Annie The River Dragon

For as long as I could remember, I have always loved dragons. I wished they were more than just a fantasy. To fly on their wings and have a different feel of what "freedom" was. But unfortunately, that couldn't be a reality.

When I was young, I was introduced to a story about the beloved river dragon at the southern tip of Merritt Island at Dragon Point. Her name was Annie. Her story was almost completely lost. The ruins of her structure were completely destroyed due to vandalism and weather.

We had an author named Diane Carr attend our elementary school with her children's book called River Dragon: A Real Florida Fairy Tale. This is how I discovered Annie. She came and read the book to us. I was fascinated. It completely reeled me in.

Annie was a large dragon on Merritt Island. By day, she was statue made of stone. Where people could come and visit her. They were able to see out onto the water from her point of view. She knew they were there but couldn't interact with them. She loved the attention from locals, but had a distaste for those who came with ill intentions. People were her only company. Otherwise, she sat there alone.

By night, she came to life. She was a beautiful purple dragon over 100 feet long. She used the moonlight as her guide while roaming the waters of the Indian River. She would explore some of the deepest and darkest places in hopes of being reunited with her family.

For 31 years, she would search the waters at night for a special cave covered in barnacles. That cave held the passage to her family and eternal life. She eventually gains an unlikely friend that guides her to the cave to be reunited with her four hatch-lings, leaving Dragon Point behind.

Annie was based off the river dragon at Dragon Point. Annie was a concrete dragon built by a local 'warlock' named Lewis VanDercar, who eventually moved out of state and the dragon fell under new ownership. Everyone loved the dragon until she eventually succumbed to natural forces and vandalism in August of 2002. She was a landmark for locals and boaters, a playhouse for children, and on special occasions would breathe fire.

There are plans to build a new dragon on Dragon Point. But not much has been said about it. Maybe one day there will be a new dragon to fill the hearts of children at Dragon Point, and let Annie's legacy live on.

Dragons will always have a special place in my heart. They can represent so many different things throughout different cultures. They are something that so many people know and love. In this instance, dragons can teach children to not give up, have courage, and eventually you will finally seek what you are looking for. And to never be afraid to make friends along the way to give you a hand.

I wish I could have seen Annie in person, unfortunately by the time I discovered her she was already gone. But I'm happy enough to know that there was once such a beautiful dragon that would stand guard over the Indian River. Maybe one day when this new dragon is built, there will be another story to tell in honor of it and Annie. And maybe this time I’ll have the chance to go and visit such an important part of Merritt Island’s history and be able to share my experience to future generations. The history of this dragon will always be here in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.