Some places draw you back, season after season. Beneath the live oaks, along 250 feet of waterfront, Villa Del Mare is a retreat where mornings unfold slowly, friends stay a little longer, and familiar rituals become treasured traditions. Built in 1927 as a fishing retreat for George Lytton, this Spanish-style home was one of just two residences constructed at the beginning of the Gulf Hills resort. Dr. Karl Meyer purchased the property in 1934, beginning more than seventy years of Meyer family ownership. Its story has always been one of returning to the Coast, a tradition its next owners are invited to continue. The sense of retreat begins at the entrance, where a pool courtyard welcomes you amid palms, lush greenery, and the home's warm stucco and red-tile rooflines. Brick terraces and a sheltered porch invite you to pause before stepping inside. It is an arrival that sets the pace for your stay, an afternoon swim, a book in the shade, and the pleasure of having nowhere else you need to be. Coffee on the veranda. An afternoon beside the pool. The changing light on the water as evening approaches. Beneath the oak canopy, there is room to settle into the quiet and feel connected to the natural world. When guests arrive, that same setting becomes the backdrop for long lunches, sunset cocktails, and conversations that stretch into the night. Inside, the home rewards a closer look. Distinctive architectural details reveal themselves around each corner, lending a sense of discovery to its welcoming rooms. The grand dining room invites a beautifully set table and an occasion worth gathering for, while the fireplace anchors the living room for quieter evenings. In the family room, two stunning windows frame the water, and direct access to the veranda lets gatherings move easily outdoors. With its views and generous space for entertaining, it is a place you may find yourself returning to throughout the day. An attached two-bedroom guest apartment, with a full bathroom and kitchenette, offers visiting family and friends space of their own while keeping everyone close. A weekend invitation can comfortably become a longer stay. A thoughtful restoration beginning in 2022 introduced modern comforts while preserving the home's 1920s architectural character, allowing its history to remain part of the experience of living here. Villa Del Mare offers a place to leave the calendar open, welcome the people you love, and make returning to the water a tradition of your own. Nearly a century in the making, its next chapter is yours to begin.
