Living in Florida's Space Coast
Paradise Point
Paradise Point sits on South Tropical Trail near the southern tip of Merritt Island, about a mile north of Mathers Bridge. The island is narrow enough here that a single parcel can touch both the Indian River and the Banana River, and one of these properties carries more than 200 feet of deep water frontage. There is no association. Pricing runs from $1.1 million to just under $2.4 million.
Paradise Point In Merritt Island, Florida
There is no subdivision entrance and no interior street. Paradise Point is an address on South Tropical Trail itself, at the narrow southern end of Merritt Island where the road runs with the Indian River on one side and the Banana River on the other. From Mathers Bridge you drive north about a mile. From the Pineda Causeway you come south roughly three and a third miles. Everything faces water, and the parcels are the width of the island.
River to river frontage is the reason these properties command what they do. A lot here can carry a dock and lift on the Banana River side and a second dock on the Indian River side, which is not a configuration you can create anywhere else in Brevard County at this scale. One property on the street has more than 200 feet of deep water frontage. Another includes a boathouse with original 1950 pine flooring, which dates the earliest building here precisely.
The houses themselves span 1950 to 1996 with the middle around 1984, running 1,927 to 3,982 square feet, typically about 3,333, in three and four bedroom layouts. Two are two story. Brick appears on several, along with wood burning fireplaces, wet bars and downstairs guest suites. This is not production housing and it was not built to a common standard, so each property has to be evaluated on its own construction, its own roof and its own systems.
At roughly $571 a square foot, this is the highest price per foot on this side of the island, and the reason is straightforward: you are buying land, shoreline and water rights with a house included. Storm shutters, private docks and electric boat lifts are common. Only one of the three most recent transfers included a pool. Two are on septic with public water throughout, and there is no association, no dues and no architectural review of any kind.
Understand Mathers Bridge before you buy for boating. It is a swing bridge originally built in 1927 and relocated to its present position in 1952, roughly 700 feet long, carrying County Road 3 over the Banana River between South Tropical Trail and Banana River Drive. It opens for vessels, but it is a low bridge when closed and it has had closures for corrosion repairs, most recently in 2022. Plan your route and your air draft accordingly.
Paradise Point At A Glance
Paradise Point at a glance, where the shoreline is the asset.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Location | Southern end of Merritt Island on South Tropical Trail, about a mile north of Mathers Bridge |
| Built | 1950 to 1996, most around 1984 |
| Home size | 1,927 to 3,982 square feet, about 3,333 typical |
| Bedrooms | 3 to 4 |
| Bathrooms | 2 to 6 |
| Lot size | 0.31 to 0.55 acre, about 0.46 typical, running the width of the island |
| Construction | Brick on several homes, mixed materials, shingle roofs, two story on some |
| Association | None. No association, no dues, no architectural review |
| Water frontage | Every property is riverfront, with river to river parcels touching both the Indian River and the Banana River |
| Frontage length | Up to more than 200 feet of deep water frontage on the larger parcels |
| Docks and lifts | Private docks and electric boat lifts, one property with a 1950 boathouse |
| Water access | Navigable, Intracoastal, direct river access on both sides |
| Pools | In ground pool on a minority of homes |
| Garage | 2 to 3 bays |
| Utilities | Public water, septic tanks on most homes |
| Nearest crossing | Mathers Bridge, a 1927 swing bridge carrying County Road 3 over the Banana River |
| Streets | South Tropical Trail |
| Price range | $1,100,000 to $2,375,000, around $571 per square foot |
Paradise Point Details
Water On Both Sides
The island is narrow enough at this latitude that a parcel can front the Indian River on the west and the Banana River on the east. Owners here have kept a dock on each. It is a rare configuration and it is the single fact that explains the pricing on this stretch of South Tropical Trail.
More Than 200 Feet Of Deep Water
Frontage on the larger parcels here exceeds 200 feet, with deep water at the dock. That is enough shoreline for a substantial vessel, a lift and a second tie up, and it is the kind of measurement that holds value regardless of what happens to the house sitting behind it.
A 1950 Boathouse
One property includes a boathouse with original 1950 pine flooring, which is the earliest documented construction on this stretch. Structures like that cannot be permitted new today under current shoreline rules, so where they survive they carry a value that is not reflected in square footage.
