Fire, Fun and Folklore: Meet Annie, Merritt Island’s Legendary Dragon on the Indian River

Located on southern tip of Merritt Island, Dragon Point Mansion was built in 1961

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA — For generations of Space Coast residents, the sight of a massive green dragon rising from the mist at the southern tip of Merritt Island was more than a landmark—it was a symbol of whimsy, adventure, and local legend.

That dragon was Annie.

Built in 1971 by Florida artist Lewis VanDercar and property owner Aynn Christal, Annie was no small feat.

Twenty tons of concrete and steel were hauled to “Dragon Point” by wheelbarrow, the only access being a narrow wooden boardwalk.

The dragon’s design was inspired by an American Indian legend: seeing a dragon rising where the Banana and Indian Rivers meet was said to bring good fortune.

The 65-foot-long, 35-foot-high dragon was constructed with a steel skeleton and covered in concrete.

Its hollow belly served as a unique playhouse, complete with tables, chairs, electrical power, and hieroglyphics painted along the interior walls. Stairs spiraled up Annie’s neck, offering breathtaking views of the sunrise and sunset over the lagoon.

By 1974, Annie could breathe fire, with red lights in her eyes and a propane-based flamethrower in her mouth—much to the delight of children and adults at Fourth of July celebrations, charity events, and birthday parties.

Annie’s legacy grew in the 1980s under new property owner Warren McFadden.

The dragon expanded to include a tail, an extended neck, a caveman named Fred, a cavewoman named Wilma, and four hatchlings named Joy, Sunshine, Charity, and Freedom. Their adventures inspired the 2003 children’s book, River Dragon: A Real Florida Fairy Tale.

For nearly three decades, Annie and her hatchlings stood proudly between Melbourne and Indian Harbour Beach, near the Eau Gallie Causeway.

But storms and vandalism took their toll. In August 2002, a storm partially collapsed the dragon into the lagoon, and vandals wielding sledgehammers and spray paint further damaged the beloved structure. Multiple plans to rebuild Annie—including a luxury hotel proposal and county rehabilitation efforts—never came to fruition.

A grassroots effort to preserve Annie’s spirit emerged in 2012 with the founding of “Save Dragon Point,” later renamed the Annie and Kids Arts and Education Foundation.

Space Coast developer Don Facciobene purchased the property in 2015, announcing plans to create a new dragon named “Rojak,” said to be Annie’s fifth hidden hatchling. Demolition work began in 2017, clearing the way for a future riverfront mansion and Rojak’s arrival.

For those who grew up near the Indian River Lagoon, Annie was more than concrete and steel.

She was a childhood adventure, a Space Coast icon, and a spark of Florida folklore come to life. Though storms and time have claimed the original, the legend of Annie continues—flying, fire-breathing, and unforgettable—in the memories of all who encountered her at Dragon Point.

 

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