Little Bokeelia Island sold for $14.5 million
In the mouth of Charlotte Harbor, off the northern end of Pine Island, sits one of Southwest Florida’s most beautiful private islands – Little Bokeelia. Tom and Elizabeth Munz have lived on the island for 25 years. Three years ago they put the property up for sale at the whopping price of $29.5 million. Last year the price was reduced $5 million and last month an entrepreneur purchased the property for $14.5 million.
According to the press release from the real estate broker, Michael Saunders & Company, the “private 104-acre island off the southwest coast of Florida sold to a former high school math teacher and basketball coach turned entrepreneur and philanthropist.”
Mark and Cindy Pentecost own “It Works,” a direct sales company that sells body contouring wraps, health foods and personal care products. Last year the company had $500 million in sales.
The property was listed as a “historic Spanish/Mediterranean main house that sits on 104 acres and is more than 8,000 square feet and consists of 4 bedrooms with 4 bathrooms. The house was originally built by dry cell battery magnate Charles Burgess in 1928. Perfectly positioned between Sarasota and Naples in Pine Island Sound, the property has private guest quarters with a caretakers cottage, additional guest retreat, gracious pool and pavilion, informal history museum and lushly landscaped terraces. There are numerous water features including cascading waterfall, koi pond, and lagoon.”
Pentecost is the founder and CEO of It Works!, a debt-free skin care and nutrition company.
Last year, the company opened its 50,000-square-foot global headquarters, which is located two hours north of Little Bokeelia in Palmetto, Florida, southeast of Tampa. Pentecost’s holdings include a 1,000-acre cattle ranch in Myakka City, Florida, and Stoneybrook Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida.
The press release states: “With the purchase of Little Bokeelia Island, the successful entrepreneurs and philanthropists have proven that the power of the American dream is still alive and well.
“Little Bokeelia is a slice of paradise that allows you to enjoy friendship, fun, freedom and to unplug from the chaos of today. It’s in these moments when you’re able to relax that you can brainstorm and innovate,” Pentecost said.
Little Bokeelia’s tranquility, along with its privacy, was a sanctuary for former residents and visitors including the Calusa Indians, Ponce De Leon, Thomas Edison and Charles Burgess.