, ▁the ▁C oco an ut ▁Gro ve ▁House ▁was ▁the ▁only ▁hotel ▁along ▁Florida ' s ▁east ▁coast ▁between ▁Tit us ville ▁and ▁Key ▁West . ▁The ▁hotel ▁would ▁be ▁destroyed ▁by ▁a ▁fire ▁in ▁October   1 8 9 3 . ▁The ▁Star ▁Route , ▁also ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁B are foot ▁mail man ▁route , ▁began ▁serving ▁the ▁area ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 5 . ▁Car riers ▁would ▁deliver ▁mail ▁by ▁foot ▁or ▁boat ▁from ▁Pal m ▁Beach ▁and ▁other ▁nearby ▁communities ▁to ▁as ▁far ▁south ▁as ▁Miami , ▁a ▁round ▁trip ▁distance ▁of ▁. ▁The ▁first ▁school house ▁in ▁sout heast ▁Florida ▁( also ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁Little ▁Red ▁School house ) ▁opened ▁in ▁Pal m ▁Beach ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 6 . ▁ ▁Henry ▁Flag ler , ▁a ▁Standard ▁O il ▁ty co on , ▁made ▁his ▁first ▁visit ▁to ▁the ▁Pal m ▁Beach ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 3 ▁and ▁described ▁the ▁area ▁as ▁a ▁" ver itable ▁parad ise ." ▁That ▁same ▁year , ▁construction ▁began ▁on ▁the ▁Royal ▁Po inci ana ▁Hotel ▁and ▁Flag ler ▁h ired ▁George ▁W . ▁Pot ter ▁to ▁plot ▁ 4 8 - block s ▁for ▁West ▁Pal m ▁Beach , ▁a ▁city ▁to ▁house ▁workers ▁at ▁his ▁hot els . ▁The ▁Royal ▁Po inci ana ▁Hotel ▁opened ▁for ▁business ▁on ▁February   1 1 , ▁ 1 8 9 4 . ▁Flag ler , ▁also ▁owner ▁of ▁the ▁Florida ▁East ▁Coast ▁Railway , ▁extended ▁the ▁rail road