Snell Isle, St. Petersburg

Snell Isle is a peaceful and quiet residential waterfront community. Its boundaries include the Snell Isle Bridge easterly following the "meandering" shoreline to the Shore Acres Bridge, then along the shorelines of Eden Isle and Snell Isle Estates, along 34th Avenue and Locust Street to Coffee Pot Bayou, and then to the starting point, the Snell Isle Bridge. Snell Isle owes its existence to C. Perry Snell, who first visited St. Petersburg on his wedding trip in 1898. Upon returning the following year, his first purchase was the waterfront property located at 1st Street and 4th Avenue North, now known as North Shore Park.

The area contains many original classic homes along with other large homes, well-kept lawns and tree lined streets. Of particular pride is the restored Snell Isle Park Plaza. Volunteers from the Association's membership spent hundreds of hours restoring the park's walkways, statuary and landscaping that reflects the splendor of the past. The annual Christmas decorations of colored lights on the statues, palm trees and shrubbery, along with a visit from Santa Claus to the park Gazebo, are a sight to behold.

Other purchases of Mr. Snell include Crescent Lake, Mirror Lake and 600 acres of land along the northern edge of St. Petersburg, now known as Coffee Pot Bayou. Snell first purchased acreage on the small island of sand and mangroves in 1911, and on October 14, 1925, lot sales began. At that time, only 275 acres planned for development were above high tide levels. The first homes to be constructed consisted of 8-9 residences of Classic European Architecture in the area known as Brightwaters Bayou. To enhance the European influence, Snell traveled extensively throughout Europe and at a cost of more than $1 million, obtained the various statuary, tiles and ornaments for his St. Petersburg properties.

Among Snell's many contributions to the community was a gift of land on Snell Isle to the St. Petersburg Women's Club in 1928. The land was accepted after much debate among the members, since it was beyond the street car line, in a jungle and accessible only by a rickety wooden bridge. The Women's Club immediately began work to have the City build a new bridge over the Bayou, and on December 25, 1931, the new bridge was dedicated and opened to traffic. Many changes have occurred since then, but it has been the desire of the residents of the area that the style and its distinct atmosphere are retained.

The distinctive Women's Club building at 40 Snell Isle Boulevard, along with the newly renovated Renaissance Vinoy Resort, present a spectacular view as you cross the newly restored Snell Isle Bridge. Snell Isle has two schools and a convenient shopping center along Snell Isle Boulevard. Downtown stores, parks and entertainment areas are just a five minute drive from the Isle.

The architecture of the Snell Isle area contains a wide spectrum of classic European and Spanish design among the older houses dating from the 1920s. Many houses were built as small two-bedroom homes that were subsequently remodeled and enlarged. In recent years, several waterfront homes were razed and larger homes constructed.