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The Bayou, Bay Isles: Longboat Key's Largest Single-Family Neighborhood

Danielle Gladding May 21, 2026

 

By Danielle Gladding | Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty | Bay Isles Resident, Queens Harbour, Longboat Key | Licensed Broker Since 1987

 

When buyers tell me they want a true neighborhood feel inside a luxury gated community — quiet streets, room to breathe, neighbors who know your name — The Bayou is almost always the first neighborhood I show them.

 

I’m Danielle Gladding, licensed broker since 1987 and Bay Isles resident in Queens Harbour. I walk through The Bayou on my morning rounds regularly. I know its streets, its character, and exactly why buyers fall in love with it.

 

What Is The Bayou in Bay Isles?

The Bayou is Bay Isles’ largest single-family neighborhood — 126 homesites set along winding, tree-canopied roads with mature landscaping throughout. It is the neighborhood that most closely captures the feel of a traditional luxury residential community inside the Bay Isles gate.

 

The Bayou at a Glance

  • 126 single-family homesites — largest residential neighborhood inside Bay Isles

  • Approximately half the homes on the Bay Isles Waterway with private docks

  • Remaining homes enjoy golf course, lake, or mature garden views

  • Open floor plans, frequently single-story, designed for indoor-outdoor Florida living

  • Dog-friendly, walkable streets with a genuinely residential character

  • Mix of full-time residents and seasonal homeowners

  • All Bay Isles amenities included: Beach Club, gate security, access to optional Club membership

 

Waterfront Living in The Bayou

Approximately half of The Bayou’s 126 homes sit on the Bay Isles Waterway with private docks — a significant feature for boating buyers who want direct water access without the price of the Harbor Section. These homes can typically accommodate vessels navigable to Sarasota Bay, though buyers should confirm bridge clearances and draft at time of purchase.

 

The Bayou’s Neighborhood Feel

“The Bayou has something that is genuinely hard to find inside a gated luxury community: a real neighborhood where people know each other. I see it on my morning walks — the same faces, the same dogs, the same greetings. That’s a community that works.”  — Danielle Gladding, Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty

 

The Bayou is populated by a healthy mix of full-time residents and seasonal homeowners. It has the organic quality of a community that has been here long enough to develop genuine character — the kind of neighborhood feel that newer developments simply can’t manufacture.

 

Price Range & Market Notes

The Bayou represents one of the broader price ranges inside Bay Isles, depending on lot position, waterfront access, home size, and renovation level. Waterfront homes with private docks command significant premiums over comparable garden-view properties. Contact Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty for current listing information and a private market assessment.

 

Ready to Explore Bay Isles?

I’m Danielle Gladding — Bay Isles resident in Queens Harbour, licensed broker since 1987, Realtor since 1981. My daughter Alison Kanter and I at Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty would love to be your private guide. No pressure. Just honest, insider expertise from the broker who lives here. Contact us at DanielleGladdingCo.com.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Bayou in Bay Isles on Longboat Key?

The Bayou is Bay Isles’ largest single-family neighborhood, with 126 homesites set along winding tree-lined streets. Approximately half the homes sit on the Bay Isles Waterway with private docks. All residents enjoy Bay Isles Beach Club access and the option to join the Resort at Longboat Key Club.

Do Bayou homes have private docks?

Approximately half of The Bayou’s 126 homes sit on the Bay Isles Waterway with private docks, offering direct water access for boating buyers. The remaining homes have golf course, lake, or garden views.

What is the price range for homes in The Bayou?

The Bayou covers a broad price range depending on waterfront position, home size, and renovation level. Waterfront homes with docks command significant premiums. Contact Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty at DanielleGladdingCo.com for current listing data and a private consultation.

Is The Bayou a good neighborhood for full-time residents?

Yes — The Bayou has one of the strongest full-time resident communities inside Bay Isles, which contributes to its genuine neighborhood feel. It is also popular with seasonal homeowners. Both demographics coexist well in The Bayou’s dog-friendly, walkable environment.

 

 

About the Author

Danielle Gladding is a licensed Real Estate Broker (since 1987) and Realtor (since 1981) who has lived in Sarasota since 1976. She is a Bay Isles resident in Queens Harbour on Longboat Key, a waterfront expert, luxury home specialist, and active real estate investor. She works alongside her daughter Alison Kanter — Furman University B.A., Clemson University MBA — at Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty. Danielle is President of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key, board member of Save Our Seabirds, founding member of Longboat Key 100, member of the Resort at Longboat Key Club and Sarasota Yacht Club, and founder of the Dogs of Bay Isles Facebook Page. Her husband Nick Gladding is a Commissioner for the Town of Longboat Key. She starts every morning walking the streets of Bay Isles — and knows every neighbor, every nuance, and every neighborhood. DanielleGladdingCo.com

 

Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty · DanielleGladdingCo.com · Bay Isles, Queens Harbour, Longboat Key, FL · Licensed Broker Since 1987

 

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