Sanding Ovations

Lainey planned a great day for us on Friday.  She suggested we visit The Sanding Ovations Master Sand Sculpting competitions  on Treasure Island.  Ten master sculptors create beautiful sand sculptures right on the beach.  Treasure Island is so named because of the scam of several property owners attempting to increase sales. These owners pretended to discover wooden chests (they had previously buried themselves) filled with treasure.  Many people came to the island seeking their own treasure and soon the island became Treasure Island.

Treasure Island has three distinctively different beach neighborhoods along its four miles. The widest beach is as one would expect in the commercial area which includes motels, hotels, restaurants, and shops.  There is Beach trail here that is almost 1 mile long. 

The other two beaches are called Sunshine Beach at the north End near John's Pass and Sunset Beach at the south end near Blind Pass.   These are more residential than commercial however, a few motels built in the early 50's and 60's are scattered along these beaches.  Point of Trivia: The legendary baseball player Babe Ruth had a winter beachfront home on Treasure Island after his retirement. 

The sand sculpting competition is on the middle beach behind the Bilmar Beach Resort.  Ten master sculptors create beautiful sand sculptures right on the beach. This event is organized  by Sanding Ovations , a sand sculpting company owned by Treasure Island residents, Dan Doubleday and Meredith Corson.  They have sculpted commissioned pieces for clients such as Coca Cola and SeaWorld.   

Pretty impressive work, don't you agree?