The Sanctuary of Boca Raton

One community that should be high on your list if considering a waterfront home in Boca Raton is The Sanctuary of Boca Raton. This gated community is located on the West side of the Intracoastal, just north of the Spanish River Boulevard bridge. Individual homes range from $1 million to $20 million. The community has a private marina, tennis courts and many of the homes look out onto an uninhabited island. The yachts parked alongside many of the houses are breathtaking.

One interesting amenity about The Sanctuary of Boca Raton is that in addition to a gatehouse at both entrances and vehicle patrols throughout the neighborhood, there are also water patrols by security officers on boats which help to ensure that these properties, many of which have direct exposure to the Intracoastal, are secure via the water as well.

The main entrance on North Federal Highway was recently redone, but unlike some other communities in town, it maintains a very elegant yet understated appearance. It sits on a fairly quiet stretch of US1 and as a result, it would be easy to pass by without ever noticing it. Similarly, if heading over the Spanish River bridge, most drivers likely wouldn’t even realize that the homes they’re seeing amongst the shrubbery are some of the nicest in town and part of the luxury community, The Sanctuary of Boca Raton.

The Sanctuary also has a fascinating history. In the 1950’s a man by the name of Esmond G. Barnhill, a photographer and photo tinter from St. Petersburg, bought 24 acres in Boca Raton where Native American burial mounds were found. Archaeologists investigated the mounds looking for artifacts. After they completed their work, Barnhill created a tourist attraction called Ancient America on the site that preserved the mounds to teach visitors about the life and stories of the area. It was known for the wide collection of artifacts including doubloons, pirate chests, shrunken heads, arrowheads, and chain-mail armor. A stone replica of a Spanish galleon used in the 15th century conquest was added to the site to attract customers. Ancient American gained much popularity, so Barnhill ended up shutting it down in 1958. The Sanctuary is built on the site of the old Ancient America attraction, with the mounds still there today.