Our Story

How it all began.......

The Moorings began as 535 acres of mangrove swamp turned to a thriving waterfront community of over 350 single family luxury homes and 850 cottages and townhomes.

Purchased in the late 1950's by Julio Lobo, a Cuban sugar baron and father of Leonor Lobo-de Gonzalez, the acreage was unusable in its natural state. It was later dredged on a massive scale, with the fill piled high in order to create fingers of land reinforced by eight miles of sea wall. The Moorings was created and designed primarily as a boating community.

The man chiefly responsible for the growth of The Moorings from 1971 to 1984 was Jorge Gonzalez, son of an old sherry-making family from Jerez-de-la-Frontera, Spain. In 1971, Jorge, his wife Leonor, and their son Boris moved from Madrid to Vero Beach, where Jorge assumed directorship of The Moorings Development Company.

When the family arrived, The Moorings was barely more than a handful of fingers of fill, jutting out into the Indian River. Only The Billows on the ocean side and some scattered homes existed. Both Jorge and Leonor were initially dismayed at the barren, lunar-like landscape and at the many problems besetting The Moorings at the time. Both however, took up the challenge with enthusiasm and vigor.

South Passage, the first condominium developed by Jorge, was built in 1972. Another high mark was the construction of the par-64 golf course designed by Pete Dye some years later. Finally, in 1983, a fully operating clubhouse, offering golf tennis and social memberships was built. The Moorings Club was later dedicated to Leonor’s father, Julio Lobo.

The Gonzalez family also helped found Saint Edward’s School, assisting in the acquisition of the land adjacent to The Moorings. Boris attended Saint Edwards’ for several years, Leonor was Chairman of the English Department, and both Jorge and Leonor served as school trustees at different times. In 1984, the Gonzalez family sold The Moorings but remained residents in the community.