Merritt Island Dragon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Merritt Island Dragon |
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| Artist | Lewis VanDercar |
| Year | 1971 |
| Type | Concrete sculpture |
| Location | Merritt Island, Florida |
The Merritt Island Dragon was a famous green concrete dragon statue. It stood proudly at the southern tip of Merritt Island, Florida. This special spot is known as Dragon Point. It's where the Indian River Lagoon meets the Banana River Lagoon.
This amazing dragon was built in 1971. Florida artist Lewis VanDercar and property owner Aynn Christal created it. In 1981, the dragon grew even bigger! A new owner, Warren McFadden, added a long tail and an extended neck. He also added two cavepeople, Fred and Wilma, and four baby dragons. Their names were Joy, Sunshine, Charity, and Freedom. The statues were located between the cities of Melbourne and Indian Harbour Beach, Florida.
The dragon was made from 20 short tons (about 18,000 kg) of concrete and steel. It stood 35 feet (11 meters) tall and was 65 feet (20 meters) long. Locals called the main dragon "Annie." It was a well-known landmark for people on land and boats. Kids loved playing inside it. Sometimes, Annie even breathed fire! The idea for the dragon came from an old American Indian legend. It said that seeing a dragon rise from the mist where the rivers met brought good luck.
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What Happened to the Dragon?
In August 2002, a big storm badly damaged the dragon statue. Parts of it fell into the water. Sadly, people also blamed vandalism for helping destroy the statue.
Plans to Rebuild the Dragon
After the damage, many people wanted to bring the dragon back. The owner and local officials could not agree on how to fix it. In 2004, there was a plan to rebuild the sculpture. Later, in 2008, a developer wanted to build a fancy hotel at Dragon Point. This plan included a new dragon statue as its main feature. However, both of these plans did not happen.
Save Dragon Point Foundation
In May 2012, a group called Save Dragon Point started. They wanted to rebuild the dragon statue. In August of that year, the house on the property was set to be torn down. The land was going to be sold. The Save Dragon Point group later changed its name. It became the Annie and Kids Arts and Education Foundation.
A New Dragon Named Rojak
In January 2015, a local builder named Don Facciobene bought the property. He announced exciting news: a new dragon named "Rojak" would be built! According to the Dragon Point story, Rojak was Annie's fifth baby dragon, kept hidden. A special Dragon Boat Festival was planned for June 13, 2015. Money raised from this event would help the Save Dragon Point group.
In April 2015, a plan was shared to build Rojak by 2017. Demolition work began at Dragon Point in March 2017. This cleared the way for a future large riverfront house and the new Rojak dragon. As of August 2025, the community still hopes to see Rojak rise again at Dragon Point.
