Construction of The Moorings transformed 535 acres of mangrove swamp into a beautiful waterfront development comprised of 19 diverse communities.
The father of Leonor Lobo-de-Gonzalez purchased the land in 1957. Leonor and her husband, Jorge Gonzalez, moved to the property in 1971 with Jorge heading and using the soil to create fingers of land extending into the Indian River. The eight miles of seawall and deep water canals provide water access for most of the properties, making The Moorings a unique community in this part of Florida. By 1971, only The Billows and a few houses existed east of Florida Route A1A, with no development west of A1A.
The Moorings of Vero Property Owners' Association, Inc. (MPOA) was organized in 1972 when Jorge Gonzalez conveyed nearly three acres of valuable beachfront property to the MPOA. That property includes the Tiki Huts, barbecue pits, a parking lot and pathways permitting Atlantic Ocean beach access.
In 1970, construction of The Moorings Yacht & Country Club golf course, designed by Pete Dye, was started. In 1972, the golf course, South Passage and some homes along Windward Way and Mooringline Drive were completed. Construction of single-family homes also began on Compass Cove Drive and Cutlass Cove Drive. They were finished in 1973, along with Starboard Drive and Bowline Drive in 1974.
Sabal Reef was completed in 1976. North Passage and Windward were begun by 1977, followed by West Passage, Porpoise Bay Villas and Harbour Side. That year, The Moorings Yacht & Country Club Clubhouse was started and land was prepared for The Anchor. This period also included the development of Spinnaker Point and The Galleons, all of which were completed by 1981.
The tennis complex was completed in the early 1980s, followed by Nor'West Passage in 1985, The Pointes, Harbor Inn and The River Mews in the mid 1980s. Southwinds was completed in the early 1990s. The last development, Sea Mist Court, was finished in 2003.
In 1984, the Gonzalez family sold their interest in MDC to a development group headed by Donald Proctor, who continued as the developer until 1995. Management of The Moorings common areas was then turned over to the MPOA. MDC transferred ownership of The Moorings Yacht & Country Club properties to the Club's membership in 1991. The Club's present Clubhouse opened in 2005.
The Moorings Yacht Club (MYC) became an official part of The Moorings Yacht & Country Club in 1992, as well as a member of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs. That membership entitles MYC members to reciprocal privileges at 34 other Florida yacht clubs.
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