I'm amazed I've never reviewed the City of Coral Gables. We used to come all the time as our son…read moreattended UM. Walking around the Miracle Mile, dining at a cafe, going to the farmers market & craft fairs. Today was a perfect day to wander around and explore.
In 1899, Rev. Merrick moved his family from Massachusetts, to the Miami after a brutal northeast winter killed a twin daughters. He purchased a 160 acres west of Coconut Grove for of $1,100 sight unseen. With Bahamian workers & a 12 yrs son they all cleared the land of pine and palmetto and planted. They grew award-winning green beans, peppers, guava, tomatoes, eggplant, grapefruit, okra...
By 1906, the groves began to bear fruit, and they shipped carloads of grapefruit out of Miami to the northern market. The Merricks added an extension made with native coral to their wooden cottage.
Merrick's son enrolled in Rollins College Winter Park then he went to New York Law School. Rev. Merrick died & he came home to manage the family business & plantation. By 1920, Merrick had expanded his land holdings from 160 acres to 1,600 acres, selling 15 subdivision in iai. He had the land, expertise & money to create a city, assembling a team of architects, artists & engineers. With a college friend & insurance agent they financed construction of 100 homes. By 1925, the Coral Gables Corporation, which was created. They brought a team of architects, landscapers, builders ... By 1926, Coral Gables had more than 4,000 structures with an investment of over $150 million. There were 2,792 private homes & apartments, 112 office & commercial buildings, 11 schools, 10 public buildings, 2hospital buildings, 2 university buildings, 6 hotels, 100 miles of paved streets, and 125 miles of sidewalks had been built.
The Biltmore Hotel from 1926 is the historical landmark in Coral Gables. The hundred year old Merrick House is opened for tours on weekends & has interesting programs throughout the year. The Venetian Pool from 1923 is refilled daily with 820,000 gallons of water. The 83 acre Fairfield Tropical Garden is one of my favorite places in the Gables. Wandering around the University of Miami is always a highlight.
Coral Gables is called the 'City Beautiful', with terracotta roofs, jewel-like colours & lush landscape it is special. Once a tiny Miami suburb, today the Gables is home to 150 multinational companies, 21 consulates & trade offices, boutiques, galleries & theatres. It is the fine dining capital of south Florida.