Vero Beach Magazine

In the nineteenth century, some well-known writers touted Florida’s qualities

The luxurious Royal Park Inn once stood on Ponce de Leon Circle

The discrepancy in where Juan Ponce de Leon landed is significant — about 150 miles. Of interest to Indian River County residents is that, instead of four counties away, 20th century historian and navigator Douglas Peck estimates that the historic landing took place in the southern stretch of neighboring Brevard County, just a few miles north of what is now the Sebastian Inlet.

Over the years, while Vero Beach has been become home to thousands of solid citizens, it appears that it was also home to a few bad apples of the gangster variety also walked our streets decades ago. “Entrepreneurs” John J. Williams and Harry Roberts leased what would later become the Ocean Grill, but they hailed from the Chicago nightclub scene and its organized crime-affiliated gambling establishments.

The National Register of Champion Trees, a program that began in 1940, recognizes extraordinary trees for what they are: champions. Four trees have been recognized locally, two at McKee Botanical Garden and two inside the city limits in Vero Beach, and Nanette Haynes, the city’s ground maintenance manager, wants you to look for more.

It's hard to imagine a time when the Sebastian Inlet didn't connect the Indian River Lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean. Today's peaceful waters belie the inlet's storied past.

The MacWilliam-Sexton union is one of those “happily ever after” tales that began a century ago when their great-grandfathers, Waldo Sexton and Alex MacWilliam Sr., put down roots in Indian River County.

Naval Air Station Vero Beach prepared pilots for the Pacific theater.

Melinda started Cooper & Co. 33 years ago, and Nancie bought Sigrid’s of Vero — without inventory — 27 years ago and made it her own.

At their peak, the Ais people fished and hunted, made pottery and tools, and even salvaged treasure — all in what is today the Vero Beach area.

“We realize this is where people live and work, and they want it to be part of their home. That’s what we want for this project.”