under the palm trees and Australian pines.
Conversely, should Willamae’s human crave
solitude, Grant Farm Island provides.
“You don’t have to see anybody if you don’t
want to,” said Davidson.
BUSY WEEKENDS
Weekdays are quiet, as only a handful of
residents are, like Davidson and Willamae,
full-time. On weekends, the vacation home
owners appear, so the island gets lively, but
lively is a different word at VIP Island.
Main Street is a meandering sand path
traversed by golf carts and beach cruisers.
Nary a car is on the island, but you do see
fire extinguishers every so often, should a
fire ever threaten.
Fischer has found that island buyers either
adore it or don’t want anything to do with it.
“There are buyers who come out and look
and I never hear from again, while others go
out and fall in love immediately,” she said.
“Who cares if you have to boat over?”
STILL AFFORDABLE
Considering the crazy real estate market,
paradise remains affordable at Grant Farm
Island. Homes range from half a million to
$800,000 on the more developed part of the
island. Those with more wherewithal can
opt for a $4 million-plus enclave for sale on
an acre lot at the other end of the island.
A few houses down from his own is Foster’s
B&B, Dolphin Dive. The three-story, fourbedroom
home features a covered, selfenclosed
beach bar with a 33-pound ice
maker and a television; a spa; and a dock
that welcomes vessels up to 35 feet in
length. At $300 a night, it is popular with
families and reunions eager for a taste of
island living at very reasonable rates.
Foster first became acquainted with Grant
Farm Island when his parents bought a
vacation place there in 1978. He left for
college and later followed a job to South
Florida, but the island kept calling back.
His two boys grew up being boated to school
and Scouts. Now in college, they still love
returning. Foster’s parents continue to own
a couple of island lots. It seems that once
VIP Island is part of your life, you never
really leave.
66: SPACE COAST LIVING | SPACECOASTLIVING.COM
A few houses down from his home, Foster’s Dolphin Dive B&B welcomes tourists with lodging, a freestanding
beach bar and a deck for sunning.
A spa and a hammock beckon visitors to the Dolphin Dive’s deck area.
>>
Pastel colors and unique murals are part of the island’s lifestyle.
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