Waldo's Secret Garden - Part 3: Community, History, & Heart

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A sharp bang from the next room set the mood—then Charlotte opened the door to a living slice of Old Florida. We sat inside Waldo’s Secret Garden and traced how a mechanic shop became a flower shop and then an antique barn, how a former bedroom turned into a bridal lounge, and why preserving original bones matters when you’re welcoming new stories every weekend. Along the way, Charlotte pulled original Waldo family photos from the 1920s–1950s, offering a rare look at the early driftwood entrance and the humble roots that grew into a beloved landmark.

We talk about what makes Vero Beach feel different: neighbors who answer a single post with real help, streets that feel safe, and small businesses that anchor a daily rhythm—Tribe Coffee on Ocean Drive, Ocean Grill dinners, Venezuelan bites from Savers, and easy walks through Riverside Park and Memorial Island. Charlotte shares how she keeps “Old Florida charm” without freezing time: update what must be updated, keep the character intact, and design corridors that spark nostalgia across generations. She also maps out simple ways to visit if you’re not planning a wedding: monthly antiques weekends, casual tours by request, and a future plant propagation day so guests can take home living cuttings for just a few dollars.

By the end, her hope is clear: a self‑sustaining property where people create good moments, learn a little history, and leave with something that lasts—maybe a photo, a plant, or just a feeling that Vero Beach still shows up for its own. If this story resonates, tap follow, share it with a neighbor who loves local history, and leave a quick review to help more people find the show.

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Episode Transcript

Brian (00:00):
All right, well, welcome back to the Vero Beach podcast.
This is part three of ourinterview here with Charlotte
from the Waldo Secret Garden.

Charlotte (00:07):
Hello again.

Brian (00:08):
A couple things I forgot to ask during the first two.
I heard something just bang outthe door.
Okay, I just heard it too.
So I'm like, yes.

Charlotte (00:14):
Nobody's in the house.
Do we need to investigate?
I'm hoping it's like a ghostand not an animal that's found
its way.

Brian (00:21):
Well, if that was-back there.

Charlotte (00:23):
Oh, did it?
Okay.

Brian (00:24):
That was a pretty loud bang.
If that was an animal, it'sprobably a Bigfoot.
I just heard it again.
That's pretty interesting.

Charlotte (00:30):
It's something else.

Brian (00:30):
Yes, there's gotta be something else.
All right.
Well, let's talk about uh theplace that we're sitting in
right now.
I had a the first question iswhat is this above us?

Charlotte (00:39):
So this this area is the downstairs kitchen and it's
for entertaining.
Upstairs is the livingquarters.
Oh so this is actually abedroom above that I turned into
like a sitting area for thebrides and a living room and a
kitchen and a hallway.
So there's restrooms everywhereupstairs that people can use
and a really cool balcony forcocktail hours.

Brian (00:59):
Oh, very cool.
Or whenever you like to drink,we don't judge it.
Very cool, very cool.
When we came here, you gave usa gift.
Can you tell our audience whatthis is?
It's very cool.

Charlotte (01:10):
Yes.
So in we my dad and I live inWaldo's original homestead, and
I found just a plethora of oldoriginal images from the 20s,
30s, 40s, 50s.

Shawna (01:22):
Wow.

Charlotte (01:22):
And I gave you an image of what the entrance to
the driftwood looked like whenthey very when it first was
built.

Brian (01:29):
Wow, that's incredible.

Charlotte (01:30):
Very plain, and it was probably just the family's
beach house still at that pointbefore it was a hotel.
But I get so excited becauseI'm like, everyone else needs
these photos too.
You can't get them anywhereelse.
Like these came out of Waldo'shouse.
This is original.

Brian (01:47):
That is cool too.
Like, and thank you so much.
This is really cool to see thispiece of history.

Charlotte (01:52):
It is.

Brian (01:53):
It's amazing.
Tell me, what do you love mostabout Vero Beach?

Charlotte (01:57):
I think the encouragement and support.
I mean, I could make one phonecall or Facebook post that I
just wanted a sandwich or I needhelp cleaning today, and people
would come out and genuinelyhelp.
I mean, we saw it with the lasthurricane, people cleaning each
other's yards.
It's truly what it's all about.

