A coastal retreat that lies neither in the South Florida metropolitan mesh of cities, nor in the Greater Orlando vacation mecca, Indian River County maintains its own unique character. Beaches, luxury home communities, agriculture and small industry combine to create a friendly spot to either visit or settle down.
The major communities of Indian River County include Vero Beach, Indian River Shores, Sebastian, Fellsmere and Orchid. Vero Beach has many oceanfront condominiums as well as island homes. Indian River Shores contains the exclusive luxury community of John’s Island. Sebastian offers riverfront living with its long riverfront promenade along the Indian River and many riverfront homes also the Sebastian River. Fellsmere is a offers horse ranches as well as large estate parcels. The Town of Orchid’s key features are golf view homes and oceanfront condominiums.
Indian River is Florida Naturally
Quiet Atlantic Coastal Beaches
The miles of sandy beaches have a solitude you won’t find in many other areas. The long barrier island that separates the Indian River Lagoon from the Atlantic Coast is a ribbon of luxury communities and estate homes. The island here is known as Orchid Island and encompasses the towns of Vero Beach, Orchid and Indian River Shores. These communities offer many oceanfront and riverfront homes and condominiums.
The quiet of the beaches attracts many visitors, but with over 23 miles of uninterrupted sand, you will hardly know it. During the summer months the nesting sea turtles can outnumber the visitors on the beach in the evenings. Stretching from the Sebastian Inlet to Round Island Park, Indian River County’s many ocean access parks offer the perfect spot to get away from it all and reconnect with nature.
The Indian River Lagoon
The Indian River Lagoon is a defining feature of the county. Although it has long been referred to as a river, this ribbon of shallow aqua blue is actually a brackish water lagoon that does not flow towards the ocean, but daily exchanges ocean water to mix with the fresh inland water to create a nursery for marine life. On even a short visit along the Indian River Lagoon, you will almost surely see dolphins traveling in family pods to hunt or just to play in the wake of the pleasure craft trolling along the Intracoastal Waterway. The lagoon is home to the first wildlife sanctuary in the United States, the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1903 by President Teddy Roosevelt. Pelicans, several varieties of egrets, great herons, cormorants, kingfishers, bald eagles and ospreys abound along the quiet shallow waterway that provides bountiful fish.
A Fisherman’s Holiday Everyday
Anglers visit Indian River County and can’t wait to make it their home. Whether deep sea fishing for grouper and mahi along the coastal rock reefs, surf fishing from the beach for perch, catching snook or mackerel in the Indian River Lagoon, or angling for wide mouth bass in the inland Stick Marsh or Blue Cypress Lake, you won’t be disappointed or needing to talk about the one that got away.
Indian River Sits At the Commercial Crossroads for Florida
Indian River County as a Florida Distribution Hub
Sitting only 90 miles from Orlando, 70 miles from West Palm Beach and directly across the state from Tampa along State Road 60, Indian River County is the perfect location for distribution facilities. Large tracts have been set aside by the county government and by the cities of Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere to encourage the growth of these distribution facilities and other industries interested in quick access to Florida’s major markets. CVS pharmacy has set up a major distribution facility along Interstate 95.
Indian River Grapefruit is world renowned for its flavor and sweetness. The area is sited at the perfect conjunction of subtropical temperatures year round, and just far enough north to give sweeten the fruit as it ripens in the winter. The orange juice industry has found the area is perfect for growing the best juice.
The Indian River has also become home to a thriving aquaculture industry growing oysters, clams and scallops. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute researches new techniques to expand the local aquaculture industry.
Cattle and horses are what brought many of the earliest settlers to the central Florida coast. The Florida crackers earned their name from the crisp crack of the whip during a cattle drive. Today thousands of acres of cattle still roam the pastures of the western parts of Indian River County.
Airplanes, Jets and Flight Schools
Almost anyone in the aviation industry is well aware of Indian River County. Both the City of Vero Beach and the City of Sebastian have airports focused on recreational and regional transportation.
The Vero Beach Airport was initially built as a United States Naval Air Station training field during World War II. Since then it has become a magnet for the recreational aircraft industry and home to flight schools and a seasonal jet port for winter visitors.
Home to Piper Aircraft’s manufacturing plant, Vero Beach has long been known for its small aircraft industry. The New Piper is currently working on entering the private jet manufacturing industry.
Several flight schools bring students from around the world to train in Vero Beach. The largest of these flight schools, Flight Safety International, trains for over 60 airlines.
The city of Sebastian is home to a growing interest in ultralight aircraft. Two manufacturers, Velocity and Airframer, both have set up manufacturing facilities.
Indian River County can be your private get-away or your home for life.
Whether you are looking for somewhere to vacation or buy a second home, or you want to find the perfect place to buy real estate raise a family or retire, Indian River County offers you the small town you have always dreamed about. Whether the quaint, but cosmopolitan city of Vero Beach, the down to earth retreat of Sebastian, or the horse country of Fellsmere, if you are looking for the charms of a small community for your home or condominium you will find it in Indian River County.
Sebastian | Vero Beach | North Hutchison / St. Lucie | Melbourne
