Rotonda West, FL - Real Estate For Sale

The land on which Rotonda West Florida sits on was once owned by brothers William and Alfred Vanderbilt. William who was a former Governor of Rhode Island and both brothers were direct descendants of the renowned Cornelius Vanderbilt…. The brothers had acquired the Rotonda land (36,000 acres) back in 1952 and eventually, Alfred Vanderbilt who owned most of it, sold it to Cavanagh Leasing Corporation of Miami in 1969 for $19.5 million, when ranching became uneconomical.

The original developer of Rotonda West Florida made two smart moves in 1970. First, he negotiated with ABC-TV to telecast a television show called “The Superstars”, the show was a unique new sports show, then the developer retained Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s famous sidekick to pitch Rotonda West Florida as Paradise.

The Superstars had the world’s leading athletes compete against each other in sports other than their own, this was an idea of ice skater Dick Button and it worked. Virtually every named athlete at the time from1972 to 1977 performed here, starting when Rotonda West Florida had less than 100 residents. The TV show helped to put Rotonda West Florida on the map. 

Meanwhile, Ed McMahon was selling Rotonda West Florida personally, by promoting the community on stage,  film, and at virtually every state fair in the U.S., Ed McMahon was aided by a network of hotel concierges, bellhops, valet parkers, and pool attendants earning commissions for inviting potential buyers to cocktail events and lottery drawings. Rotonda West Florida lots sold “like hotcakes,” and gradually homes were built and the first residents took root.

Ed McMahon, also became the vice president of the developer’s Rotonda corporation, part of his payoff was a Rotonda West Florida house and lot. The house, which is still there today was sold several years ago and sits on a pond between the 3rd and 12th fairways of The Hills golf course.

Rotonda West Florida real estate is The Larson Team's specialty. Our team is committed to making the buying and selling of homes in Rotonda West Florida a pleasurable and rewarding experience. Our website allows you to search all active Rotonda West Florida homes for sale. It is easy to use and navigate through Rotonda West Florida home searches. You can also save searches and get daily email alerts of new listings as they become available.

Call The Larson Team Today At 941.993.8222 to inquire about our real estate services for buyers & sellers in Rotonda West Florida   Show Less...