JENSEN BEACH HISTORY “Pineapple Capital of the World” The History of Jensen Beach, goes back as far as the 1500s when the Ais Indians inhabited the area. The mid 1800s, saw settlers moving into the area & in 1881, John Laurence Jensen settled on this land that today bears his name. He & other newcomers began planting pineapples. By 1895, Jensen Beach was named the “Pineapple Capital of the World”, shipping out 1,000,000 boxes of pineapples during the summer months. A pineapple canning factory was opened where fancy pineapples were put in two-quart mason jars. Captain Richards, who had also planted a pineapple farm on Hutchinson Island, produced & bottled a “pineapple digestive”. The business boomed so well that from the sand ridge of Sewall’s Point northward almost to Vero Beach, pineapples covered the cultivated area. Commercial fishing was big in the 1890s with as many as two hundred barrels shipped daily. As the 1900s approached more people began to make Jensen Beach their winter home because they fell in love with the quiet atmosphere, great fishing & long stretches of empty beach Fun Spots to Visit Around Town As you enter Jensen Beach, the Historic Jensen/Rio Arch welcome’s visitors & new residents to town. Built in 1925, the Arch marks the boundary between Rio and Jensen Beach. For all those inquiring minds, the Environmental Studies Center teaches ecology using exhibits & a hands-on educational style for student’s kindergarten through eighth grade. Visitors are invited to view the saltwater aquariums, marine life museum & wet lab. On Hutchinson Island you will find the Florida Oceanographic Society. It’s a research & educational center that is also home to the Frances Langford Visitor Center. The Visitor Center showcases marine displays & exhibits including a replica of the Saballariid Reef. Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge Museum holds interesting treasures from yester-year. The museum was built in 1875 making it the oldest structure of Martin County. Originally a refuge for shipwrecked sailors, the Museum preserves lifesaving equipment & maritime exhibits from the 1500s. The Elliott Museum houses the inventions of Sterling Elliot as well as shops, Indian artifacts, contemporary art & classic automobiles. On a breezy afternoon, take a stroll along Maple Street & you’ll find charming cottages where artists display & sell original art works. A drive down Peacock Lane will reveal families of colorful peacocks. Jensen Beach also holds many of the area’s finest dining establishments. A variety of culinary specialties are available, while the most popular selection is fresh seafood. When its time to go shopping visit the Treasure Coast Square Mall & find the style or accessory of your choosing. Near the mall are two major shopping centers, Square One & Marketplace Square. What town would be complete without the spice & entertainment of the cultural arts? Art collections, plays, antiques, heritage facilities, art & dance companies, live music & much more can be found in the area. Five main stage productions come alive each season at The Barn Theatre. The Theatre puts on a series of one-act shows between each main stage production. They have purchased a piece of land with plans to build on it in the future. The Lyric Theater is a historic 500-seat venue that hosts a year-round slate of entertainment. Friends of the Lyric, Inc., operate the theater as a not-for-profit organization that showcases a variety of events. Here audiences are entertained with everything from concerts & seminars to theatrical productions & children’s programming. Florida’s Treasure Coast The Jensen Beach area encompasses the communities of Hutchinson Island, Rio, Sewall’s Point & Jensen Beach. The Jensen Beach area is known as Florida’s Treasure Coast as it rests on the scenic Indian River & the St. Lucie River. The mild weather, ample beach & easygoing pace of Jensen make it a great place for vacationing year round & winter homes. If you enjoy living among natural beauty you’ll find Jensen Beach a great place to open a business & raise a family. The area has become a recreational paradise of H2O sports, relaxation, & natural beauty, as well. The average temperature is 82 degrees with the cool breezes off the Atlantic during summer highs. While 100,000 people have made their home in Martin County, 15,000 reside in the Jensen Beach communities year-round. Population on Hutchinson Island doubles