COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA

Cocoa Beach is on the Atlantic Ocean barrier island. Its closest mainland cousin is Cocoa, a separate town on the west side of Merritt Island across the Banana River and Indian River Lagoon. 

Cocoa Beach Mural

The 2020 population of the city was about 12,000. 

Cocoa Beach is located between Kennedy Space Center on the north and Patrick Space Force Base on the south.  Long time residents still remember it as Patrick Air Force Base.

The main route through the city is State Road A1A.  The highway connects Cocoa Beach to the City of Cape Canaveral and the shipping and cruise port of Port Canaveral immediately north.

This stretch along the Atlantic Ocean is known as Florida's Space Coast.

Native Americans lived in the area in the very early days. 

The first settlers after the Civil War were a family of freed slaves that formed a small community.

Some Cocoa businessmen bought all of what is now Cocoa Beach in 1888, but did nothing with it.

It remained undeveloped until 1923 when it was bought by a member of the original group, Gus Edwards.

Oldest House in Cocoa Beach

Edwards was City Attorney for the city of Cocoa on the mainland. 

He owned 600 acres and gave up his law practice to develop his property.  Gus Edwards was a talented promoter and the town began to grow.

The Town of Cocoa Beach was established in 1925. 

There is an old story that I can't vouch for, but will tell anyway. 

COCOA BEACH FLORIDA AND ARMADILLOS

Gus opened a roadside zoo as a tourist attraction to bring in tourists so he could sell them lots.

Among his zoo animals were a few armadillos, not native to Florida and a real curiosity  to visitors to Cocoa Beach. 

A storm came along and the armadillos escaped. Soon their descendants were showing up all over Florida.

And now you know the rest of the story.  True history?  I don't know, but I like the story.

Early Gus Edwards Cocoa Beach Ad Poster

In 1935 the State Department of Transportation built State Road A1A down to what is now known as the beach area near Eau Gallie Causeway.

Early Scene on State Road A1A, 1960s

The late Brevard County Commissioner, Joe Wickham, as a young man helped his father survey the route along the ocean through the rattlesnake infested palmettos.

World War Two hastened the growth of Cocoa Beach when the Naval Air Station Banana River was built south of town.  It generated a need for housing and support businesses.

After the war the Naval Air Station became Patrick Air Force Base.

The space program began to heat up in the 1950s with missile launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. 

Cocoa Beach Looking North 1963

President Kennedy pledged to put the United States on the moon before the end of the 1960s.

The population of Cocoa Beach and Brevard County began to grow faster than any other area in the United States.

NASA purchased thousands of acres on North Merritt Island and established John F. Kennedy Space Center.

Astronauts and Their Corvettes

The original Mercury astronauts became regular fixtures in Cocoa Beach, and drove Corvettes provided under very reasonable lease terms by Melbourne car dealer (and 1960 Indy 500 winner) Jim Rathmann.

Astronaut John Glenn Jogging on the Beach

Alan Shepard, Gordon Cooper, Buzz Aldrin and Gus Grissom were among the first to lease the Corvettes. 

Soon it become common to see astronauts driving their Corvettes around Cocoa Beach.

Glass Bank in its Prime

One of the symbols of Cocoa Beach's prominent position in the aerospace age was the futuristic looking Glass Bank on State Road A1A in south Cocoa Beach.

When it opened in 1962 it was a bank, an office building, and had a restaurant on the top floor.  It was one of the most unusual looking buildings in Florida and people liked to drive by and just look at it.

People either loved the looks of the Glass Bank or hated it.  Not many folks were neutral. 

It became obsolete and run down and was finally demolished in 2015.

Ron Jon Surf Shop

Ron Jon Surf Shop started on the New Jersey shore, and in 1963 opened a small shop near the Cocoa Beach pier. 

The shop grew into a major brand with a large retail store on State Road A1A.

It is now considered to be the world's largest surf shop.

Lee Caron's Carnival Club

In the 1960s everybody who wanted a job had one either working in the space program, or providing goods and services to those who did. 

Many worked very long hours and sometimes seven days a week.  The tremendous work load took its toll on family life. 

Cocoa Beach and Brevard County in the 1960s had a divorce rate of more than twice the national average.

Ramon's on the South Side of State Road 520

The town, especially along State Road A1A, was lined with bars, night clubs and restaurants where busy workers and astronauts could let off steam when not working. 

Beef n Reef Ad

Some of these places stayed open all night rather than closing at 1 or 2 AM like other places in Brevard County.

Ramon's Dining Room

Popular dining and drinking establishments included the Mouse Trap, Lee Caron's Carnival Club, Ramon's, Bernards Surf, Beef n Reef and many more. 

None of these once famous places have survived into today's world.

Parade Celebrating John Glenn in 1962

Parades down State Road A1A were common in those days with prominent politicians, astronauts, and television commentators like the space buff, Walter Cronkite, who covered many of the launches.

Cape Royal Office Building 1973

One of the first tall buildings in Cocoa Beach was the Cape Royal Office Building on State Road A1A. 

Like the Glass Bank, the building also had a restaurant on top with a spectacular view of the ocean and beach.

"I Dream of Jeannie" stars Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden

The 1960s also saw the start of a popular television series, "I Dream of Jeannie." 

The series was actually filmed in California but had a Cocoa Beach setting.

Larry Hagman played an astronaut and beautiful Barbara Eden played his obedient servant Jeannie.  Men everywhere wished they could be so lucky.

I Dream of Jeannie Lane in Cocoa Beach

What could be better?  Be an astronaut and have a girl like Jeannie.

