winter residences.