BEACHES
changing its name to the Vero Beach Museum
to expand and grow making it the primary
visual arts center on the Treasure Coast. It
serves nearly 100,000 visitors and residents
annually from its pristine location in Riverside
Disney forever changed the landscape of
the barrier island in 1995 when it opened
the Vero Beach Disney Resort on the corner
of A1A and SR510. The family-friendly resort
with 211 rooms encompassed 71 acres of
oceanfront property; it’s the first Disney
Vacation Club resort outside of the Walt
Disney World Resort area in Lake Buena
Vista. Vero Beach was thrust into the world
spotlight and the little beach town was
discovered. More luxury hotels followed.
The four-story Vero Beach Hotel and Club
opened in 2007 bringing West Indies elegance
Gloria Estefan opened the Costa d’ Este
Resort with a Miami modern appeal. The
luxury boutique hotel is rated one of the
top 10 celebrity owned hotels in the world.
Vero Beach quickly became one of the most sought-after destinations
Singer Gloria Estefan and husband, Emilio, opened Costa d’Este in 2008.
deed restrictions ensured such a quiet, upscale lifestyle that Vero
Beach was affectionately deemed “the Hamptons of the South.”
More and more gated developments were added and real estate
values skyrocketed. As vacant land became scarce, smaller homes
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of Art in 2002, the museum continues
Park along the Indian River.
to Central Beach. A year later, singer
on the east coast of Florida. Its low-density planning and
built in the ’50s were razed and replaced with larger, more affluent
housing. Still the integrity and respect for the environment
is paramount and the city fathers are diligent in their efforts to
maintain public land and beach access for all. Controlled growth
and environmental protection are what keep the Vero Beach barrier
island one of the desirable locations in Florida. F
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