Exclusivity and Privacy: Indian Creek
An emerald teardrop in the blue-green waters of northern Biscayne Bay, Indian Creek may be the most exclusive and private community in the country.
With Miami as its shelter and its skyline, the island of Indian Creek is nestled between South Florida's east coast metropolis — and all the big city brings to the life one wants to live — and the strip of Miami Beach barrier island that hugs the shore and calms the waters around the city.
A single bridge connects the island to the barrier, allowing traffic to go back and forth between the sunny town of Surfside, coming or going from North Miami along Route 1A as it connects to the Broad Causeway bridge back to the mainland, or heading south to eventually connect with the central part of the city.
Bigger isn't always better, particularly when it comes to Indian Creek.
The island is a mere four-tenths of a square mile in area, hosting one street, about 40 residences, and a population of about 112 (this fluctuates: the population grows during vacation season.)
To say that its homes are luxurious is an understatement. At tens of thousands of square feet, designed in a variety of styles — from the palatial archway-lined facades of the Spanish influence to the sleek wood and stone of modern architecture — Indian Creek is a village of dream houses.
In this sense, Indian Creek is an estate-based world of its own. Since at least 2007, when the Indian Creek Golf Course opened, elite putters from around the world have come to Indian Creek, each hoping for a chance to play on the green Bermuda grass of the village's highly exclusive club.
Size tells the story of Indian Creek in a different way, too, especially when it comes to real estate.
Home range from $7 million to eight-figure amounts, historically, but some have gone higher. For example, Forbes Magazine turned its attention to the spot in 2006, logging the sale of singer Julio Iglesias's home at an at-the-time record-topping $28 million.
No question: Indian Creek is home to the well-to-do and the well known. From models, to singers, professional golfers, coaches and U.S. Senators; from billionaire developers to radio magnates to top-tier executives and team owners, the list of A-list people who choose Indian Creek as their home runs deep.
When it comes to refuge, much of the sense of it in Indian Creek may have to do with the village's police force. Fourteen Florida-state sworn officers make up the Indian Creek Village Public Safety Department, which patrols the waters around its residents' homes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Its fleet of 23-foot Protector/Razor watercraft, and 28-foot Mako boats are not just providers of round-the-clock security to Indian Creek's elite. At times they are the first-and-only waterborne responders to incidents throughout Biscayne Bay. Indian Creek's officers also spearhead local wildlife-protection efforts, such as the department's informational and boat-speed reduction initiative to save the West Indian manatees that dot the waters around Indian Creek.
Location, location
Lifestyles on the island revolve around the home and the country club, but that doesn't mean there aren't nearby options in keeping with the Indian Creek aesthetic. Southeast-Florida islands and keys await.
If you want the whole package, when it comes to a classic, glamorous beach experience, it's only seven miles to South Beach, with all its high-end options and surfside charm. But then, you might stick to Surfside itself.
Just next door to Indian Creek — a quick sail across the ribbon of bay, or a ride (or even a walk) over the 91st Street bridge — along Surfside's oceanfront and Collins Avenue one finds more than 100 shops and boutiques for a little mid-afternoon shopping. Stop into the town's cozy French bistro for a sip and a snack, or make a dinner out of it with a visit to its five-star kosher steak house.
Then it's time for a stroll along some white sands, and back home for a nightcap. It's not hard to imagine getting used to this kind of laid-back-yet-luxurious living. Of course, if the evening — or company — in question calls for something slightly more intense, its still only about a dozen miles into the heart of the city.
The bottom line is this: Indian Creek represents the best of two possible worlds: exclusivity and privacy coupled with the choice-rich climate of Florida's exclusive resort coastline.
