Entirely encompassed by the Middle River, Wilton Manors is in a world of its own. Known as the “Island City,” Wilton Manors features mature tropical flora and prides itself on being a Certified Wildlife Community Habitat. However, the community’s vibrant culture is where this island city truly shines. “Saying we’re gay-friendly is an understatement,” says Keith Kennedy, a Realtor with Access USA Realty and Wilton Manors resident. “We’re the Second Gayest City in the country.” The community earned that moniker from the 2010 Census, second to Provincetown, MA. In 2018, Wilton Manors became Florida’s first city managed by an all-LGBTQ+ city commission. “Our city council understands the importance of educating our police force to be respectful of different kinds of people,” Kennedy says. “This is our city; we welcome everyone.”
Discover vibrant murals in Wilton Manors.
Experience the beauty of Wilton Manors neighborhood in Florida.
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From one-bedroom condos to Mediterranean Revival estates
Under the shade of towering palms, the sidewalk-lined streets of Wilton Manors feature a distinctly Floridian variety of architectural styles. Single-family homes include everything from small, midcentury ranch-style homes to sprawling, waterfront Mediterranean Revivals. New construction properties, however, lean into the contemporary style. “Everything north of 26th Street is considered landlocked water,” Kennedy says. “So that’s where you’ll see more kayaking, paddleboarding and canoeing. The bridge is too low to get anything bigger than that through.” For this reason, waterfront properties south of 26th Street are pricier than those on the north side. “There’s like a $300,000 difference,” Kennedy says. “Since you can take a boat to the Intracoastal on the south side.” As for multi-family homes, many townhouses and low-rise condominium buildings joined the city in the 1970s and early 2000s. Overall list prices in Wilton Manors range from $201,000 for, say, a 700-square-foot one-bedroom condo to $2.6 million, which could afford a seven-bedroom waterfront estate or more.
Admire the colorful Victorian-style homes in Wilton Manors.
Riverside condos offer serene living in Wilton Manors.
Admire Spanish-style homes dotting Wilton Manors.
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Fort Lauderdale High
Students in Wilton Manors are served by Broward County Public Schools. They can take their first academic steps at Wilton Manors Elementary — a magnet school — before going to Sunrise Middle. Both of these schools have B ratings on Niche. Fort Lauderdale High is rated A and ranked No. 12 on Niche’s list of Broward County’s best public high schools. Students interested in pursuing law can apply for the high school’s Pre-Law and Public Affairs magnet program. There are plenty of other ways to enrich high school life at Fort Lauderdale High, with extracurriculars ranging from varsity footballs to fashion design and technology club. Popular private school options include Pine Crest School and Westminster Academy.
Explore academic excellence at Fort Lauderdale High School.
Experience educational excellence at Wilton Manors Elementary School.
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Colohatchee Park
Wilton Manors has a slew of full-size and pocket parks. M.E. DePalma Park is a little butterfly garden on the corner of NE 20th Street and NE 7th Ave. On the water, Colohatchee Park sprawls 8 and a half acres, 7 of which are a dedicated mangrove preserve. This park is a favorite for local birders and nature lovers, as well as pet parents. Colahatchee Dog Park lets four-legged friends have off-leash fun, and events like Woof and Wine can make it especially fun for the owners as well. As for athletic facilities, Mickel Park’s sports fields and the Wilton Manors Recreation Center have it covered, so local tennis, soccer, baseball, volleyball, pickleball and basketball players can break a sweat under the South Florida sun.
Brackish water surrounds Colohatchee Park in Wilton Manors, FL.
Wilton Drive
“Wilton Manors is a very social area,” Kennedy says. “You see your neighbors out a lot. There’s tons of stuff to do — boating, pool parties, beach parties, great restaurants and bars. Our nightlife is especially strong.” The city’s main thoroughfare, Wilton Drive, is studded with places to dine and drink. Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar is one of South Florida’s longest-running LGBTQ+ hubs, known for its strong drinks and late nights. In the daytime, however, it’s a popular brunch and lunch spot featuring a menu of eclectic American fare. As for grabbing groceries, the local Publix can also be found on Wilton Drive.
Enjoy the lively vibe of Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors.
Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival
It should come as no surprise that Wilton Manors is a sight to see during Pride Month. The city’s signature event is its Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Festival, held in June to honor the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 and all the LGBTQ+ facets of Wilton Manors’ history. This event brings around 30,000 people to the city. Wilton Drive is transformed into a party of stunning floats, performances, live music, food trucks and vendors.
Moments from Fort Lauderdale and I-95
“Wilton Manors is very walkable,” Kennedy says. “There’s a public bus, but the city also gives out Uber and Lyft codes on its website because parking can be difficult when you have so many people.” Wilton Manors is less than a mile outside of Fort Lauderdale and only a moment’s drive from Interstate 95. “It's super convenient for commuting,” Kennedy says.
Marilia "Mia" Rodrigues is a South Florida real estate agent, Host of the American Dream TV show which also aires on HGTV, multilingual public speaker and a former regional property manager support who managed 22 million dollars in real estate assets from 2010-2019. As a real estate consultant with an outstanding expertise, in depth training and knowledge about all aspects in fields such as property management, real estate investing, rehabilitation of properties, buying, flipping and selling; with assertive real estate sales skills enhanced by top of the line marketing abilities, and fluency in 3 different languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese), Mia’s excellent negotiation skills guide every buyer and seller through Real Estate obstacles leading them happily to the closing table.
SELLERS
When working with Mia, you can expect her and her team to negotiate top dollar for your property to help you achieve your goals and objectives while selling your home in the least amount of time due to the exceptional service, a world-class marketing plan and the cutting edge technology that are provided to you and your family. Each member of our listing staff is trained to make the process easy from start to finish. Once you meet with Mia, you will feel confident that you are pricing your property at a competitive price and that you will be updated throughout the entire transaction. Our goal is for you to feel comfortable that we are on your team and that it is a WIN-WIN situation for all parties involved.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
