VERO BEACH — Indian River County officials have agreed to purchase the former Hale Groves property along U.S. 1 for $2.54 million, aiming to safeguard the 22-acre site as permanent conservation land and shield the nearby Indian River Lagoon from future development.
The deal was signed by the Hale family on Aug. 26 and is part of the county’s broader Environmental Lands Acquisition Program, a $50 million initiative approved by voters in 2022 to buy and protect environmentally sensitive areas. County commissioners are set to review the contract at a public hearing Tuesday. Potential approval could pave the way for closing within months.
The property, once home to a bustling citrus packing house and farm store that operated for seven decades, sits just east of the highway and extends toward the lagoon. Structures on the site were demolished in 2021 after the store shuttered four years earlier. Without intervention, officials say, the commercially zoned land could have faced dense residential or business projects that might strain the lagoon’s fragile ecosystem.
Beth Powell, director of the county’s Parks, Recreation and Conservation department, said the acquisition would prevent added pressure on the Indian River Lagoon from potential overdevelopment.
Plans for the site include restoring a salt marsh to filter stormwater before it reaches the lagoon. The plan is also to build trails through upland pine and palm hammocks. An existing drainage canal could provide kayak and canoe access, enhancing public recreation while preserving wildlife habitat.
The purchase also encompasses an adjoining 11.74-acre parcel known as Durrance Place, bought for $1.26 million from Palm Bay Joan LLC, bringing the total preserved area to about 33 acres. Both deals stem from nominations by local resident Chrissy Trujillo and were ranked highly by a volunteer panel overseeing the program.
Founded in 1947 by World War II veteran Steve Hale and his wife Polly as a simple fruit stand, Hale Groves grew into a community staple known for its citrus shipments across the country. The family sold the business in 2006, but the land’s historical ties will be honored: The contract requires the county to incorporate the Hale name into public signage at the site.
This marks one of the first acquisitions under the program, which has already issued $25 million in bonds to fund land buys by mid-2027. Other targeted properties include expansions to the Captain Forster Hammock Preserve on the barrier island.
County leaders emphasize the move aligns with long-standing efforts to conserve lagoon-front lands, dating back to the 1990s. Residents can nominate additional sites through the county’s online portal.
If approved, the Hale Groves deal could close following a 60-day due diligence period, transforming a piece of citrus history into a protected natural haven.
