“Stories have been written in the Boca
Beacon about this house,” Schneider said.
“After selling Grande Tours I tried to donate
it to every historical society I could fi nd,
but nobody wanted it. It belongs in Boca
Grande, but I gave up, something I don’t do
easily.”
Marian had the little building dismantled
and taken to her property in northern
Georgia to be rebuilt there. It took a
contractor, a U-Haul and two weeks of work
to get it to its fi nal resting place, Schneider
said, and more than a little expense on her
part.
Photos this page: The building being dismantled
at the old Grande Tours site just off the Boca
Grande Causeway.
In 2014 a company called Boca Norte,
LLC, (also the owner of the former Mercabo
facility) owned by island property owner Brad
Kelley, purchased the land at 12575 Placida
Road and the easement that used to be
the site of Grande Tours for $820,000. The
property is zoned RMF-T, or “residential multifamily
tourist.”
Commissioner Bill Truex spoke to the
Charlotte Board of County Commissioners
on March 9 of this year, with the proposal
of purchasing property on the east side
of Placida Road, across from the county’s
Placida Boat Ramp.
According to Charlotte County
spokesperson, Brian Gleason, “The question
was raised by Commissioner Truex during
a recent county commission meeting and
the consensus is to have the staff look into
it. Beyond that, there’s been no proposal
or purchase offer. We’re really just at the
exploratory stage right now.”
“I was speaking with property owners in
this area who are interested in selling,” said
Truex at the March 9 meeting. “Staff has
been looking at the parcel for our Bluetrails
Water Trails for access. This estuary right here
is good for kayaking and stand-up paddle
boarding. My goal would be to maintain
as much of the tree canopy as possible still
providing access for people to have a kayak
launch.”
Other commissioners, Deutsch, Constance
and Tiseo expressed their support to
continue exploring the acquisition.
Constance said, “This is an investment that
pays dividends. Putting a development
there isn’t really going to help us. Having
that (property) saved for everyone else helps
people wanting to come here.”
Truex added, “Here’s a crazy idea I haven’t
pursued yet, and that is reach out to the
New kayak launch site in Charlotte County?