Miami is arguably the top hotspot for food, music venues, culture, and especially nightlife. It’s also a very popular choice for filming movies, shooting TV shows, and “hiding out” apparently. Perhaps it’s due to Miami Beach, an attached island of Miami. Or, maybe because northerners who were high-profile gangsters increasingly migrated to Florida to retire. There’s one, in particular, who’s name is well-known to a majority of Americans. Brooklyn-bred Al Capone relocated to FL in 1928. The home that will be discussed at length momentarily is the first and final home he purhased. It served as his sanctuary for escaping the kingly pleasures of being a top dog in the gangster biz; and eventually hired a celebrity bodyguard as well.
History dictates that the ruler of Chicago plotted one of the most notorious and memorable events known to man, the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, inside the 6,103 sq ft house. It’s also said that Capone had no desire to expand his empire. Instead, he was looking to retire after, as mostly any mob would say, “taking care of certain business.” What better place to retire than in the sunshine state. It’s reported that before Capone fled to Chicago to put his plan into action, he made himself visible in South Beach to establish an alibi. The 1922-built Palm Island home was also a vital component of his alibi. Al and his family inhabited the two-story house regularly. It’s noted that he unsurprisingly paid $40,000 in cash for the place.
As one could infer, big Al ensured that the entire premises was secure. He stationed bodyguards and made certain they were housed. And armed to the teeth with machine guns, some of which have already seen model modifications into the new AK-47s and AR-10 rifles of today. Who better to know about guns than Big Al? There was also a guest house on-site and a gated guard house infront of the now beautifully white palace. Capone also had a remarkable 30 x 60 pool built along with a two-level pool house. After being on the market for almost an entire year (and two dramatical price decreases), his estate finally scored a buyer for roughly $7.432 million. The aforementioned eye-opening pool remains to be existent to this day. Can you say “pool party?” The 1922 mini mansion was inevitably renovated, and boy was so much done. The white residential stallion consists of 7 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.
The steroidal pool pours nicely into the two-story pool house. As for the spanish-inspired “powerhouse,” it’s surrounded by the right amount of foliage and trees. They set the perfect tone for a home that sits right by the waters of Biscayne Bay. The interior is painted white as well as the home’s shell. Rest assured, the 1920’s charm is still preserved in the overall design of Capone’s former headquarters. A prime example may be two certain bathrooms, one of which has artsy black and yellow tiled walls. The other is nostalgically white and spacious. This one has a single prison-like open shower area within. How convenient……..Nonetheless, the lush white ex-Capone retreat is rich with history, tommy guns, and booze. Oh, and a furnished kitchen and fireplace.
Address: 93 Palm Ave, Miami Beach FL 33139