The Merritt Island Dragon or Merrit Island River Dragon was a dragon-shaped green concrete structure that stood at the southern tip of Merritt Island, Florida, known as Dragon Point, where the Indian River Lagoon splits to form the Banana River Lagoon. The dragon was built in 1971 by Florida artist Lewis VanDercar and property owner Aynn Christal.[1] In 1981, the statue was expanded for new property owner Warren McFadden, with the addition of a tail, an extended neck, two cavepeople a caveman named Fred and a cavewoman named Wilma[2] and four hatchling dragons named Joy, Sunshine, Charity, and Freedom.[3] The statues were located between the cities of Melbourne and Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, north of the Eau Gallie Causeway.
The dragon was created from 20 short tons (18 t) of concrete and steel, and stood 35 feet (11 m) high and 65 feet (20 m) long.[4] Known as "Annie", the dragon served as a landmark for both locals and boaters, and also as a playhouse for children.[5] On special occasions, the dragon would breathe fire. The idea for the sculpture was inspired by the American Indian legend which held that seeing a dragon rising from the mist where the Banana and Indian Rivers met was a sign of good fortune.[6]
In August 2002, the sculpture was badly damaged, and partially collapsed into the water during a storm; vandalism was blamed for contributing to the statue's destruction.[1]
^ ab"Annie crumbles: Vandals, erosion claim landmark Merritt Island dragon". Star-Banner. Ocala, FL. August 7, 2002. p. 6B. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
^Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: HISTORY OF THE RIVER DRAGON - Dragon Point Merritt Island, FL. YouTube.
^Frawley, Loretta W. (November 26, 1991). "Dragon finds role as fund-raiser". Orlando Sentinel. Ocala, FL. p. F1. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
^"River Dragon History". DragonBook.com. 2009-05-27. Archived from the original on 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
^"Lagoon landmark met tragic end". Florida Today. Melbourne, FL. March 31, 2008. p. A5. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
^"Merritt Island Dragon 'Annie' Served as Lagoon Landmark for Both Locals and Boaters - Space Coast Daily". spacecoastdaily.com. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
and 22 Related for: Merritt Island Dragon information
The MerrittIslandDragon or Merrit Island River Dragon was a dragon-shaped green concrete structure that stood at the southern tip of MerrittIsland, Florida...
MerrittIsland High School is a public high school located in MerrittIsland, Florida. It was built in 1965. Robert Bruton: 1965 - 1983 Hank Smith: 1983...
Island"), Magic Tree House ("Red DragonIsland"), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Island"). These islands are...
the southern tip of MerrittIsland, Florida. Its southern tip has been known locally as Dragon's Point since 1971 when a green dragon was built there. However...
include Port St. John, Titusville, Cocoa, Rockledge, Cape Canaveral, MerrittIsland (unincorporated), Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour...
Complex 39's three launch pads, located at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in MerrittIsland, Florida. The pad, along with Launch Complex 39B, was first constructed...
off Temwen Island, where they performed their rituals. In legend, these brothers levitated the huge stones with the aid of a flying dragon. When Olisihpa...
play at MCU Park just off the Coney Island Boardwalk in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The New York Dragons of the Arena Football League played...
Alexander Skarsgård Big Little Lies — Jeff Daniels Godless Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series Laura Dern Big Little Lies — Merritt Wever Godless...
yields "simultaneous pictures of an octopus, a dragon, and a human caricature." The sculptor, a Rhode Island art student named Henry Anthony Wilcox, based...
or LCC) is a four-story building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on MerrittIsland, Florida, used to manage launches of launch vehicles from Kennedy Space...
Siceloff, Steven (24 April 2012). "Dragon Expected to Set Historic Course". John F. Kennedy Space Center. MerrittIsland, Florida: NASA. Archived from the...
pilot's jacket worn as part of The Hump route; a restored 1940s O'Keefe & Merritt gas stove with chrome finishes that are styled to look like a classic car;...
Grandin HBO Films Mick Jackson (director); Christopher Monger, William Merritt Johnson (screenplay); Claire Danes, Catherine O'Hara, Julia Ormond, David...
as Denise (Hulu) Camila Morrone – Daisy Jones & the Six as Camila Alvarez (Prime Video) Merritt Wever – Tiny Beautiful Things as Frankie Pierce (Hulu)...
Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles ~Animal Adventure~ (Sharman) Stitch and the Planet of Sand (Stitch) 2013 Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (Beerus)...
Gregorio del Pilar Paulo Avelino White Boy Rick Richard Wershe Jr. Richie Merritt BlacKkKlansman Ron Stallworth John David Washington Colette Colette Keira...
facility is south-southeast of NASA's Kennedy Space Center on adjacent MerrittIsland, with the two linked by bridges and causeways. The Cape Canaveral Space...
biographical crime drama film based on a true story, the film stars Richie Merritt as Richard Wershe Jr., who in the 1980s became the youngest FBI informant...
1967 Animal Babies Grow Up (Centron Corporation); advisers: Dennis A, Merritt & Sheryle M. Roche) c-10m 1983 Video Animal Behavior: Babies and Their...
Visitor Complex is the visitor center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on MerrittIsland, Florida. It features exhibits and displays, historic spacecraft and...
Global Information
