Welcome to Barefoot Bay

Originally featured in the center spread of the June 2025 issue of The Tattler, designed as a community brochure. The original printed spread appears below. You can also see the Forum post here.

Florida’s Best-Kept Secret for Amazing, Active Coastal Living

Nestled in unincorporated southern Brevard County, just off US-1, Barefoot Bay is a rare gem — a vibrant, golf-cart-friendly community that feels like a cross between a small town and a year-round resort. With tropical breezes, lush landscapes, and water views, Barefoot Bay offers a lifestyle that’s relaxed, friendly, and full of opportunity.

Location & Climate

Close to Sebastian, Vero Beach, and Melbourne, Barefoot Bay offers access to shopping, medical care, cultural attractions, and nature preserves while retaining a residential, small-town feel. The Indian River Lagoon is nearby, Atlantic beaches are within driving distance, and Florida’s subtropical climate invites us to enjoy life outdoors. Orlando’s attractions, Port Canaveral, and the Space Coast offer even more possibilities for a day out.

Pride of Ownership

Established in 1971, Barefoot Bay is a deed-restricted manufactured home community with nearly 4,900 homes. It is not age-restricted, and homeowners own the land beneath their homes rather than paying lot rent — a distinction that sets us apart from many manufactured home communities. Retirees, working families, seasonal residents, and longtime neighbors all contribute to the character of the Bay.

A Unique Community Structure

The Barefoot Bay Recreation District manages community recreation facilities, common areas, and entertainment venues. Property owners pay an annual District assessment through their property tax bill, rather than traditional monthly HOA dues. For official District information, visit BBRD.org.

Town Halls, budget workshops, and Board of Trustees meetings give residents opportunities to learn, ask questions, and participate in community life.

Amenities That Rival Private Resorts

Though not a gated community, Barefoot Bay offers plenty of ways to stay active, relax, and spend time with friends:

  • Three heated swimming pools.
  • An 18-hole, Joe Lee-designed executive golf course, Par 60, and Pro Shop. Golf fees apply.
  • A 750-foot fishing pier.
  • Tennis, pickleball, shuffleboard, bocce, horseshoes, basketball, a softball field, mini-golf, a pool hall, and a playground.
  • The Great Hall, meeting rooms, and other spaces for community gatherings and private celebrations, subject to District reservation rules.
  • The Lounge and Lake Stage, plus the 19th Hole, with entertainment and opportunities to gather with neighbors.
  • Scenic common areas, walking paths, and lakes and ponds that attract Florida wildlife and migratory birds.
  • Private Atlantic beach access north of Sebastian Inlet on A1A.
A little friendly competition and a chance to spend time outdoors — pickleball is one of the many ways neighbors stay active in the Bay. Enjoy an active lifestyle, whether swinging a racket or a club, taking a stroll, or simply lounging around the pool.

Everyday Convenience

Beyond recreation, the community includes shops, dining, services, and storage options. A golf-cart-accessible shopping plaza makes everyday errands part of the neighborhood routine.

And one of the smaller pleasures of life here? Not one, but two ice cream truck routes!

A Social Life Like No Other

From cards to cornhole, quilting to theater, and gardening to golf, Barefoot Bay’s clubs offer something for a wide range of interests. Whether you want to volunteer, perform, create, compete, or unwind with new friends, there are plenty of ways to find your people here. Dances, themed parties, parades, festivals, and craft fairs keep the calendar full — and golf-cart-friendly roads make getting around part of the fun.

Fundraisers and generosity abound in Barefoot Bay. Here, the LOL Youth Group worked with the Golf Cart Club to benefit both clubs. Volunteers are always appreciated. The annual Barefoot by the Lake Art, Food and Music Festival brings entertainment, food, art, and visitors from the surrounding area to the Bay each February. Photo: Pam Rice.

The Spirit of Barefoot Bay

More than a neighborhood, Barefoot Bay is a state of mind — one rooted in connection, community, and the joy of simple living. Here, smiles come easy, sunsets linger, and life offers opportunities to savor the moment. Whether you’re retired, semi-retired, a snowbird seeking a winter home, or a family looking for a welcoming community, there’s plenty to discover.

Sometimes the best part of the day is right outside your door. Photo: Pam Rice.

Discover Barefoot Bay:
Coastal living with exceptional value.

From the Pages of The Tattler

Our original June 2025 center spread brought this introduction to Barefoot Bay to life in print. The image below preserves the brochure as it appeared, including information and plans described at that time.

Select the image to open the original spread at full size.

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