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Rockledge Area Guide
Major waterways in Brevard include the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the St. Johns, Banana and Indian Rivers, as well as Lakes Washington, Poinsett and Winder. Brevard’s mild weather, affordable cost of living, low crime rates, city amenities and numerous recreational opportunities were factors contributing to its 2010 top five ranking for “best places to retire in America” by Kiplinger.com. Rockledge, Brevard County’s oldest city, is characterized by the historic buildings, ancient trees draped in Spanish moss and riverfront homes that make up its landscape. Three National Register Districts are evocative of times past, capturing Rockledge’s historic significance. The Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan area does not have a major urban center but has unofficial north, central and south “sections”. Rockledge, located centrally, is close to everything in Brevard County and on the Space Coast. In Rockledge, you are never far from the beach—Cocoa Beach and Melbourne Beach are less than a half hour away; Daytona Beach is less than an hour’s drive, perfect for a weekend “stay-cation”. Major urban centers of Kissimme/St.Cloud and Orlando, full of entertainment, dining and theme parks to choose from, are also located convenient to Rockledge at a distance of 40 miles. Nature and excitement, science and history, the beaches or the theme parks—whatever your destination, Rockledge is close by, waiting to be explored and enjoyed at your leisure. History In pre-Columbian Florida, Brevard was only sporadically populated; early area settlements usually proved impermanent due to 18th century Florida’s “inhospitable” climate. “Mosquito County” held the threats of Native American attacks, mosquito-borne malaria, panthers, alligators and poisonous snakes. Rockledge was founded in1887, making it the oldest incorporated municipality in Brevard. Briefly named Peru after the Peruvian Mining Company who housed its workers in the area, a new name, Rockledge, was adopted, naming the area after one of its geographic features: ledges of coquina rock, lining the Indian River. The early economy of Rockledge and Brevard County centered on the citrus trade and commercial fishing, industries which remain strong today. The completion of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad, reaching Titusville in 1886 and then Melbourne in 1894 brought Brevard its third major industry: tourism. The railroad brought Brevard its first real land boom. During the era of Prohibition, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and Merritt Island’s Mosquito Lagoon became popular channels for bootleggers attempting to evade the law. A new era of development began for Brevard in 1940, with the opening of the Naval Air Station Banana River, what is now the site of Patrick Air Force Base. The following decade saw the unveiling of the Long Range Proving Ground, what would eventually become Kennedy Space Center. This caused a paradigm shift for Brevard. Once a “backwoods” area of Florida, Brevard suddenly found itself, quite literally, the launch pad into uncharted worlds. A community of farmers and fishermen transformed into one of technical engineers and computer specialists. To learn more about Brevard County or Rockledge’s history, or to access a guide to sites of historic interest in the area, please visit: Brevard County Historical Commission Brevard County Historical Commission Guide to Historic Landmarks Florida History Internet Center Florida Historical Society Florida Department of State Division of Library and Information Services St. Augustine Times, Mosquito Lagoon Parks and Recreation Brevard County is home to more than 200 parks, 6 public golf courses and three campgrounds, as well as numerous historical sites, 2 national wildlife preserves and natural bodies of water ranging from lake to river to ocean. Its mid-state coastal location provides a unique Floridian experience: here, the north Floridian Spanish moss and rugged swamps meet the sunny beaches and sand of south Florida, making the Space Coast the ideal destination for those who want to experience the diversity of all of Florida’s natural beauty. Brevard’s natural ecosystems are protected through the county Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program in 11 designated sanctuaries that offer visitors recreational and educational prospects to choose from. The city of Rockledge has activities such as golfing, fresh and saltwater fishing, boating and sailing available within city limits. Outside of Rockledge, the choices only become more diverse—Rockledge’s central location is ideal for any destination on the Space Coast. The foliage in Brevard is varied and lush—parks and preserves burst with fringetrees, the explosive purple of Beautyberry Coral honeysuckle, firebush, sea grapes and cabbage palms. Our Live Oaks have stood for generations. Dogwoods and dandelions add to the beauty of our parks and undeveloped areas, drawing over 45 species of butterflies to our area land. Pristine refuges create the natural habitats for wildlife; marsh rabbits, bobcats and whitetail deer are some of Brevard’s furrier residents. In our waterways, manatees and North American river otters are not uncommon. 