The Spanish Main Harbor in Longboat Key is home to a groundbreaking neighborhood that was originally developed in the late 1960s. The Spanish Main Yacht Club was among the first neighborhoods in Southwest Florida to eschew the condominium tower concept; instead, the developers drew inspiration from resort villages of the Mediterranean.

This unique boating and fishing neighborhood was designed with active seniors in mind. In the beginning, only senior citizens 55-and-older were allowed as full-time residents; these days, however, 21 of the 212 villas in this community allow residents who are 50 and older. Younger residents are allowed to stay in the neighborhood for up to two months each year.

The homes at Spanish Main are paired two-bedroom villas that range from 1,300 to 1,400 square feet of living space. A few units are unattached, which technically makes them single-family residences. Most of the units have been remodeled. Listings tend to sell very fast, and they are usually priced from $200K to $600K.

Many of the villages in Spanish Main feature waterfront views of a lake, saltwater canals or the Sarasota Bay. The entrance to this gated community is located just across the public beach at Longboat Key. The yacht club offers 40 slips for boats as large as 45-foot.

Boating, fishing and going to the beach are the main activities at Spanish Main, although many residents seek membership at the adjacent tennis resort, which features a swimming pool, modern gym facilities, tennis courts, and a tiki lounge. Other residents prefer the exclusive Longboat Key Country Club, home of the only island golf course with ocean views in Sarasota County.

Residents of Spanish Main live very close to various amenities that allow them to stay on the island. There are restaurants and pubs along Gulf of Mexico Drive, and the Bay Isles shopping center is only five minutes away.