Space Coast developer lists island property where Florida’s iconic ‘Annie the Dragon’ once stood for $7 million
A Florida estate located on the southern tip of a peninsula that extends into the Atlantic Ocean has hit the market for $7 million — decades after it became famous as the home of a beloved 65-foot dragon statue affectionately known as Annie.
The aptly named Dragon Point is located at the tip of Merritt Island, Florida, where visitors flocked to see “Annie the Dragon,” a huge sea-green sculpture that stood on the site for decades.
Although the freakish creature wasn’t real, it was a notable landmark would every now and then they breathe fire and smoke from a propane tank, which creates quite a spectacle in the area.
“Everyone knows this building,” he said Stephanie Dandridgewith whom it is on the list together Jamie Dandridge from ONE Sotheby’s International Realty. “It was originally purchased in 1971, and Lewis VanDercar was contracted to build Annie.”
Along with a 5,700-square-foot mansion that once occupied the lot, Annie became a sight to behold for boaters, locals and tourists alike.
“I grew up in the area and remember Annie being in full costume,” Stephanie said. “We were going to sail there and hang out in Annie the Dragon. It had to be 10 feet high on the inside and 10 feet wide. It was an incredible playhouse and super famous.”
Annie even made her way to the Smithsonian Institution Research Information Systemwhich provides the best description of the remarkable work of art.
“It has a light sea-green color; its mouth is painted red and its teeth are white. Four young dragons hatch from eggs on the right side of the dragon,” the description reads.
“The young are light green and have a red mouth. The dragon’s tail curls up at the end. A door near the dragon’s tail leads to an inner chamber.”
In addition to serving as a tourist attraction, Annie also became something of a good luck charm for locals, who visited the sculpture when they needed a boost, prompting the property’s original owner to expand the installation.
“Many people interpret what a dragon means, and in Native American folklore it is a symbol of luck and prosperity,” Jamie said.
“Over time, the second owner added Annie’s four cubs. Almost everyone in the community really encourages the next owner to bring Annie or one of her cubs back.”
Sadly, Annie was killed in a hurricane on the Space Coast in 2002 and was later shot down entirely.
In 2015, the property was acquired by Space Coast developer Don Facciobene.
Now the peninsula parcel with 180-degree views of the Indian and Banana rivers is being offered for sale three ways: as raw land for $4,500,000; with a yet-to-be-built five-bedroom estate built by Facciobene’s DFI Contractors, offering nearly 7,000 square feet of luxury space for $7,000,000; or, for another $1,000,000, an artist will construct a modern interpretation of Annie the Dragon.
Renderings of the future estate are included in the listing so potential buyers can imagine what the home will look like when completed.
“I think the next buyer will be someone who is proud of the area, interested in being surrounded by water and has a playful sense of history,” Stephanie said. “It’s a residential destination, so it could be a rental or a great single-family home.”
Most of the residents on the 16-home private peninsula are primary residents, but the Dandridges could see it used as a secondary home as well.
“Dragon Point is in such high demand, so this listing is even rarer,” Stephanie said. “You never see anything come to market. It’s always been a fairly small coastal town, but when COVID hit in 2020, people realized you could get a more affordable waterfront property in this untapped gem.”
Plans for the yet-to-be-updated waterfront mansion include “expansive living areas, multiple guest cottages and a generous garage.”
There will also be “curated outdoor living areas” that offer a front-row view of rocket launches from nearby Cape Canaveral.
“There’s an influx of infrastructure coming in as a result of the space program,” Stephanie added. “Combined with phenomenal weather all the time, no crime, 45 minutes to Orlando and all the theme parks, and five minutes to the ocean, it is one of those areas that has it all. We, at ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, are very proud to represent it.”