163 species of birds fly the skies in Brevard, including the common scaup diving duck and the federally protected migrating turkey vulture. Natural geography is diverse and unique: wildlife preserve areas can be made up of coastal dunes and scrub, saltwater estuaries and marshes or pine flatwoods, and hardwood hammocks, each with its own flora, wildlife and allure. So whether biking, sunbathing, sporting, observing nature, exploring the mounds and middens of the Indian sites or sightfishing redfish in the shallow waters of Mosquito Lagoon, there are untouched world of Florida waiting for you in Brevard. To learn more about Brevard’s parks, recreation or wildlife, please visit: General Information Titusville Area Visitors Council Brevard County Parks and Recreation Camping Reservations Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Guide The Florida Butterfly Monitoring Network Historic Parks & Museums Windover Archaeological Site Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science http://www.nbbd.com/godo/BrevardMuseum/index.html Trail of Florida's Indian Heritage Wildlife St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Merritt Island Beaches and Parks Space Coast Beaches Guide Canaveral National Seashore Historic Melbourne Beach Pier at Ryckman Park Saint Sebastian River Preserve State Park Sebastian Inlet State Park/ Indian River Lagoon Preserve http://floridastateparks.org/sebastianinlet/default.cfm Attractions and Activities The completion of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad brought tourism to Brevard County, and with tourists came culture, the arts and entertainment. The array of choice available to nature-lovers and excitement seekers alike is overwhelming in Brevard. The most definitive destination of the area is without a doubt NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which features rocket exhibitions and tours of the Vehicle Assembly Building and crawlerway over which rockets are taken to the pad. Launch Complex 39, near the Observation Gantry, overlooks the Space Shuttle launch pads first built for the Apollo missions. The largest rocket ever launched is displayed at the Center. Not only catering to the scientific and explorative mind, the 140,000 acres of preserved lands in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge are associated with the complex. The Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science offers a glimpse into the lives of the Native Americans and Florida pioneers of Brevard’s past. This museum exhibits the excavated remains of the "Windover Man", the oldest human remains found on the North American continent. Main Street Programs have restored historic sites and business throughout Brevard, each of these districts offer unique experiences for shopping, dining and historical appreciation. Animal lovers need not content themselves with native bobcats and marsh rabbits alone, the Brevard Zoo’s 56-acre facility houses 51 tigers, cougars, lions and leopards on its reserve in Canaveral Groves. Area sports include both major and minor league baseball teams, professional basketball, a minor league football team and a variety of figure skating events and community ice activities at Rockledge’s Spacecoast Ice Plex. Space Coast symphonic and orchestral recitals are scheduled year-round, and galleries, museums and cultural events pack Brevard’s events calendars. Ghost-hunters, too, are drawn to the area—Rockledge landmark Ashley's Restaurant is reportedly one of Florida’s haunted destinations. Nearby Kissimmee also offers ghost tours for the spookier set. Whether golfing or ghost-hunting, blasting off into space, or touring the historic streets, Rockledge and Brevard have an attraction to meet every taste. With major urban hub Orlando under an hour away, there’s no reason to ever run out of things to do while visiting or living in Rockledge. To learn more about attractions and activities in Rockledge, Brevard County and their neighboring regions, please visit: Space Coast Attractions NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center Apollo/Saturn V Center US Astronaut Hall of Fame US Space Walk of Fame Air Force Space & Missile Museum North Brevard Historical Museum Liberty Bell Memorial Museum American Police Hall of Fame & Museum The Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park and Cultural Center National Register of Historic Places listings in Brevard County, Florida. East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame Museum The Brevard Zoo Spacecoast Ice Plex Space Coast Symphony Orchestra The Brevard Symphony Orchestra City of Melbourne Pipes and Drums Brevard Cultural Alliance Brevard Art Museum Viera East Golf Club Turtle Creek Golf Club Ashley's of Rockledge Haunted Kissimmee Tours Events Brevard has such a broad range of activities, parks, events and attractions, the calendars are always scheduled to the brim. Brevard is the annual host to five judged art festivals a Greek Festival, Grant Seafood Festival, The Globe Sebastian Inlet Pro surfing contest and many others, held in parks and public sites throughout the year. To find out what sporting, historic, cultural or ecological events are happening during your stay, please visit these sites: City of Rockledge Events Schedule Brevard County Calendar of Events The Brevard Cultural Alliance Events Calendar Florida Festivals and Events Space Coast Calendar Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts Space Coast Stadium Cocoa Expo Stadium Clemente Center at Florida Tech Florida Football Alliance Space Coast Predators Florida Winter Baseball League Brevard Blue Ducks Brevard Warriors |
Jim Bagwell
Phone (321) 213-0615 Fax (321) 868-3525 Walker Bagwell Properties Ltd 125 N Brevard Ave Suite A Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 |
