FUN FACTS

1Pelican Island National Wildlife

Refuge was established in 1903, as the nation’s first national wildlife refuge by none other than Theodore Roosevelt. The objective was to save one of the last brown pelican rookeries on the east coast.

2Indian River

County is home to more than 100,000 acres of protected ecofriendly and significant green spaces.

3Indian River County is home to 12 noteworthy birding areas, with many of these winged creatures on the endangered species list. The following five locations are part of the

Audubon of Florida

program: Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, Blue Cypress Lake, Sebastian Inlet State Park, and West Regional Wastewater Treatment.

4Fellsmere Frog

Leg Festival is a two-time Guinness Book Record holder for the most frog legs ever served.

5Indian River County is known as the

Citrus Capital of the World.

6June 19, 1915 - the first ballot ever cast by a woman in the state of Florida and south of the MasonDixon Line occurred on this historic day. The ballot was cast by Mrs. Zena M. Dreier in the little town of Fellsmere, with a huge impact!

7McKee Botanical

Gardens is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been recognized by the Garden Conservancy as a preservation project of national significance.

8Old Vero Man

Site started after a set of fossilized human bones were found in Vero Beach. Studies show these human bones are from the Pleistocene era and are the largest collection of human remains from the Pleistocene era found in North America. In 2014, excavation began in partnership with Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute. Onsite tours are available.

9Indian River

Lagoon is one of the most biodiverse lagoons in all of North America.

10Blue Cypress Lake is one of the largest osprey nesting sites in the state. 11located on Orchid Island in Vero Beach, Captain

Forster Hammock

Preserve is one of the largest remaining maritime hammocks.

12Stick Marsh/ Farm 13 Reservoir has a devoted following of bass fishermen and a reputation as one of the most notable bass lakes in the county.

13With a 5-star rating on TripAdvisor, Tracking Station Beach is one of the most photographed beaches in Vero Beach.

14Archie Carr National Wildlife

Refuge, located in the northern part of Indian River County, sees 15,000 to 20,000 sea turtles that nest here annually. The area is home to 25-35 percent of all loggerhead and green sea turtle nests in the United States.

15McKee Botanical Gardens

has one of the largest waterlily collections in the United States.

16An ever- changing landscape of colorful corals for snorkeling enthusiasts to explore, the SS Breconshire is located off the coast of Vero Beach in shallow waters, directly in front of Ocean Grill.

17Walking Tree Brewery is the area’s first craft brewhouse, opened in 2016. Its ethos is to stay rooted in practice, promise, and people.

18County music superstar Jake Owen calls Vero Beach home and can sometimes be spotted hanging out in a local pub or performing at his annual fundraising concert in Dodgertown. (Now known as Jackie Robinson Sports Training Complex) He frequently teams up on charitable endeavors with tennis superstar Mardy Fish, who is also one of Vero’s famous sons.

19Country celebrities who’ve been seen out and about include Chris Young, Eric Paslay, and members of Lady A, Florida-Georgia Line, and Little Big Town.

20Legendary surfer Kelly Slater got his start in Vero Beach. 21The cast and crew of E! Network’s “Total Divas” reality TV show spent a few days filming in Vero Beach. Also, WWE women’s wrestling stars filmed a “Family Vacation” episode in Vero Beach.

22A few megawatt stars who have been spotted in the area include the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, Jay Leno, Jennifer Lopez, and Taylor Swift.

23Scott Varricchio, co-owner of the oceanfront restaurant Citrus Grillhouse, has cooked for George H. W. Bush, the Clintons, and the Gores.

24Former top 10 tennis player Mardy Fish has put on local exhibitions featuring Grand Slam champions like Andy Roddick, Serena Williams, Andy Murray, and the Bryan brothers.

25Through the years, Vero has been home to a diverse group of television, Broadway, and music stars including John Walsh, Gloria Estefan, Bernadette Peters, and Grammy award winning gospel singer Wintley Phipps.