Ellenton

The Ellenton neighborhood sits on a charming peninsula surrounded by the Manatee River and the Terra Ceia Bay. This secluded, yet convenient location is just a short drive from nearby Snead Island beaches and big cities like Bradenton and St. Petersburg. “I’ve been in the Manatee area for 42 years now and it’s just a great place to live,” says Scott Nivens, a local real estate agent with Exit King Realty. “It’s small but it’s growing, which means it’s quiet but we still have plenty to do around here.”

Ellenton offers single-family and manufactured homes and is a popular destination for retirees who enjoy settling in at one of the mobile home parks lining the river. “Prices for manufactured homes typically run from $150,000 to $300,000 and the newer single-family homes will be around $350,000 to $500,000,” Nivens says. The median sales price in Ellenton is $431,000. You’ll also find newer construction, apartments and a few condos on the water.

Local students have plenty of options within the Manatee County School District. Blackburn is the nearest public elementary school and James Tillman is a highly-rated magnet school. Manatee School for the Arts is a charter middle and high school that opened its doors in 1998 in a refurbished bowling alley. Students are encouraged to explore theater, music, art and more, and the school boasts the highest graduation rate in the county.

If you’re hoping to explore some local history, check out the Gamble Plantation Historic State Park where you’ll find Major Robert Gamble, Jr.’s sugar cane plantation and antebellum mansion. During its prime in the middle of the 19th century, the plantation was over 3,000 acres in size and the state’s top sugar and molasses provider. Today visitors can experience guided tours of Gamble’s home.

Hoping to get outdoors? Join the nature lovers at Felts Audubon Preserve, a 28-acre protected environment that is home to almost 200 bird species and over 30 different types of butterflies. The preserve hopes to shield land and wildlife from the increasing development in the area and serve as an educational opportunity for curious visitors.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, there are plenty of local restaurants to choose from, and some right on the water. “The river is beautiful but it’s honestly hard to get to since the waterfront property here is all privately owned. Your best bet is to enjoy it from one of those restaurants,” Nivens says. Woody’s River Roo is a great example, with its beachy vibes, tiki bar and great views of the water. This family-owned and operated restaurant is a neighborhood favorite thanks to live music and old Florida charm. Stop by for a plate of grouper bites or a tropical drink. For dessert, give Shake Station a try. Their hand-dipped ice cream is a locally sourced treat and something of a celebrity — the same company sells ice cream to the White House for special events. Shake Station hosts its own special events as well, so be sure you don’t miss their monthly car shows.

Need to grab some groceries? Detwiler’s Farm Market has everything from an Amish-style deli selection to farm fresh produce and local seafood. Grab something hot from the oven at their bakery or take your little ones to the ice cream shop. Or head over to Acapulco Tropical Supermarket to pick up some quality produce or grab lunch from their kitchen, which offers tamales, tortas and more.

If you’re in a shopping mood, visit the family-owned and operated Enterprise Flea Market, or explore the Scavenger’s Marketplace, where over 50 vendors and collectors have all sorts of unique finds on display. If you prefer brand-name merchandise, spend the day at Ellenton Premium Outlets, where Nike, Gap, Coach and more are all gathered at one convenient location.

Despite all of the nearby amenities, you may be surprised to find that Ellenton is such a quiet place. “That’s the unique thing about Ellenton, we’re really still a small town,” Nivens says. “It’s mostly residential but there’s enough commercial to support the town. It still feels like old Florida.”

Written By

Jordan Hamner

Photography Contributed By

Raif Fluker

Video By

Michael Voyack