Cocoa Beach named a street in her honor:  "I Dream of Jeannie Lane."

It is located near Lori Wilson Park, named after another woman who was prominent in local and state politics.

Vintage Postcard Cocoa Beach, Florida

After the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, the Apollo Program ended with Apollo 17 in 1972. 

Thousands of workers were laid off from NASA and related aerospace contractors.  The economy of Cocoa Beach and all of Brevard County went into a tailspin.

Many unemployed people simply left their homes and moved away.  The real estate market plummeted.  The unemployment rate soared.

Slowly but surely, Cocoa Beach rebounded and once again has a healthy economy.

Cocoa Beach is heavily tourism oriented, but still has many residents who work at Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base.

There are many motels and hotels on the ocean, and condominiums that are not as tall as in many Florida beach communities. 

The city passed a height restriction ordinance many years ago.

Rocket Launch From Kennedy Space Center

A popular pastime in Cocoa Beach is watching rocket launches from nearby Kennedy Space Center. 

Large parties gather on the beach to picnic and enjoy the spectacle.

Echostar XXIII Launch by SpaceX
Flickr/Michael Seeley

Launches at night are especially memorable.  The giant rockets light up the sky as if it were daytime and the rumble of their powerful engines vibrate the beach and everything nearby.

Bathers at Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach has also established a reputation as a great place for surfers and people who like to watch them. 

Some of the best surfing in Florida is here in Cocoa Beach.

A popular place for surfing is next to the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier.  The pier has one of the largest parking lots on the beach.

Cocoa Beach Pier

The pier has gift shops, restaurants and a very nice open tiki bar at its very end.  The pier is a center of beach activity including beach volleyball. 

Surfing at Cocoa Beach
Flickr/dconvertini

They even have a Surfing Santa celebration in December where hundreds of surfers dressed like Santa come riding in on the waves. The proceeds of the event go to charity.

Thousands of people come to the pier and the beach to watch the event, many of them also dressed like Santa.

A Surfing Santa on the Cocoa Beach Waves

Surfing was and is a way of life for many people in Cocoa Beach, young and not so young. 

Years ago I owned an engineering company in Brevard County and most of my staff were surfers.

Cocoa Beach was their mecca, even though there might have been better surfing waves at Sebastian Inlet. 

They loved Cocoa Beach because of its surfing related ambiance and camaraderie.

Champion Surfer Kelly Slater, Hurley Pro 2010 (Flickr/Rian Castllo)

Surfers everywhere know the name of Kelly Slater.

He began surfing when he was 5 years old and by the time he was 10 he was winning age-division surfing championships.

He turned professional in 1990 and by the time he was 20 became the youngest world surfing champion in history.  He has won a record 11 world surfing championships.

He has expanded his surfing popularity and talent into a second career as an actor, model, author and businessman. 

As an actor, he appeared in 27 episodes of the hit television series Baywatch.  He also made other appearances in dozens of films and television shows.

He is considered the greatest professional surfer of all time and is one of the most recognized surf legends in the world.

Cocoa Beach Mayor Bob Murkshe

You know you have a unique town when you not only produce a Kelly Slater, you even have a mayor who not only supports surfing, but gets out there and shows how it's done.

The late Robert J. Murkshe was mayor of Cocoa Beach during its most challenging and high growth years. 

He continued to lead the city through the economic hardships caused by the massive layoffs at the Cape when the moon landing had been completed.

He served as mayor from 1963-1972 while working full time on the space program.

PLACES TO VISIT IN THE COCOA BEACH AREA

Cocoa Beach is an ideal place to explore some of the many Space Coast area attractions.  It is a family-friendly destination as well as an authentic beach town.

Some of the best places to visit are very economical and a few are even free.

You are only a short distance away from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Canaveral National Seashore, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and Jetty Beach Park.

Vintage Postcard Cocoa Beach Boardwalk

THINGS TO DO IN COCOA BEACH FLORIDA

321 Kiteboarding and Watersports, 235 W Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 - Take your pick from leisurely or extreme adventures at this watersports center. They offer stand-up paddle board and kayak rentals as well as kitesurfing and surfing lessons. 

Lori Wilson Park, 1500 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 - A beautiful park located right on the beach with plenty of amenities such as showers, restrooms, and picnic tables. There are also designated areas for fishing and surfing.

Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 - This iconic pier offers shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Enjoy live music, watch surfers, or grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants.

Ron Jon Surf Shop, 4151 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 - This famous surf shop offers a wide selection of surf gear, clothing, and souvenirs. Take a picture in front of the giant surfboard and enjoy the beach vibe.

Exploration Tower, 670 Dave Nisbet Dr, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 - A unique architectural marvel offering breathtaking views of the Space Coast. This seven-story tower features exhibits, interactive displays, and an observation deck.

Jetty Park, 400 Jetty Park Rd, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 - A family-friendly park with a playground, picnic areas, and a fishing pier. This park is also a great spot for watching rocket launches from the nearby Kennedy Space Center.

Victory Casino Cruises, 180 Christopher Columbus Dr, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 - A Vegas-style casino on the water! This five-hour cruise offers a variety of gaming options, live entertainment, and dining.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953 - This iconic attraction offers a behind-the-scenes look at NASA's space program. Explore exhibits, view artifacts, and take a bus tour of the launch sites.

Canaveral National Seashore, 7611 S Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169 - A pristine stretch of beach and nature reserve offering miles of undeveloped coastline. Visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, hiking, and wildlife watching.

Florida Surf Museum, 4275 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 - This small museum showcases the history of surfing in Florida. Browse the exhibits and learn about the pioneers of the sport in the Sunshine State.

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