Fisher Island Past and Present
In 1905, to accommodate the increasing number and size
of yachts and cargo vessel coming to growingly popular
South Florida, deep-water access was created from the Atlantic
Ocean to Biscayne Bay and the Port of Miami through the
southernmost tip of Miami Beach. This dredging and land
reclamation project, known as Government Cut, left behind
a 216-acre parcel of Miami Beach, completely bounded by
water, which would come to be known as Fisher Island.
The Island is named in honor real estate mogul Carl Fisher
who bought the land in 1919 from Dana Dorsey. Dorsey, one
of South Florida’s first black millionaires, had
amassed a real estate fortune developing the Overtown area
of Miami. Dorsey’s intention was to create an exclusive
resort for wealthy black tourists, but he was never able
to achieve this vision. Fisher purchased the Island as
his private residence, and at the time intended to live
the rest of his life there (evidenced by the fact that
early on he built a mausoleum there). That changed in 1925
when he abruptly traded the Island to good friend William
Vanderbilt II in exchange for Vanderbilt’s 250’ yacht ‘The
Eagle’. Some historical reports suggest that transaction
may have taken place during a night of drinking.
Vanderbilt proceeded to create a lavish winter retreat
rivaled by few in the world. Centered on a Mediterranean
style mansion facing the Atlantic Ocean, the estate also
included a pool, tennis courts, nine-hole golf course,
several guest residences, and a 9,000 square foot hanger
for his seaplane. Vanderbilt and his many wealthy guests
enjoyed the extravagant private retreat until his death
in 1944. A year later his widow, Rosamund, sold the property
to U. S. Steel heir Edward Moore for $500,000. Moore unfortunately
died shortly thereafter, and in 1947 the Island changed
hands again.
The new owner was Garfield Wood, noted speedboat manufacturer
and racer, who came to fortune in 1911 by inventing a hydraulic
lift for coal trucks, the original dump truck. Wood lived
in retirement on the Island for 21 years until a consortium,
which included former President Richard Nixon and good
friend Bebe Rebozo, purchased the Island in the late 1960’s.
It was this group which first envisioned creating a private ‘old
world style’ harbor town in keeping with the architectural
style of the Vanderbilt mansion. While the idea was meritorious,
they were never able to bring it to fruition. A little
over a decade later the Island was sold to Island Developers
Ltd./ Muben Realty, a subsidiary of Mutual Benefit Life
Insurance, who began development of the property.
According to architect John Babcock, their goal was to
recreate, from this flat Miami Beach sandbar, the ambiance
of a hillside Mediterranean town. To this end, buildings
and rooflines are fashioned in a stepped down design. Each
building is crafted with pools, courtyards, fountains,
and lush vegetation to create the sense of smaller individual
villages inside the larger town. Island Developers Ltd.
completed much of the development of Fisher Island, and
in 1998 sold the property to Chicago financier John Melk,
his son Daniel, and Chicago developer Daniel McLean who
formed Fisher Island Holdings, LLC. They are currently
in the completion phase of Fisher Island’s development.
Fisher Island is accessible only by boat, plane or helicopter,
and for non-residents, only by invitation. A fleet of ferryboats
shuttles automobile traffic across Government Cut every
fifteen minutes. The preferred mode of transport around
the Island is a golf cart (you are supplied two when you
purchase a residence there). With only slightly more than
500 residences, it’s population represents more than
40 nations and boasts numerous celebrities. It’s
luxurious amenities include a 9 hole championship golf
course, the world renowned 22,000 sq. ft. Spa Internazionale,
an 18 court tennis center, two deep water marinas (131
slips) capable of accommodating yachts up to 250’,
and six restaurants. Pristine powder white beaches are
raked daily and regularly replenished with sand imported
from the Bahamas. It is truly the pinnacle of luxury and
privacy
