Crystal Beach Youth Center

Our History

The Crystal Beach Youth Center is a welcoming, inclusive space created for school-aged children and their families. In partnership with the Pinellas County Foundation, we proudly offer free community events that bring families together and strengthen the bonds that make our community special.

At its heart, the Youth Center Beach House is a place where kids feel safe, supported, and encouraged to simply be themselves. It’s where friendships are formed, confidence is built, and families connect with one another in meaningful ways. We believe every child deserves a positive environment filled with encouragement, opportunity, and joy.

We are a center for learning, play, advocacy, and friendship — a place where young people are uplifted, families are welcomed, and our community grows stronger together.

We host monthly family Movie Nights at the Park, Parent’s Night Out, as well as holiday events; such as our Easter Egg Hunt and Halloween Trunk or Treat!

TThe CBYC Beach House was originally known as the Crystal Inn, built by Mr. Rebstock in 1916, before he constructed the Blue Heron Inn in 1917. The inn was operated by Mrs. Oliver Le May, who proudly advertised “Northern Home Cooking & Reasonable Rates of $8–$10 per week.”

After the Blue Heron Hotel later closed, Mr. Arnold purchased the property and rented it to Mr. & Mrs. Fred Markert in 1928, who moved their orphanage here from Tampa. Through a court-directed inheritance, the Markerts received a parcel of land in Tarpon Springs and negotiated a land exchange with Mr. Arnold. By 1931, the Markerts became the sole owners of the 30-room Blue Heron Hotel and the land that is now Live Oak Park.

They renamed the property Faith Mission, which became a home for children in need. At its peak, as many as 87 children lived at the mission. The children were raised in an environment centered on faith, care, and community, and the mission continued until the last child left in 1957. Around that time, the Markerts’ oldest child, Irene, transitioned the organization to focus on caring for the elderly.

The original Blue Heron Hotel building was demolished in 1951, and a new 10-room masonry building was completed in 1952 to serve as a retirement home.

In 1999, Faith Mission decided to sell off all of it’s properties in Crystal Beach except the 2-story house at 520 Crystal Beach Avenue. That was to be part of the Faith Mission Estate that would be handled by the Pinellas County Community Fund( now the Pinellas Community Foundation) with the stipulation that the Crystal Beach Youth Center remain in the building.

In 2000, Pinellas County purchased the original Blue Heron property from Faith Mission, and the site became part of Live Oak Park, preserving its legacy as a place that has served the community for generations.

In 2001, CBYC became a non-profit organization in it’s own right. CBYC has had after school programs, community events and helped the children and community ever since.

We still have matching funds available from the Pinellas Community Fund!! If you’d like your donation to go TWICE as far on our renovation, donate now using this QR code or go to:

www.Pinellascf.org/CBYCFund

You can also send your donation here:

CBYC Renovation Fund. 17755 US Hwy 19N, Ste. 150, Clearwater, FL 33764