Nestled along the intercostal water of Vanderbilt Channel just across the street from the Ritz-Carlton sits a waterfront gulf access community called Vanderbilt Beach. No one is exactly sure how Vanderbilt Beach got its name however it is a common thought that Barron Collier was friends with Cornelius Vanderbilt. In 1948 J.W. Conners purchased a large tract of land from Mr. Collier and in 1952 Vanderbilt Beach Road was constructed giving people motor access to the coast. In 1953 the first permit was issued to build and so it began.
This beach neighborhood is comprised of single-family homes stretched along cul-de-sacs with every property having waterfront access. A large majority of the homes have north/south exposure and lot sizes hover around 80X130 where the "tip" lots are odd-shaped and provide western exposure with long water views giving the neighborhood a quaint "Old Florida" atmosphere. This area was originally developed in the 1950s-60s and has gone through a major transformation from the small 1500 square foot beach homes to large 3 story modern homes being built today. Stretched along the beach from the Ritz-Carlton heading north are Vanderbilt Beach County Park (with loads of parking available), mid-rise condominiums, and hotels including great places to dine on the beach such as La Playa Beach Resort and The Turtle Club. Located on the northern border of the neighborhood is Delnor-Wiggins State Park. This park is a very popular destination and a very different beach experience compared to the beach located on the South end of the community. It is one of the most pristine stretches of beach in the world and a wonderful compliment to Naples. It is truly a tropical beach paradise with tranquil views of the Gulf of Mexico, many shorebirds and wildlife, a reef great for snorkeling, and plenty of room for seashell hunting.
Residents of Vanderbilt beach will find this area is packed with adventurous boating opportunities right from their back yard including convenient access to the Gulf of Mexico through Wiggins Pass, the calm waters of Cocohatchee River, and a series of one bays (Turkey Bay, Little Hickory Bay, Fresh Trap Bay, and Estero Bay) leading all the way to Ft. Myers and Sanibel Island.
On top of it, this area is one of Naples' least expensive waterfront communities with entry-level homes starting in the $600k range and newer homes topping out at around $2.5m-$3m. There are about half a dozen homes directly on the beach making it somewhat rare for these to be available for purchase (2 on the market now for right around $8m).
If you have interest in more information regarding Vanderbilt Beach or Naples real estate please contact Adam Carriero at 239-641-3876 or [email protected].
Please contact Adam Carriero at [email protected] or 239.641.3876. I am available for consultation on the Naples, Florida, market.