By: Craig McCoy, Realtor®, McCoy Real Estate Group, Keller Williams on the Water Sarasota
Mission Valley, Nokomis was originally settled by the Sioux, Cherokee, and Iroquois tribes. This wide area is located east of Route 41, west of Route 75 in Nokomis off Laurel Road (also known as North Venice on area maps), and .75 miles from Route 41 near the Legacy Trail overpass.
Once you turn north on Mission Valley Blvd., you enter the Mission Valley community or the north Venice area. In the 1920s, turpentine and lumber were the trades in the area, and stills and camps were connected by rail. Prisons leased prisoners as laborers to these companies. The Palmer family leased 4,000 acres to them.
Planned development in the 1960s platted land in 5-acre segments as “equestrian estates,” advertised as “a home with a barn,” and now most areas have been subdivided. A few remaining equestrian and farm properties do still exist. Many streets were named for horses, such as Clydesdale, Arabian, and Pinto. It is not unusual to see deer, bobcats, and raccoons in this country-like setting.
Rumor says the community was home to many Ringling Circus performers, and some still reside here. The circus train would pass mere yards from this area, so it was plausible.
The area features well-manicured and hidden country-style roads that are canopied with hanging Spanish Moss. In 1967 the gated Mission Valley Country Club and Calusa Lakes Country Club community were designed for 200+ homes, which are more modern and upscale than the equestrian community. An extremely well-maintained HOA and many homes border the course. Private and semi-private golf clubs are available.
Nearby attractions include Nokomis beach, Casey Key, Venice jetty, Oscar Scherer park, schools, Publix, hospital, downtown Venice, shops, restaurants, boating, biking, and legacy trail.
Home styles range from traditional block ranch to modern and artistic architecture in the equestrian community, and the gated community has more modern, affluent, upscale stucco designed, open plan interiors, high ceilings, pools, and terracotta roofs.
Recent sales range from $500K to $1.14M, with an average sale price of $759K. New listings are available, ranging in price from $650K to 1.65M, with an average selling price of $1.067M.