Melbourne Beach, Florida: The Sunshine State's Best Kept Secret

History and Highlights of Melbourne Beach

Melbourne Beach was found by a Spanish adventurer, named Juan Ponce De Leon, who thought he had docked close St. Augustine in his pursuit of gold. Rather, he wound up here on April 2, 1513. The voyage he rode on was a month-long as he went through the Bahamas from Puerto Rico. As legislative head of Puerto Rico, Juan Ponce De Leon was given the errand of finding the legendary "Island of Beniny", professedly containing a wealth of gold and silver, by the Spanish government. Rather, he wound up in the North American mainland where there were just palmetto, warmth, and sandflies. In 1992, antiquarian/Navigator Douglas T. Peck revealed the true landing place in the wake of concentrate nautical graphs, wind headings and speed, and streams curious to the voyage. Under practically indistinguishable conditions, Peck copied Ponce de Leon's voyage, arriving in present-day's Melbourne Beach and not a long way from the recreation center named in his respect.

Up until today, the founding of Melbourne Beach was celebrated by the coming to our shore on the Indian River in 1883, despite it being a far later event. The present-day Melbourne Beach happened as a commercial venture in the grand tradition of settling on virgin lands, planting crops, and fending off enemies. People since invested and came to the town for a chance at a new life, but few found their El Dorado during the early years.

A Yankee veteran by the name of Major Cyrus Graves began buying government land in 1883, compromising the present-day Melbourne Beach for the sum of $1.25 an acre. He, alongside others who formed a stock company, planned for a resort fully equaling or surpassing Palm Beach and Daytona Beach - at that time, also in their planning stages. During planning, Major Cyrus Graves and the investors went into a successful business of growing pineapples on their beach property.

During the winter between 1888 and 1889, the present-day Ocean Avenue was cleared and a pier, identical to today’s, was constructed. Soon after a railroad ran its length and out onto the pier itself.  Today’s 12-inch well was drilled at the river at the same time a bathhouse was built on the ocean where the Sands Restaurant now resides. Pointing East and West up Ocean Avenue, the Melbourne and Atlantic railroad ran one push car but in 1909 the Melbourne Beach Improvement Company added an eight-passenger gas-powered Buda motor tram. It came equipped with a trailer and brought about the structure that later became Melbourne Beach’s Town Hall and Post Office. Today, it proudly serves as the Town History Center.

Despite the successive bits of activity, such as in 1912 when the Villa Marine was built, life in Melbourne Beach remained relatively quiet and primitive. A handful of winter visitors may have traveled over via the ferry on occasion, but most of them rode back and forth from river to ocean on the tram. After World War 1, when the toll bridge between Melbourne and Indialantic was constructed, a boom occurred. It did not last long. The boom busted and investors found themselves ruined, with the town’s government coming very close to the same demise. Only $609 was collected in taxes in the year of 1933 and it was said that during those days of the Depression a dog could lie in the midst of Ocean Avenue all day with not a soul passing by to bother him. The little town slept for 20 years.

Melbourne Beach awoke to the sounds of sinkings of trader boats, amid World War II, by German U-Boats in 1942. Consuming vessels lit the Eastern night sky and the town's less than 100 inhabitants received help from the War Department's development of the Banana River Naval Air Station and the Melbourne Naval Air Station. Alongside that, the advancement of the country's Rocket Program at Cape Canaveral exhibited a monstrous change to its encompassing ranges; the town's deliberate reaction is credited to the social benefits of approaching inhabitants in the course of recent years. Despite the growth accumulated over the years, everything one would need is within walking distance and bicycles can be found cruising along everywhere. There are 3,312 people currently residing in Melbourne Beach and the first European to travel to American soil, Juan Ponce de Leon, would be floored by what his discovery turned into.

Melbourne Beach Attractions

         Located on an island amidst the Indian River Lagoon, closely situated to Sebastian Inlet’s marine ecosystems and the nearby Atlantic Ocean, is the 84.5 acre Long Point Park & Campground. The conservation is a prime place for fishermen to spend their time, for campsites can be found positioned near small fishing docks and along the lagoon’s shoreline. There is also a lane boat ramp for those interested. In addition, the area is known for protecting wildlife such as manatees, birds, bobcats, and otters; Long Point Park & Campground even has a roosting site for wood storks.

Find Long Point Park & Campground off A1A, 20 miles south of Melbourne and 1.5 miles north of the Sebastian Inlet.