In 1954 the Collier Company started to develop the Pine Ridge Subdivision north of the city of Naples with the last phase being undertaken in 1971.
In 1972 the collier Corporation and Coral Ridge Properties entered a joint venture to develop 2,100 acres between Seagate and Vanderbilt Beach. Considered one of the last prime golf fron properties in South Florida, this tract was earmarked for a 40-year housing development. The Colliers retained 20% interest in the project, known as Pelican Bay. The 40-year plan for Pelican Bay encompassed the development of housing for approximately 20,000 people by 2000.
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COLLIER'S RESERVE COUNTRY CLUB
Over the years, Collier Corporation gave 32,000 acres of the Ten Thousand Islands to Everglades National Park, another 6,000 acres for the Collier- Seminole State Park, 2,500 acres to the National Audubon Society for the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary as well as helping to create the Big Cypress National Preserve for the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.
In 1960, Hurricane Donna passed directly over Naples. The storm killed 50 people, brought more than a
billion dollars in property damages but not a single life was lost in Collier County. Everglades City, then the seat of the county, was badly destroyed and never fully recovered.
The damage from Hurricane Donna resulted in the influx of money from insurance claims and loans and stimulated new development in the area.
The Collier Corporation relocated from Everglades City to Naples November 1st, 1960 and the Collier County government offices also began the relocation to Naples.
The Collier Corporation influenced the direction of the county through generous contributions of land for preservation, sale of land for real estate development and their
own real estate developments through their own holdings.
After Barron Collier Jr.'s death in 1976, the familyt's assets were split between the heirs of Barron Jr. (who together with a fourth generation now comprise the Barron Collier Companies) and those of his late brother Miles (whose son founded Collier Enterprises).