Located within Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach, this historic mansion once belonged to a Coca Cola heiress sits on top of a 4,000 year-old Indian midden named Mt. Elizabeth. The midden which is a ancient garbage dump was created by the Ais Indians. It was originally 60-feet high but now is only 40 feet high. Inside it archaeologists have found broken pottery, tools, fish bones, shell ornaments, and other refuse from their every day lives. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 14, 2002. The midden and surrounding property were purchased by explorer William Henry Racey in the late 1850's. His son, Charles Racey built a three story wood frame family home on the mound in 1891. He farmed a pineapple and citrus plantation on the land. The home burned to the ground in 1921 and the Racey family sold the property to judge Edward Seann. In 1936 Atlanta businessman Willaford Leach and his wife Anne Bates Leach, a Coca Cola heiress, purchased Mt. Elizabeth and the surrounding property. They built the Mediterranean Revival mansion that sits on top of the mound and named it Tuckahoe, a Native American word that means welcome. The estate was completed in 1939 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 30, 2005. The Leach's property was 54 acres of riverfront woodland and lawns. The couple entertained in the mansion and hosted the society in Martin County. Their parties were attended by socialites and WWII soldiers from Camp Murphy. Mrs. Leach founded the Garden Club and was a benefactor for the original building for the Bascomb Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. The University of Miami named a hospital after her. After the Leach family moved out of the mansion in 1950 it was sold to the Catholic Church who gave it to the Sisters of St. Joseph. They added a dormitory and used it as a 2 year degree religious college until 1972. The Florida Institute of Technology then purchased the property and offered 4 year degrees in marine science. The mansion was used by the college administrators. The college closed the campus in 1986 leaving the building and surrounding land vacant for the next 10 years. Martin County purchased the property in 1997 and created Indian RiverSide Park which opened to the public in 2001. Renovations on the mansion were completed in 2009 by the Friends of Mount Elizabeth. Bert Bender from Key West was chosen as the architect of the renovation. The created an Art Deco design for inside the mansion. A wedding suite and grooms room were added as well as a catering kitchen and banquet room. Today the mansion is operated by the Martin County Parks and Recreation Department. It is rented for weddings and private events. Historical tours of the mansion take place every first and third Wednesday through May at 10 and 11 a.m. On the day I visited the mansion was being used for a prom while a wedding was taking place in another part of the park. I love how Martin County preserved 4,000 years of history in a way that is still benefiting the community of Martin County today. read more

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From one bride to another: please think twice before booking this venue. The grounds are undeniably beautiful, and the photos may look like something out of a fairy tale, but the experience of working with this venue was anything but. Planning a wedding is already stressful enough, and unfortunately, the people responsible for helping make the experience special only added to that stress. Once we paid to secure our date, communication became increasingly frustrating. Responses were delayed, interactions often felt dismissive, and instead of feeling supported, I frequently felt like an inconvenience for simply asking questions or trying to plan my own wedding. At one point, a staff member made comments that left me in tears and told me my wedding day would either "all come together or all fall apart." That is not something a bride should ever have to hear from the people she's paying to host her wedding. The problems didn't stop with planning. On our wedding day, there were issues with the property, the facilities, and the overall management of the event that should have been addressed before guests ever arrived. Promises made during the planning process were not consistently followed through, and we found ourselves dealing with things that should never have been our responsibility on our wedding day. What disappointed me most was the complete lack of care and professionalism. You only get one wedding day. Couples are spending a significant amount of money and trusting a venue to help create one of the most meaningful days of their lives. We never expected perfection, but we absolutely expected basic communication, respect, accountability, and follow-through. I want to be clear that our wedding was beautiful because of the people we brought together and the vendors who genuinely cared about making it special. The venue's grounds provided a beautiful backdrop, but the people managing it made the experience far more difficult than it ever needed to be. I would not book this venue again, and I would not recommend it to another couple. Please look beyond the beautiful property and carefully consider the people you'll actually be working with. A beautiful venue is not worth sacrificing your peace of mind during a time that should be filled with excitement and happiness. read more

The venue grounds are beautiful - held our daughter's wedding there this past weekend. Customer experience, however, was very disappointing. Clients have to pay in full to reserve space and once that was done - the communication went down hill - response time, tone and messaging were delayed, negative or non existent and the customer experience did not meet expectations. Day of wedding - outside lights did not work - bartender was in the dark outside on patio - they did not clean walk way - we had to dodge locations where people did not pick up after their dog -- nor did they prevent the public from walking the grounds like they promised they would. We had to wait for people with their dogs to walk by us during the photo session. They allowed an uninvited man in shorts - walking his dog to come into the building and 'crash' the wedding - our guests had to ask him to leave the dance floor. The AC in this old building does not function well in any room where there was more than 20 people - it was hot. One of the attendants there day of wedding was telling guests she only does this job so she can bring home leftover wedding food to her family - we asked if she could remove an eyesore (rusty/dirty/white bar) from the pre ceremony room and she said "no" it must stay in there and they left 3 large garbage cans near the bride and groom table that we had to relocate. Vendor approval process is just that - a long arduous process - be sure to read all the fine print. All in all - our daughter was able to have her fairy tale intimate wedding in the castle on the hill - pictures are stunning - but for the price paid and promises made- they did NOT deliver. Buyer beware. read more

Had our wedding here in February! Great location with lots of potential! Basically you're given a blank palette to make into whatever dream you desire. All vendors have to be approved through them, so I highly recommend getting a wedding planner to help navigate that process. Also everything is a la Carte, including the downstairs area, definitely pay attention to what is actually included. Gorgeous venue overall and the view is spectacular!! read more

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We were at the Mansion at Tuckahoe for their Sunday afternoon "Music at the Mansion". The Mansion itself was not open on Sunday afternoon but we were able to enjoy the grounds and the view of the ocean. The grounds and the ocean front setting are beautiful and the music was quite enjoyable. The Sunday afternoon "Music at the Mansion" runs from 3-6:00 on Sundays. During the music program, there is a concession tent that sells various food and snack items along with soft drinks and beer. Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. read more

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I just attended a wedding at this venue. It is a beautiful old mansion on the water. It has lots of space both inside and out to accommodate many people. The scenery is gorgeous. read more