3 things: Great Enough for Gatsby

Jay Gatsby would feel right at home in Sarasota. With our wealthy newcomers and lavish social life, it’s the perfect place for a glamorous multimillionaire with a mysterious past. He’ll need a gorgeous, drop-dead home, of course — one with plenty of space for opulent parties out by the pool, plus a wood-paneled library for planning those business deals, and a gigantic master closet for all his beautiful shirts. And the gardens, of course: “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” Here’s a selection of three Sarasota homes that measure up to the Gatsby mystique, each one guaranteed to suitably impress a lost love — and maybe win her back.

1. Gatsby on Siesta
4011 Shell Road
This walled and gated estate on north Siesta has an expansive pool area that’s perfect for Gatsby-esque parties — there’s even a stage for the orchestra, right over the waterfall. The interior is equally impressive. Mediterranean in style, with Venetian gothic details (think Cà d’Zan) and frescoed ceilings, it boasts five bedrooms, five baths and four half-baths. A wealthy bachelor would love this place: It’s full of studies, dens, a billiard room, a screening room and a secluded rooftop terrace with bar, accessible by elevator. Indoor/outdoor spaces are particularly nice, with verandas, dining areas and an outdoor kitchen. There’s also a private beach.

Priced at $10.9 million. For more information, contact Joel Schemmel of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty at 941-587-4894.

2. Gatsby on the mainland
3315 Bay Shore Road
This lavish 11,000-square-foot estate, constructed in 1987, is credited with re-establishing Bay Shore Road as one of Sarasota’s most prestigious addresses. Built by a wealthy Egyptian expat, it has entertained international celebrities and the town’s elite. Though it’s been remodeled and renovated, it still retains many of its original Moorish elements, including the exotic window arches and the spectacular pool area, with separate guesthouse, pool house and tennis court. Set on two-and-a-half acres of tropical landscaping, with a beautiful lawn running down to the water, the home, itself, can only be glimpsed from the street — a secluded setting for those who want privacy yet convenience to downtown, just minutes away.

Priced at $9.9 million. For more information, call Klaus Lang of Michael Saunders & Co. at 941-320-1223.

3. Gatsby on Longboat
5965 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Set right on the beach on Longboat Key, this home has all the details Gatsby would approve — including a two-story library inspired by the one at the Biltmore estate. He would also appreciate the double mahogany stairway in the main hall, the handcrafted wrought-iron railings, the two complete master baths, the programmable lighting system, the butterfly garden and the three outdoor showers. There’s also a separate three-bedroom guesthouse. The pool, with direct access to 150 feet of beachfront, has a mosaic-encrusted table and stools — shaded, fortunately — to allow in-pool dining and cocktails. No doubt Daisy would approve.

Priced at $9.4 million. For more information, call Barbara Ackerman of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate at 941-780-6045.