Memories and more fill a lavish Casey Key estate

You know what it’s like when you’re looking for a $10 million house. They’re always missing something you want. Sure, they all have home theaters and separate guest suites. An elevator, of course. But what about the 200 feet of secluded beach front? The covered boat dock? The beauty parlor? 

That’s what’s so interesting about this estate on Casey Key. It really does have everything — including a heartwarming backstory. See that oddly shaped hedge in the center of the motor court, the one that looks like a pretzel? Well, it is a pretzel. And check out the stair railing up the graceful curving stairway that climbs to the main entrance. More pretzels, this time made of wrought iron. 

The estate’s name? Pretiola Sands.

This was the family vacation home of Bill and Betty Mann. Bill Mann didn’t invent the pretzel — that happened in back in 610 when an Italian monk twisted dough into a heart shape to reward his students for their good work. He called them “pretiolas”— little rewards. Bill Mann started his pretzel business in 1978, and it became such a success that the rewards were far from little. Pretzels, Inc., became an industry leader, and Pretiola Sands was perhaps the biggest reward of all.

The Manns picked out the 1.4-acre lot on Casey Key back in 2000 and set to work. Betty was the leading spirit in its design and construction. “The gulf to bay lot was her huge white canvas, with its endless palette,” her daughter Kim remembers. “It provided an outlet for my mother’s gift for style, creativity and flare. It became the big, happy hub of our family.”

And it was a big family. The Manns had four children, 13 grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. In this “more the merrier” atmosphere, the Manns packed a quarter century of unforgettable memories.

Image courtesy of Kim Ogilvie, Michael Saunders & Co.

Pretiola Sands never forgets that it is a vacation house — Bill and Betty’s main residence was up near the business in Bluffton, Indiana — and its amenities can easily surpass most resorts. Its crowning glory is the pristine stretch of white sand beach it overlooks. The location in mid-key gives it an appropriate measure of privacy and a beach cabana provides the perfect headquarters for a day in the sun. You’ll find a dressing room, outdoor shower, even Wi-Fi, though you would have a hard time being distracted from the spectacular gulf view.

On the bay side of the home is a covered boat dock with water and electricity and a fish cleaning station, along with a 9,000-pound boat lift. But most of the action takes place around the spectacular saltwater pool. It was said to have the second largest pool cage in Florida, enclosing the graceful infinity pool, along with the with spa and tropical vegetation. Nearby you’ll find a five-hole lighted putting green, complete with sand trap.

Betty’s taste and attention to detail is evident throughout the home. It’s flooded with tropical light and water views from virtually every window. In fact, the upstairs guest rooms are known as Sunset North and Sunset South or Sunrise North and Sunrise South, depending on what side of the house they are on. There are surprises everywhere — look for the granite waterfall in the entrance hall and the striking polished steel balustrade. 

Image courtesy of Kim Ogilvie, Michael Saunders & Co.

The formal living room and formal dining room are what first greet the visitor; the mood becomes much more casual in the open kitchen and family room. Here, the seating area is two stories high, with a fireplace and views out to the Intracoastal. Sliding glass doors open to an outdoor living area overlooking the pool area. It also has a fireplace.

The kitchen is family-style with a touch of class. There are two islands, both with stainless steel sinks, plus an array of warming drawers, built-in microwaves, convection ovens, two refrigerators and four dishwashers. 

Pretiola Sands’ layout offers a great deal of flexibility when it comes to handling a large extended family. There’s a separate guest suite with its own kitchenette and, throughout the home, there are flexible spaces, some of which can sleep extra grandchildren. In addition to the beach and the pool, the grandchildren can take advantage of the whimsically decorated movie theater complete with refreshment stand and special lighting effects or play on the puppet stage in a nearby bedroom, while the older ones might shoot pool in the game room and use the gym and the massage room or the beauty parlor station.

Image courtesy of Kim Ogilvie, Michael Saunders & Co.

Bill Mann’s lifetime passion was baking pretzels. “He often quipped that it was ‘the only legitimate crooked business,’” Kim remembers. Betty’s passion was Pretiola Sands itself. “Every child and grandchild has their own wonderful memories,” she states. Hers include “the fresh citrus/sage smell of the house when you walk in, the sound of the many dishwashers being unloaded, the putting tournaments out by the pool. Whether it was a holiday, beach wedding, spring break or a golf tournament, the home provided us with a warm and comfortable place to reconnect, celebrate, reflect and appreciate how and why this magical place exists.”

Bill and Betty have both died, and Pretiola Sands is now on the market. “As a new family takes over, our hope is that they enjoy all that this house offers,” Kim states. “It’s not just a tropical getaway but a gathering place for family and friends where memories continue to be made.”