Brian (02:16):
Okay, so when you hear the word community, what comes
to your mind?

Charlotte (02:19):
Word love just came in.
And this one is extremelyspecial.
I mean, we don't have any crimebarely.
It's just everyone's justreally taken care of here.

Shawna (02:29):
Yeah, we're really seeing that.
The more people we're meetingand the more time that we spend
here and see how people treateach other, it is a special
place.

Charlotte (02:36):
Yeah, and it's just really important to keep it that
way.
And I think it is.
I think the people that we getmoving here are aware of that
and the same kind of people.

Brian (02:44):
Yeah, I agree.
Tell us about some of yourfavorite places that you love
here.

Charlotte (02:47):
Yeah, I'm trying to think.
She's working all the time, soshe doesn't get to be able to do
that.
I know anyways.
Yeah, exactly.
And then when I'm not doingthat, like I'm really into
dateline.
And I guess anywhere on thebeach, like I love going to
Tribe Coffee right now.
Oh, yeah, Tribe Coffee is so.
They're awesome.
It makes me feel like uh you'rein like a little city.

(03:08):
Anything that makes you feeljust like you're the morning's
gonna start off like a rom-com.
Go do it.
Head to Ocean Drive, go toTribe Coffee, go wherever.
But Riverside Park, MemorialIsland, press for this.
I don't really know what I dohere.
Okay, what would you do?
We'll just keep talking aboutme.

Brian (03:25):
When people aren't bringing you food, do you ever
go out to eat anywhere?

Charlotte (03:28):
Yes.
Ocean Grill.

Brian (03:30):
Ocean Grill, okay.

Charlotte (03:31):
The Savers place.
It's uh Venezuelan street food,really good.
It's on Oslo.
Love the Chinese place, PlumTree.
It's over on Oslo, also.
And I don't know, I'm reallydrawing a blank.
That's okay.
Oh no, that's good.
Yeah, I've really just beenworking here a ton and just
trying to think what I can.
I mean, even talking to youguys, I'm like, why gotta go to

(03:52):
Home Depot after that?
Oh yeah.

Brian (03:55):
You should send out a message that needs some things
from Home Depot.

Charlotte (03:58):
Oh god, that would be fine.

Brian (03:59):
People go pick it up and bring it to you.

Charlotte (04:00):
They'd probably fix it for me.
I love when people do stuff forme.

Brian (04:03):
That's cool.
That's cool.
Okay.
Some of the uh events that youdo here, do you have any like
local musicians or vendors thatyou collaborate with for some of
these events?

Charlotte (04:13):
Yeah, we have a ton of people, and I'm probably
gonna leave someone out.
Wildtime catering is alwayshere.
The barbecue joints, like 14bones.
I'm absolutely leaving outpeople, and I'm so sorry.
That's why I always say wesuggest people, but you can
bring anybody in that you wantto.
Everyone's food is so good,they're so respectful, they know
what they're doing.

(04:33):
I mean, Vera's got reallyprofessional, awesome people
too.

Brian (04:37):
Yeah, it the food in this in the community is amazing,
and the music is incredible.
Like there's so many greatmusicians, and you know, we did
kind of put you on the spot.
So anybody that you forgot,like just know, like we put her
on the spot.
She was not prepared to dothat.

Charlotte (04:50):
I uh yeah, and I don't we don't have that many
live bands, and I don't know alot of people's names because
I'm not the one booking them.

Brian (04:57):
So, Charlotte, your site mentions the charm of old
Florida.
Yes.
So, how important is it for youto preserve that old Florida
charm for future generations?

Charlotte (05:06):
It is extremely important, and while it's good
to make improvements and updatefunctional things, I just want
it to stay old and older, and Iwant to have corridors of rooms
where it's like a 50s room or an80s, just things to keep every
generation nostalgic.

Shawna (05:23):
Oh, I like that.

Charlotte (05:24):
You know, as you get older, it's true.
I just like I'm I wantbutterfly clips in my hair.
You know, you just you'reseeking those things that made
you happy when you were a kid.

