This 1938 photograph of The Palmetto Hotel not only shows one of our earliest hotels but also a site used to assist war-ravaged Great Britain. Mr. and Mrs. George Gray from Pikeville, Kentucky built The Palmetto in the 1920s.
Up until 1895 Vero was a sleepy little settlement nestled near the Indian River Lagoon. With the arrival of the Florida East Coast Railway, things began to change. The population increased; supplies for farming and building were brought in; agricultural goods were transported out; and tourists, speculators and future landowners arrived to explore the area. What they found was heaven and they spread the word.
The Indian River Farms Company established in 1912 attracted beginning and experienced farmers and investors from all over the country, particularly the Midwest. To lure more people to the area, the company created the town of Vero in 1913 and laid out its streets and districts. Space was also allocated for hotels and apartments to accommodate the increasing number of visitors and residents. It was not until 1925 that the town was renamed “Vero Beach” and became the county seat of newly formed Indian River County.
By the 1920s Vero was booming. Tourists flocked to Indian River County fleeing the cold winters of the North while others sought to own their bit of paradise in this growing town. As with most booms, word spread quicker than the construction of accommodations.
True Tails is a series written by Amy Robinson for Vero Beach’s dog lovers. Ask Amy about your dog’s behavior by clicking below.
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