MKTG 94316

Cocoa Beach Throughout The Years

Known for it s white, sandy b eaches, rolling waves and as the home of the American space program, Co coa Beach is the world’s most famous small town. While to day just 12,800 people call this quaint town home, this historic community is one of the most sought after destinations

on the East Coast. To the lo cals, the b eloved town is paradise in their own backyard;to the 2.5 million visitors that t ravel to Co coa Beach each year, this town is a piece of American history. The city of Co coa Beach tells a story of overcoming economic st ruggles, perseverance during hardships and the charming life of a clo se-knit community. Famous for it s prominent landmarks and pristine b eaches, Co coa Beach is not just a b eautiful b each town – it’s one of the most famous vacation spots in America.

The first settlers in the area were a family of freed slaves after the American Civil War in 1888; however, the land was largely undeveloped until Gus Edwards purchased 600 acres of land in 1925. Edwards was an attorney with hopes that the area had great potential and would

soon b ecome a thriving town. He b egan development in the area immediately and by 1939, the town had a hotel, a gas station and a post office. One of the fi rst residents of Co coa Beach was Paul Go dke and his family; the family still resides in Co coa Beach to day. Paul and his two sons worked at the Ocean Lo dge, the only hotel in town with just 20 rooms. To day Co conuts on the Beach, a popular restaurant and bar, sit s where the old hotel once was. It wasn’t until the town got a church that it really started to grow. In 1940 the Co coa Beach Community Church was built and it still stands to day on South Orlando Avenue. As the small community grew, a single police officer was employed for just one dollar per hour in 1947. Co coa Beach has humble b eginnings. Report s indicate that in the 1940s the population was just 49 people. However, that would soon change as the race to space b egan in the 1960s. The entire world would soon hear of Co coa Beach.

Remnants of the city’s exciting history can b e found all over Co coa Beach. The First Federal Savings and Loan building, now known as the “Glass Bank”, still stands to day and is considered a landmark. Inside the Co coa Beach Country Club, a large sign hangs that once hung in

Ramon’s restaurant in the 60s. The sign commemorates the original seven NASA ast ronauts. The fi rst Ron Jon’s Surf Shop is still lo cated on North Atlantic Avenue and is the largest surf shop in the world. The John F. Kennedy Space Center is lo cated just 15 miles north of Co coa Beach and displays original ro ckets from the space program. The Kennedy Space Center tells the story of the incredible ast ronauts that called Co coa Beach home and welcomes millions of visitors a year. The Westgate Co coa Beach pier is also an iconic landmark that welcomes tourist s and lo cal residents to enjoy the o cean and delicious seafoo d year round.

While new post offices, restaurants and hotels replace the original versions, t races of history can b e seen as you drive down st reet s like Meade or North Atlantic Avenue. The city is r ich with stories of the goo d ole days and lo cals love to share their memories of growing up

amidst the excitement. This small town grew into a world-renowned city in a matter of decades and is b eloved by many. Co coa Beach f lourishes with millions of visitors a year, yet it st ill has charismatic, small town charm. People come from all over the world to enjoy the Florida sunshine, warm sand, historic landmarks and o cean waves. Welcome to the famous Co coa Beach!

I n a matter of years, the town grew from 49 to 3,500 residents. With Cape Canaveral, the lo cation for America’s Space Program, just a few miles away, money, resources and people f lo cked to Brevard County. The b eautiful b each made it the perfect home for many new families.

Ast ronauts and s cientist s could often b e seen at the b each enjoying the surf and sun with their families. In 1962, the Canaveral Pier was built st retching 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. To day, the pier is known as the Westgate Co coa Beach Pier. The Ron Jon surf shop originally sold surfb oards from the pier making it a hub for the surfing community. Kelly Slater, an 11-time world champion surfer was b orn and raised in Co coa Beach. Some consider Slater to b e the b est surfer the world has ever known. In 1962, 75,000 people f lo o ded the b each to watch John Glenn, the fi rst American to orbit the earth, soar into space in his capsule “Friendship 7”. The b each b ecame a prime lo cation for visitors and a famous landmark for surfers. In 1964, the pier hosted the inaugural Easter Surfing Festival, a festival that is still held at the pier every year. Known as the surfing capital of the East Coast and for a perfect lo cation to watch space shuttles launch, the b each in Co coa Beach is world famous. During the 60s, the city was buzzing with new ideas, advancement in space technology and tourist s from all over the world. In 1965 “I Dream of Jeannie” premiered on NBC ab out an ast ronaut that lived in Co coa Beach. The entire country’s eyes were on Co coa Beach.

When the Apollo program was canceled in 1970, the city st ruggled through an economic downfall a s thousands of families left the area. All the space-themed hotels that were built to accommo date the tourist s were suddenly vacant and the restaurants that were once busy with

hungry t ravelers sat with open tables and empty chairs. In 1975 the unemployment rate was 14.3%. As families moved out of the area, the housing market crashed and many people, unable to sell their homes, simply abandoned them. It wasn’t until the Space Shuttle program b egan in the 80s that the economy picked up and Co coa Beach thrived once again.