Living in Florida's Space Coast
Dicksons
Dicksons is the recorded plat name behind a short run of estate parcels on the west side of South Tropical Trail, roughly two miles north of the Pineda Causeway in the 32952 ZIP. Nobody says the name out loud. What they say is Tropical Trail, and they mean gated drives, one to five acres, Indian River frontage and no association telling anyone anything.
Dicksons In Merritt Island, Florida
Dicksons is a plat name, not a neighborhood name. There are no interior streets, no entrance sign and no gate house. Every address here is South Tropical Trail, on the west side, about two miles north of the Pineda Causeway. The parcels run from roughly 1.7 acres up to five, they sit behind their own private gates, and the ones that front the Indian River carry the river the full width of the lot.
South Tropical Trail is its own thing on Merritt Island. It follows the Indian River shoreline from SR 520 south to Mathers Bridge, and the stretch between the Pineda Causeway and the bridge is the quiet end, canopied and slow, with estate lots on both sides. The island narrows down here, so a west side parcel looks at the Indian River while the Banana River sits a short distance east. Two rivers, one address.
The houses are not uniform, which is the point. The vintage runs from 1988 to a 2024 build, sizes from about 2,755 to 4,089 square feet, four or five bedrooms, two to four garage bays. What they share is the setting: long private drives, mature fruit groves with mango, avocado, loquat, fig and cherry, and rooms oriented to the water. One property carries a cedar shake roof and a two stall barn with a tack and feed room.
There is no association here and there are no covenants collecting anything. That freedom is why you see barns, workshops, groves and gated entries on the same road. It also means nothing constrains what the neighbor builds. If horses or livestock are part of your plan, confirm the county zoning and the permitted uses for the exact parcel first, because Merritt Island is unincorporated Brevard County and the county is the authority on all of it.
Pricing reflects the acreage and the frontage rather than the house. Values on this stretch have run from about $876,000 to $3,025,000, with the middle near $1,225,000, and the spread tracks almost entirely with how much river you own and how much land comes with it. Pools are not the standard amenity here the way they are inland. Seawall condition, dock permitting and the state of the shoreline matter far more to the number.
Dicksons At A Glance
Dicksons at a glance, and what the plat name really covers.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Detail | Value |
| Location | West side of South Tropical Trail, about two miles north of the Pineda Causeway, Merritt Island 32952 |
| Jurisdiction | Unincorporated Brevard County. County zoning, county permitting and county services, with a Merritt Island mailing address |
| Recorded plat | One, Dicksons Subdivision. There are no interior streets, every address is South Tropical Trail |
| Built | 1988 through 2024, including one recent build |
| Home size | About 2,755 to 4,089 square feet |
| Bedrooms | Four or five, with three to four baths |
| Lot size | Roughly 1.7 acres to five acres |
| Waterfront | Indian River frontage on most of these parcels, running the full width of the lot |
| Construction | Mixed. Brick on one, cedar shake roofing on another, all custom rather than production built |
| Association | Nothing recorded governs these parcels and there are no mandatory dues. Ask whether any voluntary road or neighborhood group operates on this stretch of Tropical Trail |
| Outbuildings | Private gates, long drives, a two stall barn with tack and feed room on one parcel, mature fruit groves throughout |
| Garage | Two to four bays |
| Utilities | Confirm water source, septic or sewer, and the electrical service capacity for the parcel. On acreage here none of that is a given |
| Price range | $876,000 to $3,025,000, with roughly $1,225,000 in the middle |
Dicksons Details
The Name Nobody Uses
Dicksons is what the plat book says. What buyers search, what sellers advertise and what neighbors say is South Tropical Trail. Knowing both matters, because the plat name is how the parcel is indexed in county records and how it shows up in a title search.
River Across The Whole Lot
These are not narrow waterfront slivers. Frontage runs the width of the parcel, so the water is the view from most of the house rather than from one room. Have the shoreline, any seawall and any existing dock evaluated separately, and confirm what a new or replacement dock would require.
Acres, Not Lots
One and three quarters to five acres. That is space for a barn, a grove, a shop, a guest structure or simply a very long driveway between you and the road. It is also space that has to be mowed, irrigated and maintained, so ask what the current owner spends in time and equipment.
