Golf, boating and beaches bring retirees to Indian River Shores
Indian River Shores offers an easygoing lifestyle on Orchid Island, situated between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. Locals often spend their day relaxing on quiet beaches, boating around mangrove-covered barrier islands and golfing at John’s Island Club, the community’s central subdivision. These recreational opportunities appeal to retirees looking to escape colder climates. “People from out of state first come here to visit friends, then they usually fall in love with the weather and either move here permanently or seasonally,” says Joseph Liguori, the broker-owner of Premier Estate Properties, who has sold several homes in the area. Despite these winter-only residents, Indian River Shores is significantly less touristy than Vero Beach, about 8 miles south. “There aren’t any hotels, and there’s only one small shopping center, so it’s really peaceful and a lot of the area’s natural beauty has been really well-preserved,” Liguori says.
Houses may sit on the water or along golf courses
Mediterranean-inspired homes, ranch styles and New Traditionals are all common in Indian River Shores. Several subdivisions, including John’s Island Club, are gated. Some houses sit along the water with docks and boat slips, while others back up to the golf courses. Smaller homes can cost between $500,000 and $850,000, while larger houses typically range from $1 million to $4.5 million. Houses of more than 4,000 square feet occasionally go for over $6.5 million. Several mid-rise condos are also in the community, with prices driven largely by their proximity to the beach. Two bedroom condos can start at $158,000 and four-bedroom units sometimes reaching $2.5 million. Heavy rainfall and hurricanes can impact Indian River Shores, and flood insurance is required for most homeowners.
Locals boat, fish and hike along the Indian River Lagoon
The community has around 6 miles of white sand shoreline stretching along the ocean. Some beach access points have parking lots, though many people walk or ride bikes around town. “Streets within subdivisions are usually traffic-free, and there’s a decent amount of sidewalks,” Liguori says. The closest public boat launches are in Vero Beach. Boaters can cruise along the calm Indian River Lagoon and drop anchors near uninhabited barrier islands to catch redfish and speckled trout. Jones’ Pier Conservation Area is another riverfront fishing spot. It’s also an entryway for the 8-mile-long Historic Jungle Trail, which passes through dense hammock habitats and ends at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
John’s Island Club features three 18-hole golf courses
Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio designed the three 18-hole golf courses that make up John’s Island Club. The north and south courses are in Indian River Shores, while the West Course is less than 8 miles away in Sebastian. “Members use them interchangeably, depending on which one is less busy,” Liguori says. The contemporary-style clubhouse, also in Indian River Shores, has a fitness center, tennis courts and a private beach. To join the club, residents and non-residents of the subdivision must be sponsored by a current member.
There’s a small shopping center in Indian River Shores
A gourmet grocer, a Tommy Bahama and a restaurant fill bungalow-style storefronts at Village Shops. Palm trees and umbrellas shade the patio at Citron Bistro, the center’s seafood restaurant with dinner, lunch and weekend brunch service. Vero Beach has more shopping and dining options, including Publix and Walmart Supercenter. Coffee shops, cocktail bars and boutiques fill Mission Revival-style buildings in the downtown district.
Vero Beach High has environmentally focused extracurriculars
The School District of Indian River County serves the community and has inter-district open enrollment. Kids can attend Beachland Elementary, which Niche grades an A-minus, and Gifford Middle, which gets a B-minus. They may continue to A-minus-rated Vero Beach High, where extracurriculars include the marine science club and the Green Team, an environmental science group.
Golf carts and cars share the quiet streets of Indian River Shores
Indian River Shores is a car-dependent community that’s also golf cart friendly. “Most of the time, people are just driving them around for something to do,” Liguori says. State Road A1A, also called the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway, runs along most of Florida’s eastern shore. It reaches the oceanfront part of Vero Beach and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, about 54 miles north. Indian River Shores has an EMS department, and the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital is on Vero Beach’s mainland. Vero Beach Regional Airport offers direct flights to and from major cities in New York, Rhode Island and other cold-weather states.