from December through April as winter brings guests from all over. Sewall’s Point is the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. The town is home to many families with homes on tree-lined streets in a peaceful community. Rio resides along the St. Lucie River while Jensen Beach itself runs alongside the Indian River, north of Sewall’s Point. From recreation to relaxation, whatever community you visit or relocate to you’ll enjoy the lifestyle that is Jensen Beach THE GREAT OUTDOORS Outdoor Excursions As a community on the eastern coast of Florida, Jensen Beach offers plenty of ways to play. With miles of coastline, you’ll enjoy spending time in the great outdoors of a beachfront community with welcoming year-round weather. Sailing, H2O skiing, exploring & boating are some of the leisure time activities. Marina’s dot the area’s coastlines providing boaters with supplies, dockage & fuel. Indian Riverside Park resides along the western shore of the Indian River. This 54-acre park invites visitors with picnic sites, fishing access & H2O play area. Watch the sunrise at the Pier. As well, concerts & special events are held in the park regularly. The Island Princess takes you on a sightseeing cruise along the St. Lucie & Indian River. Bathtub Reef Beach is a natural reef formation. The reef creates an off shore lagoon where you can swim & see a variety of fish in crystal clear waters. The tide leaves behind shallow pools making this beach an ideal spot for children to play. Surfing, windsurfing, boat dock, swimming, snorkeling & shelling are also fun pastimes at this park. Savannas Preserve State Park offers a unique environment to explore with its savanna-like wetlands, marshes & pine flatwoods while Jonathan Dickinson State Park has canoe rental & camping grounds. Color & natural brilliance engulf you at the Heathcote Botanical Gardens. Plants from around the world are maintained here from the Japanese Garden with its towering bamboos to the Mediterranean Herb Garden of fragrant herbs & aromatic trees. Golf courses as well reside in & around Jensen Beach & are always a fun way to enjoy the weather. Eagle Marsh Golf Club mixes class championship golf with natural beauty & wildlife as it winds through six miles of the Savannah Wildlife Reserve. The US Sailing Center of Martin County, (USSCMC) is a community sailing center offering recreational, competitive & learn-to-sail opportunities for youth & adults of all ages. Membership, lessons & rentals are available. USSCMC is one of only three Community Sailing Centers in the United States sanctioned by the US Sailing Association. TYPES OF FISH CAUGHT IN LOCAL WATERS BLUE MARLIN Average Weight: 150 pounds Season: Winter through May Bait: whole Spanish mackerel mullet, or dolphin World’s Record: 1,282 pounds Food Value: Fair DOLPHIN Average Weight: one ½-8 pounds up to 60 pounds Season: Summer Bait: Feather jigs, ballyhoo or strip bait World’s Record: 85 pounds Food Value: Excellent SAILFISH Average Weight: 40 pounds Season: Winter Bait: Ballyhoo live & strip bait World’s Record: 128 pounds Food Value: Poor FALSE ALBACORE (LITTLE TUNNY) Average Weight: 8-15 pounds Season: Year-round Bait: Small spoons, feathers & trolling lures Local Record: 21 pounds 12 ounces Food Value: Poor WAHOO Average Weight: 45-80 pounds Season: Year-round Bait: Deep trolling lures World’s Record: 149 pounds Food Value: Excellent MULLET Average Weight: 1-3 pounds Season: Year-round Bait: Net or Snaghook Food Value: Poor LADYFISH Average Weight: 1-3 pounds Bait: Plugs or small spoons inside river or inlet Local Record: six pounds 13 ounces Food Value: Poor COMMON SALTWATER CATFISH Average Weight: 1-3 pounds Season: Year-round Bait: Shrimp or any cut bait Food Value: Poor GAFFTOPSAIL CATFISH Average weight: 4-8 pounds Season: Year-round Bait: Shrimp or any lure Local Record: nine pounds six ounces Food Value: Good SHEEPSHEAD Average weight: 2-10 lbs. Season: Year-round Bait: Clams, fiddler crabs, live shrimp off bridges World’s record: 21 lbs. four oz. Food value: Good SEA TROUT Average weight: one 1/2-10 lbs. Season: Fall thru Spring Bait: Live bait, trout touts, & mirrolures World’s record: 19 lbs. two oz. Food value: Excellent SNAPPER FAMILY Commonly caught here: Mutton, red, California, yellowtail & mangrove Average weight: 1/2 - ten lbs. Season: Year-round Bait: Squid, feather jigs, mullet, & live or cut shrimp Local record: (red) 59 lbs. Food Value: Excellent