No Association, No Rules Beyond The County
There is no association and no dues on these parcels. What governs instead is Brevard County code, plus the marine construction permitting process for anything you build on the shoreline. Docks, seawalls and lifts go through county Planning and Development, with Natural Resources review and a survey less than 180 days old.
Understand Mathers Bridge
The nearest crossing is a swing bridge from 1927, moved here in 1952 and about 700 feet long. It opens for boats, but it sits low when closed and it has been out of service for corrosion repairs before. Whether you head north toward the barge canal or south under the bridge changes your options considerably.
Land Value, Not Finish Value
At around $571 a square foot on homes built between 1950 and 1996, the market is pricing the dirt and the shoreline. Some buyers renovate, some rebuild. Either way the underlying parcel is what you are acquiring, and it is worth having a builder walk it with you before you commit.
Homes For Sale In Paradise Point
Current availability at the southern end of South Tropical Trail. These parcels come up rarely and each one is different, so compare frontage, water depth and dock configuration first.
Paradise Point Frequently Asked Questions
What does river to river frontage mean here?
The island is narrow at its southern end, so a single parcel can extend from the Indian River on the west side across to the Banana River on the east. That gives an owner the option of a dock on each side and access to two different bodies of water without moving the boat by road.
Is there an HOA at Paradise Point?
No. These are individual riverfront parcels on South Tropical Trail with no association, no dues and no architectural review. Brevard County code governs, and any dock, seawall or lift work requires a Residential Marine Construction permit through county Planning and Development.
How old are the homes?
They range from 1950 to 1996 with the middle around 1984. That is a wide span and the construction varies from brick built houses with wood burning fireplaces to later custom work. Each property needs to be evaluated individually rather than against a neighborhood standard.
What is Mathers Bridge and does it affect boating?
It is a swing bridge built in 1927 and relocated to its current spot in 1952, about 700 feet long, carrying County Road 3 over the Banana River. It opens for vessels but sits low when closed, and it has been closed for corrosion repairs in the past. Factor it into your route planning.
Why is the price per square foot so high?
Around $571 a square foot reflects that you are buying shoreline, not interior finish. The homes are older and the lots are what carry the value: up to a half acre, running the width of the island, with more than 200 feet of deep water frontage on the larger parcels.
How long do these take to sell?
About 129 days to contract, with sellers settling near 91 percent of their original asking price. At this price point on a small stretch of road, buyers are scarce at any given time, which means both sides tend to need patience and a realistic starting number.
What are property taxes?
County bills have run roughly $6,051 to $22,631, with the middle near $11,696. The spread is enormous because homesteaded long term owners sit far below what a new purchase resets to. If you are buying, model your taxes on the sale price rather than the current bill.
How far is the mainland?
The Pineda Causeway is about three and a third miles north and connects to Suntree, Viera, Melbourne and Interstate 95. Going south over Mathers Bridge puts you on Banana River Drive toward Indian Harbour Beach and Patrick Space Force Base. State Road 520 and Cocoa Beach are a longer drive north.
South Tropical Trail, Merritt Island 32952
Paradise Point is in the 32952 ZIP code at the far southern end of Merritt Island, on South Tropical Trail. Mathers Bridge is roughly a mile south and the Pineda Causeway roughly three and a third miles north. There is no subdivision layout here, just riverfront parcels along the trail, with the Indian River on the west and the Banana River on the east. Tree cover on the road is heavy and the driveways are set back.
The location trades convenience for water. Everyday shopping means driving north on South Tropical Trail or crossing the Pineda Causeway to Suntree and Viera, roughly twenty minutes. Going south over Mathers Bridge takes you onto Banana River Drive toward Indian Harbour Beach, Satellite Beach and Patrick Space Force Base. Cocoa Beach, Port Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center all require the longer run north up the island.
Near Paradise Point In Merritt Island
Considering Paradise Point?
River to river parcels on South Tropical Trail come up a few times a decade, and getting one right means understanding water depth, dock permitting and what the existing structures can legally become. My partner Nichole and I will walk both shorelines with you and help you separate what the land is worth from what the house is worth. Call or text (321) 212-7676.
