Robert and Eileen Furey discovered Vero Beach during their honeymoon in the 1950s and fell in love with the area, says their daughter Katherine Furey.
“They kept coming back,” recalls Katherine, finally buying a lot in the area that would eventually become The Moorings. “There wasn’t much here back then,” she adds.
The Moorings developers needed the property owned by the Fureys and offered them their pick of the recently completed Southwinds condominiums, says Katherine.
“I remember my parents walking the property to make sure they picked out the perfect home,” before settling on the third-floor luxury condo at 2245 N. Southwinds Blvd. #302 in The Moorings.
“They wanted the southern exposure because it didn’t quite get the direct sun but still had the southern view,” says Katherine. “Whenever I think of my father, I always see him with his binoculars looking out to sea. There’s always something out there.”
It’s rare for these units to be on the market, according to Katherine. “Once people move in, they never leave. My parents just loved that apartment while they were there.”
“A three-bedroom, three-bathroom with 2,100 square feet is a rare find,” agrees listing agent Mary Frances Driscoll, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Realty. “It’s a lovely unit with great neighbors.”
After driving through the lushly landscaped community, you pull up to the unit, which can be reached via elevator or stairs.
A private, three-car garage provides a storage area for all of your beach and outdoor living paraphernalia.
The elevator opens onto the third-floor landing area near the atrium-like entryway to the unit. As soon as you step through the front door, blue skies and rolling waves draw you down the corridor and into the L-shaped living room, where sliders open onto the southeastern facing, ocean-view porch.
“The views and the sound when you have the sliders open are really wonderful. You can hear the ocean, and the views are very relaxing from the penthouse,” says Driscoll.
A guest suite is located to the right of the foyer, where guests can enjoy their privacy. Further down the hallway are the kitchen and dining room. A pass-thru window allows for everyone to enjoy the sea view. When you want to hide the post-dinner dishes, simply slide the panels across the opening to keep things separate.
In the living room, three walls are lined with built-ins, and a wet bar is located equidistant from the dining room and living room so guests can mingle easily in the large, open space.
Large windows let in plenty of natural light and showcase the ocean views.
Near the front door, a full bathroom serves as the powder room for guests, with a second door leading to a guest room that the owners used as a den.
Making your way further down the main hallway, a short hall juts off to the left where you can access the laundry room, the den and the owner’s suite, which can also be accessed from the living room.
The owner’s suite enjoys another great ocean view, has two walk-in closets, a dressing area, water closet, dual sinks, a shower and a bathtub.
Southwinds is situated on lushly landscaped property with lifestyle amenities that create a serene environment in a resort-like setting. The center of the property – protected on three sides by buildings – is an area where you can lounge by the free-form pool, get in some exercise at the lap pool or soak away sore muscles in the spa after spending a day on the beach reached via the dune crossover.
Amenities at Southwinds also include a manned security gatehouse, site community manager, poolside gazebo, private grounds and dune crossover. The community offers home types to match a variety of lifestyles: condominiums, cottages, villas and courtyard homes, all with the convenience of low-maintenance condominium living.
The Moorings Property Owners Association offers private beach access and patrolled security to its residents. For residents who choose to join, the Moorings Yacht & Country Club provides access to Pete Dye’s signature course within the island community, Jim Fazio’s Hawk’s Nest championship course on the mainland, croquet, tennis and pickleball courts, a state-of-the-art fitness center with a pool and spa, a yacht club, as well as fine and casual dining.
The Moorings is just a short drive south of Vero’s charming Village by the Sea with its many shops, restaurants and hotels, and equally close to Riverside Theatre and the Vero Beach Museum of Art for cultural outings. For families with children, Saint Edward’s School is right next door.
