Anna Maria Island
Old Town Florida Feel
Anna Maria Island is one of the oldest settled areas on the Gulf Coast of Florida and it still holds its Old Town Florida feel, despite continued growth.
The island’s first residents were a Timucua Indian village transplanted from the panhandle that lived in quiet isolation, occasionally trading with their Calusa neighbors. Unfortunately, when Hernando De Soto came onto the island looking for a mythical lost city of gold, he and his crew brought European diseases that the natives did not have a resistance to and by the early 1600’s most of them had died off.
The island was largely forgotten for a few hundred years until George Emerson Bean homesteaded the north end of the island in 1893. He left the land to his son who partnered with Fig Newton inventor Charles Rosier & Wilbur Hall to form the Anna Maria Beach Company and began planning out the sidewalks, streets, homes and water system that would become Anna Maria City.
The origins of the name of Anna Maria Island are as varied and exotic as the fish that swim around the bay. One story says that it was named for Jesus Christ’s mother Mary and her mother, Anne (whose name is apparently derived from an apocryphal gospel).
Request a "Quick Quote" to schedule a free inspection!
Just provide a few details and we'll get in touch with you right away!
Another story tells of former Tampa mayor Madison Post who named it for his wife Maria and sister-in-law Anna. A third story claims that the mother of one of the Spanish conquistadors was named Anna Maria. And finally, some claim that Fountain of Youth seeker Ponce De Leon named it for Spanish Queen Maria Anna von der Pfalz-Neuburg, who sponsored his expedition.
In 1913, Charles Rosier donated a large chunk of his fortune (from selling the Fig Newton to Nabisco) to build a non-denominational chapel that would be open to all, regardless of their religious leanings. The original chapel still stands, although in the 1970’s a larger sanctuary was built next to it, accommodating more weekly worshipers.
In 1921, a draw bridge connecting the island to the mainland was begun. A severe summer storm wiped out almost all of the existing structure, forcing them to start over and rebuild the bridge from the salvaged lumber, finishing in 1922. In 2016, the Florida DOT approved a plan to build a high-rose bridge with federal funds.
Gradually the community grew and in the mid-1920’s a bar opened on the island, and soon a jail was built for the specific purpose of giving rowdy drunks a place to cool off overnight. In the 1940’s, a fire during a wind storm made the jail purposeless, except as a popular place for photo ops.
Following World War II, a retired Army Corps Engineer by the name of Jack Holmes who had visited the island 20 years earlier purchased 350 acres and began building Holmes Beach, the island’s second city. The community of Bradenton Beach was founded shortly thereafter.
These days, the old town charm of the 7-mile long island is maintained by zoning laws that for years prohibited drive-thru’s and buildings over 37-feet high. In 2011, the state legislature passed a law that prohibited local governments from overly regulating vacation rental properties. So now, ironically, the Old Florida appeal of the island has led tourism to quadruple in the past decade, contributing to the demise of its nostalgic draw.
Residents and tourists alike can still enjoy the Anna Maria Pier, the sandy beaches, and some of the finest locally owned boutique restaurants in Tampa Bay along the popular Pine Avenue thoroughfare.
The Industry Leader in Green Pest Solutions
Good News leads the industry in providing 100% all natural, safer and more effective botanically-based eco-superior products for pest control. Products that are guaranteed safe for you, your children and your pets. That, coupled with other products that utilize naturally occurring elements found in nature, allows Good News to provide the same pest-free living guarantee, with no risk to your health.
A recent EPA study suggests that 80% of pesticide exposure occurs indoors and that measurable levels of up to a dozen pesticides have been found in the air inside homes!
Perimeter Plus - Green Pest Control
Our Perimeter Plus green pest control is designed to eliminate and prevent most of the creepy-crawly insect varieties we see in Florida, including ants, roaches, silverfish and, of course, spiders. We schedule 3 visits per year to provide exterior service after the initial set-up.
Your Good News technician will inspect the entire exterior of your property while sweeping cobwebs from the eaves and windows.
Once the source of insects is determined, a proper treatment of the perimeter foundation, entry points, eaves, plant beds and trees will be applied where needed using reduced–risk, green products.
If you are having any pest issues inside, your trained tech will also treat any entry points, kitchen, baths, laundry room, or problem areas using reduced–risk or even pesticide exempt products.
