Prohibition-Era Sarasota Home Features a Secret Speakeasy Room

A piece of Sarasota, FL, history is up for sale. Dare you open the secret room and take a peek?

Listed for $ 1.1 million, this Mediterranean-style home in the Sapphire Shores area boasts vintage charm, a sweet location, and ties to Prohibition. Oh, and a link to the circus.

Built in 1925, the two-story, four-bedroom stucco home offers oodles of curb appeal from the brick-paved driveway to the vintage awnings.

Inside, modern convenience meets jazz-era charm. The barrel-shaped entryways lead to quaint living spaces with exposed wood-beam ceilings. The staircase features an Art Deco–style finial. In the kitchen, you’ll find wood countertops and stainless-steel appliances.

The sellers finished some important renovations, namely consolidating some of the smaller (’20s-size) bedrooms upstairs into one large master suite, a better fit for today’s tastes.

But one important secret of the past remains intact: a built-in bookshelf that’s more than meets the eye.

“There is a lever hidden on the bookshelf. If you pull the lever, the bookshelf opens, revealing a secret room. This is where they stored their alcohol during Prohibition,” listing agent Thomas Arbuckle says.

A century ago, it wasn’t uncommon for homes across the country to feature a speakeasy room. You may not need to hide your booze today, but Arbuckle thinks the secret spot would make a great wine cellar.

Outside, the back lawn is anchored by a welcoming pool and citrus trees. At the rear of the property, you’ll find another example of the past meeting the present.

“The old carriage house has been converted into a guest home,” Arbuckle says. “The owners left the barn doors on to keep up the look.”

The property is a short walk from the dog park, Asolo Repertory Theatre, and The Ringling museum, which befits the home’s past.

“John Ringling of Ringling Brothers Circus developed a lot of the area in Sarasota. There were supposedly eight Ringling mansions, and this is one of them,” Arbuckle says.