Alva has seen one of its biggest home sales ever.
An Old Florida-style equestrian estate in the quaint and rural community fetched $5.25 million.
East of Fort Myers, the community sits along the Caloosahatchee River.
Overlooking the river, the main residence spans 5,500 square feet, with four bedrooms and five bathrooms. It’s nestled on 30 acres, which includes 15 acres of equestrian trails and a barn with eight stalls, a tack room and living quarters.
The custom-built, two-story residence includes a large open eat-in kitchen with a butcher block island, double ovens and granite countertops, a family room with a wood burning fireplace and a primary bedroom suite with an open-style solarium sitting room.
Other stand-out features: Hardwood and natural stone travertine floors, Southern-style porches, a pool and Jacuzzi, and a fire pit, plus a three-car garage and a boat dock along Hickey Creek.
Darius Cochran, the listing broker with Re/Max River & Ranch in LaBelle, said: “This is the highest price home sold in 33920 since 2012.”
The property — at 1950 Mitchell Ave. — is located at the mouth of Hickey Creek, named after one of the area’s first settlers, Dennis O. Hickey.
“The buyers are moving from Sanibel and are using this as a second home,” Cochran said.
Property records show the buyers as James and Elizabeth Birmingham, with an address in Colorado.
The home was on the market for about nine months. It sold in December.
It was originally listed on 15 acres at $3,499,000. Later, another 15 acres was added, with a new list price of $5,849,999, Cochran said.
The home sale is the highest in the area in more than a decade, he said.
In 2012, a 15,539-square-foot riverfront estate at 12350 Old Rodeo Drive sold for $8.3 million. That estate was once owned by Mike Greenwell, a former Boston Red Sox outfielder, who served as a Lee County commissioner, until his death in October.
While the property is in the same zip code as the recently sold equestrian estate, it’s in North Olga, “so technically this sale may be the highest price ever recorded in the area known as Alva,” Cochran said.
Laura Layden is a business and government reporter. Reach her by email at laura.layden@naplesnews.com.
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This story was updated with new information on the history of the listing.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Big deal: Alva equestrian estate fetches $5.25 million
Reporting by Laura Layden, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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