We guarantee your satisfaction and will return (at no charge) in between scheduled visits if you encounter any pests. Please call as soon as you see a problem. The sooner we inspect and treat, the better.
Keeping the Rodents in the Fields
One issue we see with rapidly growing and developing areas, is that rats, mice and other rodents find themselves ‘homeless,’ and decide to move in to your home—even in the most exclusive homes and neighborhoods.
The Good News Premier Rodent Program is the most comprehensive service available. We start by excluding all known entry points and sealing roof vents with proprietary covers. Then, we set several traps in the attic(s) to kill any rodents sealed in.
Next, we install 4-6 of the best bait stations available in hidden locations around the exterior perimeter. These help to keep the outside population of rodents to a minimum. We check the traps twice per week until we are sure there are no more live rodents inside.
Finally, we vacuum droppings and apply a deodorizer, sanitizer, viruscide to the entire attic space.
Many of our customers are finalizing the process by capping their insulation with T·A·P: Thermal Acoustical Pest Control. Once T·A·P™ is installed, the attic looks brand new and acts as a deterrent to re-infestation.
Term-Assure 365 - Termite Protection
Our tropical Florida environment means that the state also has the highest risk for termite problems. Termites do more damage than floods, fires and storms combined, and like those natural disasters, the more you prepare the less you feel the impact.
Termite damage isn’t covered by most homeowners policies, which means the repair costs come out of your pocket.
Good News is the leader in using natural and essential oil alternatives to control both drywood and subterranean termite pests.
Term Assure 365 is the most comprehensive and affordable termite protection in the state. First, we perform a thorough inspection of your home to be sure there is no existing evidence of termite infestation.
Next, we perform our initial Perimeter Plus interior and exterior pest control service and install 6-8 termite monitoring stations around the exterior perimeter of your home.
Then every time one of our skilled technicians visits your house (at least once every 4 months), they check the monitoring stations along with the normal treatment. And we offer a $1 million dollar damage repair warranty for homes that qualify.
If you’re building or buying, we offer Bora-Care®, an organic pre-construction treatment, and Florida-mandated real estate WDO inspections, to insure your new home is free of wood destroying organisms.
Don’t wait, schedule your termite inspection now.
T·A·P: Thermal Acoustical Pest Control
With T·A·P, you not only keep out the bugs, but you can save money on your cooling (and heating) bills! Like all our products, TAP is all natural and safe for your family and pets, but is 32% more energy efficient than fiberglass insulation, while adding a sound barrier and even reducing fire hazard.
Quick Facts About Anna Maria Island:
- Our island is actually 3 different cities: Anna Maria City, Bradenton Beach & Holmes Beach.
- Anna Maria Island doubled as Hawaii for the 1948 MGM film “On An Island With You,” starring Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalban & Jimmy Durante.
- The Anna Maria Pier (pictured above) is open for fishing 24-7 while you enjoy the 360-degree view of the bay.
- Anna Maria Island is featured in the music video for “Second Chance” by Shinedown.
- Fred “Hutch” Hutchinson, a pitcher, then Manager for the Detroit Tigers & Cincinnati Reds retired to Anna Maria Island shortly before his death in 1964.
- Custom Donuts? You can build your own at Anna Maria Donuts on Pine Avenue.
- Like your Veggies all natural? You can sample the local flavor at one of the many box gardens that local restaurants on Pine Avenue harvest for their local cuisine.
Proudly Serving
Sun City Center, Ruskin, Palmetto, Parrish, Ellenton, Bradenton, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Longboat Key, Lakewood Ranch, University Park, Myakka City, Sarasota, Siesta Key, Osprey, Nokomis, Casey Key, Venice, Englewood, North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Arcadia
Things You Can Do
Pay Your Bill Online
Leave Us a Review
Request a Free* Termite Inspection
Stop Mosquito Bites
Get Rid of Rodents
Get a Termite Damage Warranty
Get Pest Control for Your Attic
Get Pest Control for Your Business Request Prayer
Corporate Address
1080 Enterprise Court, Ste A
North Venice, FL 34275
Call Now: (941) 412-9610
Text: (941) 412-9610
Fax: (941) 412-0080