25°10′N — 80°16′W
Private Airport · 175-Slip Marina · On-Site Medical & School · Est. 1948
Ocean Reef Club
Guard-Gated · Private Airport (OCA) · North Key Largo, Monroe County, Florida
Total Residences
~1,700
Sales / Year
~80
Entry Price
$2.1M+
Security
24/7 Guard
A · The Identifier
Not a Neighborhood.
A Private Municipality.
Founded in 1948 by Minnesota businessman Morris Baker as a private fishing retreat, Ocean Reef Club has evolved into one of the most self-contained and operationally independent residential club communities in the United States. Positioned on 2,500 secluded tropical acres at the northernmost tip of Key Largo, surrounded by water on three sides and accessed by a single guard-gated road, Ocean Reef functions less like a neighborhood and more like a private municipality with its own rules and infrastructure.
The community includes a private airport (OCA), a 175-slip mega‑yacht marina, a medical center, fire department, K‑8 school, grocery, art league, spa and a dozen‑plus restaurants reserved for members and their guests. With roughly 1,700 properties and a Q1 2026 median sales price of about $5.4M, inventory trades mostly through a private MLS, reinforcing Ocean Reef’s positioning as a structurally scarce, fully integrated platform for UHNWI households seeking privacy, self‑sufficiency and direct ocean access.
B · Technical Data Sheet
|
Access Type |
Terrestrial via a single guard-gated road off Card Sound Road; Maritime via Atlantic Ocean and Florida Bay. |
|
Security |
guard-gated access, private security force, and an on-site fire department. |
|
Total Properties |
~1,700 total (roughly half single-family homes and half condominiums/villas).) |
|
Acreage |
2,500 acres; surrounded by water on three sides |
|
Living Area Range |
~686 sq. ft. (studio villas) to 3,522+ sq. ft. (estate homes) |
|
Architectural Styles |
Keys vernacular, coastal contemporary, tropical Mediterranean, and villa clusters. |
|
Entry Price |
~$2.1M (condos) to $9.9M+ (waterfront estate homes), act |
|
Median Sales Price |
$5.4M (Q1 2026); Avg. Close Price: $6.95M (Q1 2026) |
|
Avg. Price / Sq. Ft. |
~$3,701/sq. ft. (median, 2026 listings) |
|
Annual Liquidity |
~20 transactions per quarter (Q1 2026: 20 closed sales); private internal MLS |
|
HOA |
Mandatory Ocean Reef Community Association (ORCA). |
|
Membership |
Mandatory Equity Membership; requires 3 current Equity Member sponsors and pre-closing approval. |
|
Membership Initiation |
$150,001+ initiation fee; annual dues $10,001–$15,000 |
|
Tax Jurisdiction |
Monroe County, Florida (no Florida state income tax). |
|
Zoning / Building |
Monroe County permitting combined with community design standards. |
C · Nautical Specifications & Air Connectivity
Atlantic & Florida Bay.
No Fixed Bridge. No Constraints.
Ocean Reef’s nautical profile is the structural foundation of the community: positioned between the Atlantic Ocean and Florida Bay, its 175‑slip marina offers deep‑water berthing for mega‑yachts with a confirmed 10‑foot‑plus channel depth and storm‑engineered concrete floating docks, while purchasable slips have appreciated sharply since renovation and the club’s location beside the only living coral reef in the continental United States delivers rare, world‑class open‑ocean diving directly from a private marina.
⚓
Fixed Bridges
None
Direct, unrestricted access to Biscayne Bay. No height clearance required for masts, flybridges, or superstructures — a specification that is becoming increasingly rare as Coconut Grove's waterfront stock contracts.
⛵
Waterfront & Marina
5 bayfront
5 direct bayfront estates with private dock access. Additional canal-front lots with dock rights. Private community dock facility; slip access by waitlist. Nearest full-service marina: Dinner Key (587 slips, 1.2 mi).
🚤
Nearby Private Clubs
Est. 1887
Biscayne Bay Yacht Club (est. 1887); Coral Reef Yacht Club; Coconut Grove Sailing Club — all within a 5-minute radius. Three of South Florida's most established maritime institutions at immediate reach.
