Mackle Brothers
 | This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (January 2011) |
The Mackle brothers - Elliott, Robert and Frank Jr. - were the developers of the land at Marco Island, Florida. In 1962 they purchased most of the site from the heirs of Barron Gift Collier for US$7M and through their development company, The Deltona Corporation, began to transform it into a resort community. It was planned to be a range of luxury accommodation and living in a beach-side resort setting.[1]
Prior to creating Marco Island the brothers had been involved with General Development Corporation a business that ran a "buy Florida" campaign offering "The Florida Dream" for a $10 down payment followed by $10/month.[clarification needed][2]
The Mackle brothers organized a worldwide advertising campaign for the Island's launch in 1965, which attracted 25,000 people. Brochures listed the waterfront homes priced from $19,800 and inland homes from $14,900; plots for self-development varied from $2,550 for inland and from $5,495 for waterfront sites.[3]
Marco Island is now an upscale community consisting of luxury hotels, such as those operated by Marriott and Hilton, and a range of beachfront, waterfront and inland homes.
James Mackle, grandson of Robert F. Mackle Sr. is the current face of the family's mass marketing land efforts as President of Mackle Homes. In his early 20s, he had been one of youngest members of the George W. Bush administration as a schedule C appointee.
Other areas the Mackle brothers developed included:
- Beverly Hills
- Citrus Springs
- Deltona
- Key Biscayne
- Marco Island
- Marco Shores
- Pine Ridge
- Port Charlotte
- Port St. Lucie
- Seminole Woods
- Spring Hill
- St. Augustine Shores
- Sunny Hills
- Tampa Palms
Streets with the name Elkcam
All of the major Mackle communities in Florida, except Spring Hill, bear a street with their surname spelled backwards, for example Elkcam Boulevard or Elkcam Circle.
References
- ^ "City Of Marco Island website".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|month=and|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Mackle Brothers website".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|month=and|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Marco Island Historical Society website".
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