County to celebrate restoration of historic Keith Farmhouse

Sarasota County will celebrate the restoration of the historic Keith Farmhouse with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at Phillippi Estate Park.

Built in 1916, the Keith Farmhouse is one of the county’s most significant historic structures, reflecting its early development and cultural heritage. Over the years, the farmhouse has served several uses, from housing estate staff to a residence for artists. Its new purpose is an interpretive center to highlight the area’s history, archaeology and natural resources.

Restoration work included structural repairs using historic materials, installation of an HVAC system, electrical and plumbing upgrades and the addition of ADA-accessible features. Grants from Florida’s Division of Historical Resources and the funds raised by the Phillippi Farmhouse Market, which have contributed $428,000 toward the restoration of the Keith Farmhouse supported the project.

Phillippi Estate Park is a 60-acre park along the Phillippi Creek for community events, historic preservation and environmental conservation.