Little did Matthew and Annie O’Connor know when they moved here 18 years ago with their three young boys just how well things would turn out for them on Vero’s idyllic barrier island.
“At the time, we didn’t know anyone in Vero, and it felt like a risk; but raising our kids in Vero Beach has been the best thing we’ve ever done! It’s an amazing community to raise a family,” says Annie.
The family found its own little slice of paradise at 1986 Mooringline Dr. in The Moorings. Located on a large, pie-shaped lot at the head of Treasure Cove on 78 feet of river frontage, the house is tucked away behind a verge of natural vegetation that buffers it from passing cars.
As you turn from the frontage road hidden behind the shrubbery onto the circle drive, you get your first look at the expansive front lawn. There’s plenty of room for parking in the driveway and carpark that lead into the side-entry, two-car garage.
A sidewalk at the apex of the circle drive leads to the front of the main house where the front door opens into a formal foyer. The foyer flows into a great room with defined spaces and views of the pool and cove through a back wall of sliding glass doors.
Guests can gather for intimate conversations in the family room to the right of the front entry, sit at the island countertop in the kitchen or step down into the living room and dining room that run along the back of the space.
The O’Connors took great care with the updates they made to the kitchen in 2018, creating a casually elegant environment where they can entertain adults and children alike.
With high-end, stainless-steel appliances, a farm sink, an island countertop and a breakfast bar, there is plenty of room for homework, snacks and dinner prep.
Wood-look, laminate flooring throughout and quartz countertops complement the interior’s clean lines. Crown molding and diverse lighting fixtures help define the spaces.
“It’s very private on both ends,” says Alex MacWilliam IV with Alex MacWilliam Real Estate, noting the “shotgun approach for the view” of the cove.
“You’re not looking at people’s backyards.”
The primary suite occupies the eastern side of the house with a seating area overlooking the water; en suite bathroom; and walk-in closet. Seagrass floor covering gives the generous space warmth and a touch of tropical atmosphere.
The laundry room, garage access, two guest bedrooms and a shared bathroom are on the opposite side of the house.
Outside, there’s plenty of room for everyone to lounge around the freeform pool, play in the fenced backyard or head down to the dock to fish or take the boat out for an afternoon on the lagoon.
Their boys especially love to fish off the dock, shares Annie.
“The lot and view are our favorite parts of this house. It’s private and peaceful at the end of the canal,” she adds, noting that porpoises and manatees visit regularly and that the family enjoys the “amazing sunsets.”
The O’Connors were initially drawn to the property because of the one-bedroom, one-bathroom detached guest house, “which has given us so much extra space and flexibility over the years. Our boys have used it as their hang out, to study or entertain friends,” recalls Annie, noting that Matt now uses it as an office.
“We regularly use it as a guest house when our friends and family visit – giving everyone the space and privacy they need to be comfortable,” she adds.
“The Moorings is our favorite community in Vero,” says Annie, adding that they have loved having access to the Indian River in the backyard and the ocean nearby.
“The Moorings beach across the street is ideal. The beach is beautiful, vast and quiet,” says Annie, who walks the sand almost every day.
The O’Connors love how easy it is to visit friends and neighbors “who are only a walk or golf-cart drive away,” notes Annie.
Having raised three sons here, they also enjoyed having Beachland Elementary and St. Edward’s schools nearby, with shops and restaurants on Ocean Drive just a short drive away.
“Even though you feel you are far removed, you really are close to everything,” says Annie.
The Moorings Property Owners Association offers private beach access and 24/7 patrolled security. The Moorings Yacht & Country Club provides access to Pete Dye’s signature course, Jim Fazio’s Hawk’s Nest championship course on the mainland, croquet, tennis and pickleball courts, a state-of-the-art fitness center with pool and spa, and a yacht club, as well as fine and casual dining.
The Moorings is a short drive away from shopping and dining in Vero’s Village by the Sea.
Riverside Theatre and the Vero Beach Museum of Art are nearby, too, for cultural outings. For families with children, Saint Edward’s School adjoins The Moorings.
Photos provided
