The Treasure Coast is known to hold many treasures, both natural and historical, but its name comes from the actual treasures that have been found here as well.
The Georges Valentine
An Italian barkentine ship that transported mahogany from northern Italy to Pensacola, the Georges Valentine met her fate in October of 1904, when she was caught in a storm and swept up the Atlantic. She crashed near where the House of Refuge museum currently stands. Survivors who were able to make it ashore walked 100 yards to the then-shipwreck rescue station and received aid from Captain William Rea. Today, the wreck is recognized as a Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve and can be explored by divers and snorkelers. It’s relatively shallow and just off the beach.
The Wreck of the Urca De Lima
Part of the 1715 treasure ships from Spain, this is the shipwreck that set off the treasure hunting craze in the 70s, and helped the Treasure Coast get its name. William J. Beach came to the area of Fort Pierce in 1932, claiming that he had plotted where the Urca De Lima sank. One quickly assembled team and many dives later, he came up with over millions of dollars in coins and historical artifacts. The majority of the coins have been pulled up, and what’s left over belongs to the state of Florida, but the wreck is still at the bottom of Pepper Beach Park.
The Capitana
The flagship of Spain’s 1715 Treasure Fleet, The Capitana transported gold, silver, and other resources from the Spanish Colonies located in the New World to Europe. This ship was sunk between July 30th through the 31st in a hurricane that hit Florida’s coast. The Schmitt family, hired by a group called 1715 Fleet-Queens Jewels LLC, who had exclusive excavation rights to the 1715 Treasure Fleet wrecks, found over millions of dollars in gold coins and treasure on June 17, 2015, where the Capitana once lay.
Many precious artifacts and gold coins have been pulled off of the shores of the Treasure Coast, but the ships and their cargo aren’t the only treasures that are in the area. The Treasure Coast waters are home to more than just gold and silver treasures. Harbour Ridge is one of Florida’s premier private waterfront golf communities. Its waterfront location on the St. Lucie River makes it the perfect place to live, and it’s truly treasured by members and residents.
Harbour Ridge offers the best of the Florida lifestyle. The two championship golf courses wind along the river with beautiful views throughout the entire courses. In fact, both golf courses have been designated as ‘Certified Cooperative Audubon Sanctuaries’ for their commitment to nature conservation. Residents can entertain themselves with the bird watching club, or explore the surrounding area with kayak and boat rentals from the on-site Marina. To learn more about the unique Florida lifestyle offered at Harbour Ridge and the wide variety of residential real estate offerings available, CLICK HERE. We will email you a digital brochure that highlights the amenities and lifestyle of our waterfront community.
