Palm Beach County Florida

Having seen the development of various real estate projects to fruition, E. Llwyd Ecclestone, Jr. has earned his reputation as a real estate developer and visionary. He was instrumental in building and developing the PGA National Office Center and the PGA National Resort and Spa, both located in Palm Beach Gardens. Away from his real estate career, E. Llwyd Ecclestone, Jr. has also served the community in a number of various committees, boards, and capacities.

The first permanent settlers to arrive at Palm Beach settled sometime around 1872. Early accounts suggest that Palm Beach got its name from a shipwreck called “The Providencia.” The ship reached the shore in January 1878 with plenty of coconuts that were bound for Barcelona. To establish a coconut industry, the early settlers planted the coconuts as the fruit was not native to South Florida.

The first hotel in the area, the Coconut Grove House, was opened in 1880 to provide shelter for tourists. Palm Beach was getting a lot of visitors as word of its beauty had spread. Later in the 1890s, Royal Poinciana Hotel was built, and the Florida East Coast Railroad arrived. The town was eventually incorporated in 1911, and the first officials were elected. Since then, Palm Beach has grown as a tourist destination, with more than 7.3 million people visiting the area every year.