Brian (05:32):
I love that.
That's what would you say isthe oldest piece here?

Charlotte (05:37):
You know, I don't know the oldest piece here, but
I know we have really amazingantiques, like to the point
where Southees could certainlycome in.

Brian (05:46):
There's so much beautiful character here.
I mean, again, I I don't knowwhat those doors go to.
What what those doors behind meover here by this little bar?

Charlotte (05:53):
Hide our sh stuff.
A fan, a fancy way to hide ourstuff.
It's so smart.

Brian (06:00):
The history is just incredible.
And I know there's so much morethat we could that we're not
covering.

Charlotte (06:06):
I'm totally left.
I'm like out of blank, but I'llI get it.
No, you've done awesome.

Brian (06:10):
And it just gets us excited to learn more about it.
Yeah.
How do you balance honoring thepast but also embracing new
ideas?

Charlotte (06:18):
I don't know, honestly.
I think I can keep those twotogether because structurally
everything can be repurposedhere and reused with a new idea.
Where the antique barn is rightnow, it was a mechanic shop,
was then a flower shop, and nowan antique barn.
But the bones are good.
So I can preserve those littlepieces of it while updating.

Brian (06:40):
That's cool.

Shawna (06:41):
And really, you're honoring the history here by
bringing new people all thetime.

Brian (06:45):
Well, that is a cool thing, is even with new things
that you're doing, you'reeducating people on the history.
Like they're walking away withmore than just an experience of
having this event or visitingthe antique barn.
Yeah, they're walking away witha piece of this history with
them for people that aren'tplanning a wedding.
Like, I don't have a wedding, Idon't have anybody getting
married.
Like, I nobody's inviting me toa wedding.

(07:07):
Maybe, maybe you're a weddingcrasher.
I don't know.
But maybe for those that don'thave, like, they're not looking
to come to a wedding, what aresome ways they can come and
experience this property?

Charlotte (07:14):
They can contact me, honestly, and I'll just give
them a tour.
But lately, the antiques havebeen a really good time.
Well, because the property'sopen once a month for usually
the first or second weekend fortwo days, 10 to 3, Saturday and
Sunday, and people can just comeand look nice and just browse
themselves.

Brian (07:32):
Okay, cool.
Awesome, awesome.
Yeah.

Charlotte (07:35):
And I'm hoping one day I was trying.
This is like another thing.
I've got all these ideas, butlike I would love to have people
come out and propagate plantsthat they want because we have
so many I'm covering Sarah'sears right now.
Huge into plants.
I'd love to help.
Like, that'd be so cool.
Because plants are expensive,and I've got a ton of them out
here.
Like a couple bucks, comepropagate.
It can be done.
I would love to help you withthat.
Just the idea before it.

(07:56):
Yeah.
Great idea.
Cool.
That's an excellent idea.

Brian (07:58):
Well, Charlotte, we've really enjoyed having you on the
podcast.

Charlotte (08:01):
Thank you guys so much.
It was wonderful to meet you.

Brian (08:03):
Definitely great meeting you too.
We're excited about getting thetool.
Oh, well, thank you.
So I'm gonna ask you one morequestion as we get ready to wrap
up.
What's your hope for the nextchapter of Waldo's Secret
Garden?

Charlotte (08:14):
I hope it is a self-sustaining property where
people just come and experiencereally nice moments.

Brian (08:23):
That's great.
I love that.

Charlotte (08:24):
And learn about history and learn about Waldo.
Just find things they like andgo home with a good feeling.

Brian (08:30):
I love it.
Well, thanks again, Charlotte,for joining us.
This has been awesome.

Charlotte (08:34):
Thank you.

Brian (08:34):
Yes, if you guys have enjoyed this podcast, make sure
you leave us a review.
And again, if you've been toWaldo Secret Garden and you have
not left them a positive reviewyet, go and leave them a review
on Google.
Only if it's good, people likewe don't need that.
Yeah, yeah, no, no, no, wedon't need that.

Charlotte (08:48):
Do it behind my back like a traditional person.

Brian (08:52):
With that, thank you guys for tuning in.

Shawna (08:54):
Thanks for listening, neighbor.