There is a reason Gulf Hills feels a little different. Its history begins with an idea that still appeals today: a place to spend time near the water, surrounded by trees, with room to settle in and enjoy the Coast.
During the land boom of the 1920s, investors from Chicago and New York saw the possibilities in the landscape around Old Fort Bayou. Gulf Hills was incorporated in 1925, and the resort opened in 1927. The Branigar developers helped bring a new vision of coastal leisure to the area, with golf, waterfront accommodations, and recreation woven into the experience.
Imagine arriving from a northern winter and finding this landscape waiting. The appeal went beyond a comfortable room. The setting offered a reason to spend the season here, make connections, and return.
Villa del Mare, located at 13801 Arbor Circle, belongs to that early chapter. Mississippi Department of Archives and History records identify it as one of the homes built during Gulf Hills’ initial development. Completed in early 1927 for George Lytton of Chicago, the house was used as a temporary residence by its early owners.
That history gives the property a meaningful place in the neighborhood’s story. It was part of Gulf Hills when the development’s identity was still taking shape, long before generations of residents made it the community we know today.
For anyone drawn to older homes, this is part of their appeal. A date on a record becomes more interesting when you understand the decisions behind it: who came here, what they were looking for, and why they chose this particular place.
At Villa del Mare, those questions lead back to a coastal escape that became a lasting address.
Discover Villa del Mare at 13801 Arbor Circle and explore a home connected to the beginnings of Gulf Hills. Contact Rain Residential to learn more about the property.
