Holmes Beach may have found a ferry stop

Holmes Beach is the only municipality on Anna Maria Island without a stop for the Gulf Islands Ferry. However, a dock at Waterline Villas & Marina, located at 5325 Marina Drive, may be the solution.

Elliott Falcione, the executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, mentioned ongoing discussions with the Waterline's owners about using it as a ferry stop after a successful docking test on June 17.

Manatee County's ferry program includes two open-air, 49-passenger catamarans operating Wednesday through Sunday, connecting downtown Bradenton with the Anna Maria City Pier and the Historic Bridge Street Pier. The fleet, managed by Gulf Coast Water Taxi, is set to expand in about a year.

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners approved $3 million in tourist development tax funds to construct a third, larger vessel. This new ferry will carry 91 passengers with 67 enclosed seats and will run between Bradenton and Anna Maria. The current ferries will then serve as shuttles between island stops. The new vessel is expected to take a year to build.

In the meantime, efforts are focused on bringing the ferry service to Holmes Beach. Falcione emphasized the goal of connecting all three island municipalities from the beginning. The discussion of a ferry stop gained momentum when the city requested $500,000 from the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) for improvements along Marina Drive. The TDC members unanimously recommended approval of the funding, contingent on negotiating a ferry landing in Holmes Beach.

Holmes Beach lacks a public pier, unlike its island counterparts. Other potential sites, such as the county-operated Kingfish Boat Ramp at 752 Manatee Ave. or a public ramp at 6398 Marina Way, are less ideal due to their distance from the city center and trolley stop. In contrast, the Waterline property, owned by Tampa-based Mainsail AMI Marina, is conveniently located near the city center and a northbound trolley stop.

Holmes Beach City Commissioner Dan Diggins, who supported the ferry stop, attended the June 10 TDC meeting. He coordinated the June 17 test run to the Waterline to assess its feasibility as a docking site. Diggins reported that the ferry docked without issues, with captains finding it easier than docking at the Anna Maria City Pier due to the absence of challenging currents and winds.

While Diggins facilitated the test, the negotiation for using Waterline as a ferry stop is a private matter, with city officials not directly involved. Falcione indicated ongoing discussions with Mainsail AMI and expressed optimism about reaching an agreement that benefits all parties. "If everyone is comfortable and it's a win-win situation, we'll proceed," Falcione said, noting the exciting potential of the project.