Building Cà d'Zan

In 1925 Owen Burns built Cà d'Zan, John and Mable Ringling's home, and was responsible for the remarkable and swift construction of less than a year. The mansion was built from terra cotta "T" blocks, concrete, and brick, covered with stucco and embellished with glazed tile. The original roof was made of 16th century Spanish tiles imported by Mr. Burns. The spectacular terrace on Sarasota bay is made of domestic and imported marble. The Venetian Gothic residence is five stories, 36,000 square feet, with 41 rooms, 15 bathrooms, a full basement and an 81-foot Belvedere tower. 

In April 2002, a six year, $15 million comprehensive restoration and conservation was completed.

Owen Burns - Developer Extraordinaire

Owen Burns developed Sarasota's most significant properties:

• Cá d'Zan

• Burns Office Building / Bickel House

• El Vernona / John Ringling Hotel

• Burns Court

• Washington Park

• Ringling Estates

• Gillespie Park

• Pineapple Apartment Bldg. / Herald Square

• Sarasota's seawall

• The Ringling Causeway

• St. Armands

• Golden Gate

• Lido Beach Pavilion

• Citizens Bank

• Sunset Park

• Cedar Point

• Inwood Park Subdivision

• Ritz-Carlton Longboat Key

• Payne Terminal

• El Vernona Apartments / The Belle Haven

and

• nearly every brick street and sidewalk in the city!

Veterans Day Flagpole Dedication at Five Points

Don't Miss This Special Ceremony During Owen Burns Week!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

10:00am

Five Points - intersection of Pineapple Avenue, Main Street and Central Avenue

Sarasota, Florida

Veterans Day will be celebrated with a parade paying tribute to Sarasota’s longstanding history of honoring military personnel and this year with a special flagpole dedication at Five Points. The guest speaker will be Jeff LaHurd, author of the soon to be released book "Owen Burns, The Man Who Bought and Built Sarasota".

  

Take a glimpse of Five Points shortly before Owen Burns arrived in Sarasota. The trough in the center of Five Points was replaced in 1917 with a flagpole. The rusticated block Gillespie Building on the corner (where Zenith is today) was acquired by Mr. Burns in 1910.

"Suitcase Full of Blues" to Perform at Burns Court Street Party!

Jimmie Fadden of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fame and Al Fuller will be performing sensational acoustic blues as the Suitcase Full of Blues Band at the Owen Burns Celebration Street Party Sunday Nov. 14, 2010.  Come enjoy the sounds by these talented performers beginning at 5 pm.

Jimmie has graciously agreed to fly back from touring with the NGD Band just to do this gig for Sarasota. The band is currently on a major, cross-country tour as their most recent album Speed of Life climbs the charts to #10.

The Burns Court Street Party will run from 3 to 7pm with food from Owens Fish Camp, Nancy's Bar-B-Q and Hukilau Hut Shaved Ice. Featuring antiques, vintage cars and photographs, a special tribute to Mr. Burns and reading of the Official City of Sarasota Proclamation by Special Guests Mayor Kelly Kirschner and Burns family members.