In Vero Beach, there is one name that has come to represent the Old Florida heart of the city, its character, its charm, its unique appeal – Waldo.
Waldo Sexton, eccentric visionary, raconteur and lover of the unusual, came to town from Indiana in 1914 to sell plows and remained, becoming a successful rancher and citrus grower and making an indelible mark on his new home. Waldo built amazing structures, filling them with an astounding mish-mash of objects collected during his world travels. The Driftwood Inn and Resort and its Waldo’s Restaurant are among the most extraordinary structures in the south and are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Last Saturday afternoon, an overflow crowd gathered to celebrate the Driftwood Inn’s 80th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of its wildly popular bar and grill, Waldo’s. A highlight of the afternoon was the unveiling of Waldo’s new logo, created by artist Peter Calderone.
Presenting an official proclamation to mark the occasion, Vero Mayor Laura Moss declared, “If you can’t have fun here, you just can’t have fun!”
Assistant Manager Amy Patton invited visitors to tour the architecturally incredible, multi-balconied resort, while locals and visitors enjoyed the gorgeous afternoon: lunching on the oceanfront deck, tappin’ toes to the banjo-rich tunes of Uproot Hootenanny, and telling stories at bar, aka “on the rail.” At one end of the bar, palm frond weaver and musician Bibble played requests on his “canjo” – a can attached with fishing line to a soda bottle tucked under his arm. Waldo, known to declare “I’d rather be a liar than a bore any day,” would have loved it.
“We’re IR-regulars,” grinned local Scott Matthews. Friend Terry Aldridge said when she first got to town, “I was on the sidewalk, heard music and came in. The people here are so lovely.”
Cheryl Miller added, “I was born in Vero, and raised at Waldo’s.”
Waldo’s is also the Vero hangout of choice for snowbirds Harry and Rose Gifford. “It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Harry Gifford.
“This is my favorite spot in Vero Beach. I try to come down every Saturday. I love the music,” said Harry Morgan, enjoying a cigar while leaning against the deck rail.
Artist, poet and rancher Sean Sexton, Waldo’s grandson, introduced longtime Driftwood employee Connie Pederson and said, “She ran the dining room, her husband was manager, and their son and I were best friends. She was like a second mother to me.”
Manager Lee Olsen has worked on Sexton properties for 28 years, including 10 at Waldo’s, and considers the staff as family. He announced that one five-year member of the family, 28-year-old Nova Wilson, was seriously injured in a car wreck recently and will require additional surgical procedures and months-long rehab. In addition to collecting donations in Wilson’s cowboy hat and earmarking proceeds from an area of the bar for Wilson, his wife Alaina and their 18-month-old daughter Coral, Waldo’s has also set up a Nova Wilson GoFundMe page.
