The Moorings in Vero Beach: A 2026 Guide to the Island’s Yacht and Country Club Community
Quick answer: The Moorings is a gated club community on the barrier island in Vero Beach with roughly 1,150 residences, about 300 single-family homes and 850 condos and townhomes, on about 535 acres between the Atlantic and the Indian River Lagoon. The Moorings Yacht & Country Club is member-owned and optional to join, with a Pete Dye par 64 on the island, a Jim Fazio par 72 on the mainland, two marinas and a private beach. Condos run roughly $270,000 to $2.5 million; houses from about $600,000 to over $5 million.
The Moorings was dredged out of the mangroves in the late 1960s and it's been the address for serious boaters in Vero Beach ever since. It is not the most expensive community on the island, and it's not the newest. What it has is eight miles of deepwater bulkhead, two marinas, 36 holes of golf, a private beach, and a club that's been member-owned since 1994. If you want a slip behind the house and a tee time in the morning, the Moorings is the conversation.
The community at a glance
| Location | 100 Harbour Dr, Vero Beach (Indian River County), on the barrier island between the ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, south of the SR-60 bridge |
|---|---|
| Homes | About 1,150 to 1,200 across 15 neighborhoods: roughly 300 single-family and 850 condos, villas, courtyard homes and golf cottages. Built in phases from the early 1970s on. 535 acres |
| Gate | Gated; some sub-neighborhoods have their own gates. Staffing not published |
| Golf | 36 holes: Pete Dye par 64 on the island (4,434 yards), Jim Fazio par 72 at Hawk's Nest on the mainland (7,015 yards). Private, equity, member-owned. Membership optional |
| Boating | Two marinas (Spyglass Harbor and Harbour Side Yacht Club), about 675 docks community-wide, 8 miles of deepwater bulkhead. Ocean via Fort Pierce Inlet, roughly 6 to 9 miles |
| Typical prices | Condos roughly $270,000 to $2.5M; homes roughly $600,000 to $5.5M, riverfront $1.5M to $4M+ (approximate) |
The boating
This is what the Moorings was built for. Julio Lobo bought the land in 1957, and the dredge-and-fill that created the canals started in the late 1960s. The result is a community where a large share of the homes sit on deep water with a dock out back. One local brokerage counts about 675 docks and eight miles of bulkhead. On top of that there are two club marinas: Spyglass Harbor, with about 52 slips, and Harbour Side Yacht Club.
The run to the ocean is through the Fort Pierce Inlet, which sources put at anywhere from six to nine miles depending on where you start. Sebastian Inlet is closer but shoals. As of the page I read, the yacht club docks were closed for renovation with a reopening expected in fall 2026, so ask where that stands. The club has reciprocal privileges at more than 37 Florida yacht clubs, which matters if you cruise.
The golf and the club
Two courses. The Moorings Course on the island is a Pete and Alice Dye par 64 from 1974, short and clever, 4,434 yards. Hawk's Nest is the full-length Jim Fazio par 72 on the mainland about 15 minutes north, which the club acquired in 2015. The 58,000-square-foot clubhouse was rebuilt in 2006 and 2007.
The club is member-owned and equity, and it is optional. The club's own real estate page says it is not a mandatory-membership community, though at least one listing site says otherwise, and another says joining requires an invitation. Published fee figures, undated, are steep: full membership around $125,000 initiation with about $14,950 annual dues and a two-year waitlist; club membership without golf around $65,000 with about $10,525 dues and a one-year wait. Another source shows bands of $75,000 to $100,000 initiation and $10,000 to $15,000 dues. The point is that membership and slip rights are separate purchases from the house, they're not cheap, and there's a line. Budget for it and start the process early. Amenities beyond golf: nine Har-Tru tennis courts, four pickleball courts, croquet, fitness and spa, a pool, the private beach, formal and casual dining, and a youth program.
Homes and prices
Fifteen neighborhoods and every product type: single-family on the water and on the golf, condos from 1,200 to 3,000 square feet, villas, courtyard homes, golf cottages, townhome-style units, and a handful of estates up near 8,000 square feet. Because of that mix, the price range is enormous and you should ignore any single number.
Condos: Redfin showed recent sales from about $268,000 to $1.55 million with a median around $700,000, and listings up to $2.5 million. Houses: from about $600,000 on the golf side to over $5.5 million on the river. One brokerage's list on the day I checked ran $549,000 to $5.55 million across 15 listings. There are HOA and condo fees, and they vary by building and neighborhood; I found no master-association figure published. Ask for the specific neighborhood's budget.
Who it suits
Serious boaters, first. Then golf and tennis households who want two courses and a beach in one membership, and families, since the club runs a youth program. It's a different buyer than John's Island or Windsor, which are more about the club and the beach and less about the dock. If you're deciding between the three, the golf communities guide puts them side by side.
Two cautions. Spyglass Harbor reportedly doesn't allow sleeping aboard and limits fueling. And nothing I found addresses rental rules, flood zone or milestone inspection status for the condo buildings, which on a 1970s barrier-island community are exactly the documents you want in hand before an offer.
Questions buyers ask about the Moorings
Do you have to join the club to live at the Moorings?
The club says no, it's not a mandatory-membership community. Some listing sites say otherwise, so confirm with the club. Full golf membership has been quoted around $125,000 initiation with a two-year waitlist; club membership without golf around $65,000 with a one-year wait. Figures are undated.
How do you get to the ocean from the Moorings?
Through the Fort Pierce Inlet, roughly six to nine miles depending on where your dock is. Sebastian Inlet is closer but shoals. The club has two marinas plus hundreds of private docks on deep water.
What do condos cost at the Moorings?
Recent sales ran from about $268,000 to $1.55 million with a median near $700,000, and listings up to $2.5 million. There are condo fees that vary by building. Sizes run about 1,200 to 3,000 square feet.
How many golf courses does the Moorings have?
Two. A Pete Dye par 64 on the island and the Jim Fazio par 72 at Hawk's Nest on the mainland, about 15 minutes away. Both are private and part of the same member-owned club.
Talk with William. William can pull current Moorings listings by neighborhood, help you start the membership and slip inquiries early, and request the condo documents you'll need on an island building. Call or text (772) 800-2274 or send a message.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Prices, fees and club rules change; confirm current details with the club and association. William Merchant, REALTOR®, RE/MAX Gold. Each RE/MAX office is independently owned and operated.
