The billionaire’s island fortress that has its own radar system and golf course
A small island off the coast of Miami is one of the most securely guarded enclaves in America.
Indian Creek Village is a small island less than 300 acres, but has waterfront homes owned by some of the world’s wealthiest people.
The stunning isle is surrounded by a high-tech Israeli-designed radar system which can detect passerbys from a half a mile away.
There’s also a dedicated police force for the residents and members of the country club.
But in order to join – or even step foot on the island – you have to pay a pretty penny. $500,000, in fact.
The exclusive community was first incorporated in 1939 under a now defunct law which stated groups of more than 25 could create their own municipality.
Nearly a century on, the community is thriving and richer than ever. There are roughly 30 mansions on the island, all connected by a single road, with a stunning golf course in the centre.
Gerardo Vildostegui lives in the neighbouring town of Surfside, and told Business Insider: ‘The security is very different than how it used to be.’
Mr Vildostegui recalled being able to bring his friends to the gates of the island in the 1990s and giving them a tour on the island with permission from the police.
A strong police force
The police force on the island is small – only 19 officers – but it’s a large force for the number of residents on the posh island.
They often respond to boaters who attempt to dock on the beach by the golf course with their 24/7 armed patrol boats.
Recent town documents show that 19 people are employed as police officers on the island, meaning there’s one officer for every five residents.
For comparison – the national average in America is 2.4 cops for 1,000 residents. If New York City employed cops at the same ratio as Indian Creek Village, they’d have 1.5million cops.
The town spent $4.1million on public safety in 2023 – 74% of its budget.
Famous owners
Even Jeff Bezos has land on the island. The total value of property on the island is estimated to be $1billion.
Not only is the island remote and small, it’s also extremely exclusive.
The owners of many properties on the island are unknown. Most recently, a $65 million property on the island was sold to an undisclosed owner.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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