| A retirement community for persons 45 years of age and older in northeast St. Petersburg, Americana Cove has a history dating back to 1961 when the first mobile or manufactured homes were erected on the site at 7201 North First street. Today some 758 lots are occupied or available, with some one fourth of them located on canals or small lakes that lead to Riviera Bay and then to Tampa Bay. The original homes were placed at an angle on the lots to avoid the 'bowling alley' look of many mobile home parks.
The resident owned community is well located. Seventy two blocks north of downtown St. Petersburg, it is 12 miles from Tampa International Airport or the Clearwater-St. Petersburg airport, 15 or 20 miles to the gulf beaches, 25 miles to Busch Gardens, and 85 miles to Disney World. Most areas of the park are relatively quiet, as it is located four or eight blocks from busy Fourth and Ninth streets. Regular homes, apartments, and the Mangrove Bay Golf Course are on the perimeter of Americana Cove.
The park has a 24-hour guarded entrance. Located nearby is a clubhouse used daily by 27 activity groups and a heated swimming pool. Expanded in 1986 and again in 1993, the clubhouse has a fitness center, billiards room, and a modern kitchen. Activities include regular luncheons and dinners, bingo, and a Sunday evening church service for all denominations. Public buses stop on First Street just outside the main entrance. Shuffleboard courts are located between the clubhouse and the park business office. The clubhouse is also available for city and other elections.
Activities and Services
A variety of organized and other recreational and social activities are available to residents. Americana Cove Association is the parent and coordinating group for the park.
The Shuffleboard Club competes regularly with other park groups, and The Par Seekers, a golf group, plays a full winter season at the Mainlands Golf Course in Pinellas Park and other locations. The two groups, as well as the Cue Club, end the season in March with a banquet and awards program in the clubhouse.
The Garden Club, the Old Timers Social Club, and many other smaller groups are active, and Vespers, the Sunday evening church service features a regular choir and visits by ministers from various denominations. A Crime Watch group is active in monitoring the safety of Americana Cove. A Hobby Shop, with shared power tools, is a popular feature. The Forecaster is a newsletter printed monthly which details activities and interesting information about the community. The ACA sponsors a holiday and a 'White Elephant' sale annually to assist the activity fund for many of the groups. The Old Timers Social Club collects aluminum and sells it to fund two (2) luncheons monthly.
A nine member Board of Directors comprised of certificate holders governs the association (MAROA). A president is elected by the Board annually.
Brief History
The park was opened in 1961 by Knutson Corporation and International Tilsen.
International Tilsen withdrew from the corporation in a few years. The park became an adult community in 1967, and in 1969 was purchased by MOAMCO of Minnesota. The same company continued to manage the park after selling it to Multi-Vest Real Estate of Michigan in 1972.
A group of residents tried to buy the park from Multi-Vest in 1976, but were unable to do so. It was purchased shortly after that by the DeAnza Corporation of California, and owned and operated by them until 1993 when Americana Cove Resident Owned Association (MAROA) bought the property for $18 million. As a result, 412 shareholders, or certificate holders, were recruited and signed up. A celebration, featuring many local and city officials was held in March 1993 to mark the purchase of the park by residents. This milestone is celebrated annually on the last Saturday in March with a picnic and outing in our Founders Park.
The Renters Association (RAAC) represents residents who lease space for their homes rather than become shareholders. A president is elected annually.
Today singlewide homes in the park since the 1960s are gradually being replaced (mostly by 24 foot wide doubles with carports or garages) and Americana Cove is taking on a more modern look. A new channel to Riviera Bay has made boating more popular, and access to Tampa Bay with no bridges. Boat slips are also available to rent near the clubhouse. For those who don't have a private dock, boat slips are available There is also an RV, boat trailer storage available and van storage area in the park.
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