The original Ringling home, arguably one of the most historic estates in Florida, is now for sale in Sarasota.

Known as the “House of Ringling,” the home is located at 7715 Westmoreland Dr, and was built in 1910 for Alfred Ringling, the middle sibling of the seven Ringling brothers. It’s considered the “original Ringling home,” because at the time, the other Ringling brothers had yet to build their own palatial homes in the area.

Originally sitting on on over 218 acres of waterfront property,  Alfred died before the home was completed. However, his wife Elizabeth and son Richard lived in the house until 1924, when the entire estate was sold to developers for what would become Whitefield Estates. The developers would later move the home from its original location because it conflicted with their street layout plans.

The House of Ringling has changed hands quite a few times over the years, and still holds some of its original opulence. The 4,782-square-foot South Plantation-style home now comes with five bedrooms and five bathrooms, and features a two-story main room with a gabled second floor and the original classic Venetian columns, coffered ceilings, Dade County hardwood floors, and more.

According to property records, the home was last sold in 2022 for $1,499,000, and is currently asking $2,495,000. The listing agent is Barbara Ackerman of Coldwell Banker.

Every house has a story, and our mission is to tell Tampa Bay’s story through the lens of our community’s historic and colorful homes. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s real estate features are not ads, and are strictly operated through our editorial department. But we love public input. Do you know of a unique Florida home that we should highlight? Let us know, and email cwolf@cltampa.com.

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Colin Wolf has been working with weekly newspapers since 2007 and has been the Digital Editor for Creative Loafing Tampa since 2019. He is also the Director of Digital Content Strategy for CL's parent...