🚤
Nearby Private Clubs
Est. 1887
Biscayne Bay Yacht Club (est. 1887); Coral Reef Yacht Club; Coconut Grove Sailing Club — all within a 5-minute radius. Three of South Florida's most established maritime institutions at immediate reach.
Advisory Note: Ransom Everglades 2025–26 tuition: $54,820/year. Admission is selective; early engagement with admissions offices is advisable. Access from The Moorings is direct — no highway crossings, no congested corridors.
The School Factor
Elite Education Proximity
One of the Highest Concentrations in the U.S.
| School | Distance | Profile |
| Ransom Everglades School | ~5–8 min | Grades 6–12 | #2 Private High School in Florida | Ranked top 10 in North America | College-prep; rigorous academic track | Two campuses: 2045 S Bayshore Dr (Middle) & 3575 Main Highway (Upper) |
| Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart | ~8 min | Grades 3–12 | All-girls Catholic institution | Academic rigor + global perspective | Located 3747 Main Hwy, Coconut Grove |
| St. Stephen's Episcopal Day School | ~5 min | PreK–5 | Intimate, community-centered environment | Heart of the Grove | Character development focus |
| Gulliver Preparatory School | ~15–20 min | PK–12 | IB Program | Innovation + leadership focus | Multiple campuses: Middle School at 2045 S Bayshore Dr; Upper at 3575 Main Hwy, Pinecrest |
Advisory Note: Ransom Everglades 2025–26 tuition: $54,820/year. Admission is selective; early engagement with admissions offices is advisable. Access from The Moorings is direct — no highway crossings, no congested corridors.
E · Lifestyle & Strategic Distances
The Influence Radius
|
Coconut Grove Commercial Strip |
< 5 min walk — Commodore Plaza; Main Highway dining and retail |
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Coral Gables / Miracle Mile |
~10 min — Upscale dining, international consulates, commercial district |
|
Village of Merrick Park |
~12 min — Luxury retail (Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom); Hillstone, Yard House |
|
Bal Harbour Shops |
~30 min — Chanel, Dior, Prada; Miami's definitive ultra-luxury retail corridor |
|
Miami Design District |
~20 min — Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Cartier; Cipriani |
|
Brickell / Financial Core |
~15 min — Four Seasons, Cipriani, Brickell City Centre |
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Downtown Miami / Wynwood |
~15 min |
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Mercy Hospital |
~5 min — Full acute-care facility; closest to The Moorings |
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Baptist Health South Florida |
~15 min — Flagship system; concierge medicine programs available |
|
Mount Sinai Medical Center |
~25 min — Tertiary care; concierge/executive health programs |
|
Biscayne Bay Yacht Club (est. 1887) |
~5 min — One of Florida's oldest private maritime clubs |
|
Coral Reef Yacht Club |
~5 min — On shores of Biscayne Lagoon, near Dinner Key Marina |
F · Comparative Summary
Asset Overview
|
Privacy Level |
High — Guard-gated 24/7; coral stone perimeter wall; ~2–3 sales/year |
|
Architectural Vibe |
Mediterranean (dominant) — 1926–1936 estates; some modern and transitional |
|
Nautical Restriction |
None — Bridge-free direct access to Biscayne Bay |
|
Waterfront Lots |
5 direct bayfront; additional canal-front with dock rights |
|
HOA |
Mandatory — Covers gatehouse, common areas, community park |
|
Entry Price |
$1.5M – $11.25M+ (current market) |
|
School Access |
Ransom Everglades, Carrollton, St. Stephen's — all within 8 min |
|
Air Access (FBO) |
Tamiami/TMB ~15 min | Opa-Locka/OPF ~25–30 min |
|
Tax Jurisdiction |
Miami-Dade County, Florida — No state income tax (Tax Migration advantage) |
|
Key Differentiator |
Historical provenance + bridge-free bay access + urban walkability in a single address |
Data sourced from Miami-Dade County public records, Southeast Florida MLS, David Siddons Group, Brown Harris Stevens, Miami Luxury Homes, and verified FBO distance guides. All pricing reflects active market conditions as of 2025–2026 and is subject to change. For off-market inquiries, direct engagement with a qualified South Florida luxury advisor is recommended.