History and Highlights of Indian Harbour Beach Florida

One of the youngest cities in Florida, Indian Harbor Beach was founded by W. Lansing Gleason. Gleason and others formed the community for Kennedy Space Center’s staff, but today it has become a residential community with a far larger presence.

The segment of the Indian River Lagoon that stretches from this site to Floridana Beach was once called Pentoaya Lagoon, an area once home to Ais Indian villagers. Pentoaya’s wintertime location resided near what is known as Gleason Park today - this was likely the Pentoaya’s primary location during most of the year. Artifacts dating from 2000BC to AD 1700, such as fiber-tempered and check-stamped pottery, have been found here.

Today, Indian Harbor Beach is a young city, born just over fifty years ago. It is a vibrant, beautiful, peaceful area developed to be a residential community supporting the growing space industry and nearby Kennedy Space Center activities.

It is fairly small as far as cities go, with only two square miles, but over 8,386 citizens call Indian Harbor Beach “home.” A melting pot of backgrounds and ages, the city’s residents enjoy a perfect location on the Eastern coast of central Florida, tucked cozily between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon.

Visitors have the options to picnic or relax at Indian Harbor Beach’s beachfront parks or take a leisurely stroll through the 27-acre Gleason Park - which surrounds a lake and has many exercising trails. Sounds of laughter and merriment may be heard coming from the year-round heated community pool, located beside the community center where an abundance of classes and activities are held. Locals may play tennis on the city courts or partake in soccer and basketball at Indian Harbor Beach’s million-dollar sports field complex.

Indian Harbor Beach is proud of its record as a secure, safe city harboring low taxes and high-quality roads as well as facilities with impeccable customer service.

Attractions

Gleason Park

The beautiful 27-acre Gleason Park has a Recreation Department that offers a wide variety of classes, services, and activities. There is something fun for anyone of any age. Also located in the park is the City’s heated competition-size swimming pool – which is open seven days a week year-round - and shuffleboard courts, two playgrounds, a walking/exercise trail, and picnic facilities.

Canova Beach Dog Park

This 9.1-acre community beach park includes a small pavilion, grill, picnic shelter, benches along a crossover, restrooms, drinking fountain and outside showers with a wheelchair accessible dune crossover. Canova Beach Park is home to Brevard County's only dog-friendly beach.