Gates And Privacy
Private entry gates are the norm on this stretch, not an exception. Combined with the canopy and the setbacks, you rarely see the houses from the road. That is the whole appeal for a certain buyer, and it is worth confirming the gate hardware, the power feed to it and who maintains the drive.
Old Groves Still Producing
Mango, avocado, loquat, fig, cherry and citrus stand on these parcels, some of it planted decades ago. It is genuinely productive land rather than decorative landscaping. Ask about irrigation, whether there is a well for it, and what a freeze year looks like here.
No Covenants, Either Way
Nothing on record governs these parcels, so you can build the barn and park the boat. The same applies next door. On acreage that usually matters less than in a tight plat, but it is still worth walking the property lines and understanding what is permitted around you before you commit.
Homes For Sale In Dicksons
Anything currently for sale on this stretch of South Tropical Trail is shown below. Turnover is very low, so when something comes up the questions are always the same: how much river frontage, how much land, and what condition the shoreline and the dock are in.
Dicksons Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dicksons and where is it?
It is the recorded subdivision name for a group of estate parcels on the west side of South Tropical Trail, roughly two miles north of the Pineda Causeway on Merritt Island in the 32952 ZIP. There are no interior streets. Every address is South Tropical Trail.
Are these homes on the water?
Most of them front the Indian River, with the frontage running the full width of the parcel. Because the island is narrow at this point, the Banana River sits a short distance to the east as well. Confirm the exact frontage, the riparian rights and any dock permitting for the parcel.
How big are the parcels?
From about 1.7 acres to five acres. That is estate scale for Brevard County and it is the main reason these properties trade where they do. Expect long private drives, gated entries and substantial setbacks from the road.
Is there a homeowners association?
No. Nothing on record governs these parcels and there are no mandatory dues. Confirm whether any voluntary road or neighborhood group operates on this stretch, and read the survey and any easements carefully, because private drives and shared access can appear on acreage like this.
Can I keep horses here?
One parcel carries a two stall barn with a tack and feed room, which tells you it has been done. It does not tell you what is permitted on the parcel you are buying. Merritt Island is unincorporated Brevard County, so confirm zoning and permitted uses with the county before you count on it.
What condition are the houses in?
They range widely. The oldest dates to 1988 and one was completed in 2024, so there is no single answer. These are custom houses, not production builds, which means custom systems and custom maintenance. Budget for a thorough inspection including the roof, the well or water service and the septic or sewer arrangement.
How far is everything from South Tropical Trail?
The Pineda Causeway is about two miles south and takes you to Suntree, Wickham Road and I-95. Mathers Bridge, the 1927 swing bridge at the southern tip of the island, crosses the Banana River to Indian Harbour Beach. SR 520, Cocoa Beach, Port Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center are all north.
Why is the price range so wide here?
Because the parcels are so different. A 1.7 acre riverfront lot and a five acre estate with a barn and a grove are not the same purchase, and the house is often the smaller part of the value. Look at land, frontage and shoreline condition first, then the structure.
South Tropical Trail, Merritt Island 32952
South Tropical Trail runs the Indian River side of Merritt Island, and this section of it is about two miles north of the Pineda Causeway. Merritt Island is unincorporated Brevard County, which means county zoning, county permitting and county services rather than a city hall. On acreage with docks, barns and outbuildings, that distinction does real work, so get written answers from the county before you plan anything.
For a place that feels remote, the connections are good. The Pineda Causeway puts Suntree, Wickham Road and I-95 within about fifteen minutes. SR 520 north leads to Cocoa, Cocoa Beach and the Bennett Causeway toward Port Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. Mathers Bridge at the south tip is the shortcut to Indian Harbour Beach and the ocean, and Orlando is a little over an hour by way of SR 528.
Near Dicksons In Merritt Island
Considering Dicksons?
Acreage on the river is a different kind of purchase, and the answers you need are about land, shoreline and county permitting long before they are about the kitchen. My partner Nichole and I will walk the frontage, read the survey and the easements with you, and get written answers from Brevard County on zoning and dock permitting. Call or send a text to (321) 212-7676.
Once in a lifetime opportunity to own an estate lot on S Tropical Trail, offering 353+/- feet of combined riverfront with 185+/- feet on the Banana River and 168 +/- feet...
- 1060014 MLS
