MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — After years of weathering storms on Anna Maria Island, a mobile home park is set to close.

Residents of Pines Trailer Park say the property management company sent them an email announcing the closure, but didn’t provide a firm date. The email also mentioned the possibility of continued residency for some.

Pines Trailer Park is set to close according to property management It’s residents received an email from Pines Park Investors LLC on Jan.  4, but the letter also mentioned the possibility that some residents could extend their month-to-month residency for up to a couple of years

These waters are calm now, but just a few months ago, it was a scene of chaos during last year’s hurricanes

It will always be a home for Ryan Pfhaler, though.

“We called it our little slice of heaven,” he said.

He and his wife moved into their mobile home in 2020 and created lasting memories.

“You know, our good friends live down here, and they live down there, and, you know, we’re all friends and family," he said. "It just became a family."

That all changed after the hurricanes. Pfhaler and his wife moved into a rental property off Anna Maria Island.

“It’s hard losing your home, not being able to come back and live in your own home … it’s a weird feeling,” he said.

Pfhaler also owns two other trailers at Pines Trailer Park. He bought them last February and rented them out to tenants.

“We owned it just a few months, not even a year,” he said.

He was eager to start making repairs to all three trailers, which Ryan says was approved by the city of Bradenton Beach in December. But he halted everything when he received an email from Pines Park Investors LLC last week saying that the mobile home park “must be closed.”

“We deeply regret the decision and impact that this may have on you,” he said.

The management team is concerned about the long-term viability of the park.

“The cumulative impact of delinquency, loss of units, and the need for significant investments makes it clear that the park’s current model is no longer feasible," the letter said.

It also said management cannot continue to bear the risk of another storm, which could again devastate the park and its income — essential to staying afloat.

But the letter also mentioned the possibility that some residents could extend their month-to-month residency for up to a couple of years.

“It was kind of strange where some of you can stay," Pfhaler said. "So he has a plan he’s not sharing with us. We’ll find out when we get the letter."

If this didn’t happen, Pfhaler said he could lose a lot of money.

“So, between all three of the units, we’re going to lose about a quarter of a million dollars, plus with the rentals,” he said.

But Pfhaler said he is hoping for just one thing.

“We just want to be here,” he said.

Right now, the future is uncertain, but Pfhaler is holding onto hope that one day, he will be able to come back home.

According to the email sent from the Pines Park owners, formal notices will be delivered to residents within the coming weeks.