The Melbourne Beach Pier is steeped in history. Located in Ryckman Park, the pier was built between 1888 and 1889 by the Indian River and Atlantic Railway Company. It was constructed from wood planks and pilings as was common in the late 1800's. The pier is the oldest known example of such piers on the Indian River. After the pier was built it served as a crucial transportation link moving tourists, residents, freight, and mail between the mainland and the barrier island. A railroad was laid from the ferry landing on the dock and across the barrier island 7/10 of a mile to the ocean beach. This provided access to the Atlantic Ocean by a pushcart and later by a motorized car. A ferry service was operated by the Beaujean family between 1889 and 1923. The railroad provided access to the island and excursion boats from the mainland communities brought winter tourists to dock at the pier. The community's first post office was located at the east end of the pier and provided the daily mail service in 1894. The building of the toll bridge between Melbourne and Indialantic in 1921 ended the pier's importance for island access. On April 12, 1984, the pier was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. In 1985 a restoration project supported by local citizens and state programs helped to preserve this iconic Melbourne Beach structure. Today the pier offers a panoramic view of the Indian River and is ideal for fishing, relaxation, and sunset strolls. I enjoyed my walk back in time down this historic pier, and best of all unlike many piers there is no charge to enjoy it. read more

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Located in a really beautiful community, really clean, sunrise and sunset are beautiful and Ocean Avenue is right at opposite end of the street to surf or just go to the beach. Parking is free all around until 8:00 AM, but plenty of spaces and pay stations where you can pay with card. If you're taking a kid or anyone fishing for the first time and you want to GUARANTEE a bite, go to Black Dog Bait and Tackle like 5 minutes away, get one or two dozen live shrimp with a bubbler bucket and cast off any corner of this pier. I will say that the only thing that bit was catfish NONSTOP. They put up a fun fight and they come in all sizes and they rarely swallow the hook, but once you catch a couple, I suggest going to the beach or finishing up your bait at Geiger Point at Kiwani's Park. You'll have a better shot of catching some little snappers and drums (which you can't keep any size in this area). Super beautiful spot though for a kid's first time out. read more

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Loved this pier and everything about it. Such an interesting bit of history. And as many times as we have been Melbourne and Melbourne Beach, this was new to us. We came to this street corner (Ocean Avenue and Riverside Drive) to check out the location of a restaurant we had reservations at and saw the pier. We had never been on this street or in this specific area. In addition to the pier itself, there is a nice park nearby along the water. You can read the history on google or Wikipedia --- as a couple yelpers seem to copy and paste their reviews from those sites -- so I won't repeat that info here. But the original pier (per the memorial plaque) says that it was first built in 1889 and then restored in 1985. And another plaque nearby shows a piling from the 1918 pier that was salvaged during a reconstruction in 2002. And right in front of the pier entrance is a reconstructed section (inside a fenced off area) of the 1889 Melbourne and Atlantic Railroad that was originally built to connect the Indian River with the Atlantic Ocean. Even if you're not into the history of the pier and its surrounds, the pier itself was a nice walk over the water. We enjoyed the breezy weather. We chatted with some of the people fishing off the pier. Some were using nets to catch bait, and some were using poles for fish. Some folks were just sitting in chairs and enjoying being outside. The diving pelicans also were fun to watch. If you're in the area, you should stop by. read more

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A very nice pier within a park setting. Great place to visit and relax near the water. Btw, across the street from a nice restaurant. read more

Melbourne Beach Pier - Parks Near Me - Melbourne Beach, Florida

This historic pier once linked the Intracoastal to the Atlantic via a small railroad stretch. Lots of us strollers and a few fishermen braving this cool breezy day. There is a small park adjacent that offers a restful refuge and children playground equipment. read more

Sunset was perfect. Sat in grass on a towel for private quiet moments. Highly recommend. read more

Melbourne Beach Pier - Parks Near Me - Melbourne Beach, Florida

It's basically just a really small fishing pier, the 2 or 3 benches will be full with someone's fishing gear and the areas up and down the pier will be full of fishermen. The two side docks would be useful for boating uses. Cute little park area for kids. Parking is a hassle to find the pay station and it's $2.50 per hour on your credit card. Most likely won't return unless I'm fishing. read more

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A very nice pier with many parking spots near it. We went for a beautiful calm sunset and were amazed at the nice wooden pier design. However, we did not like the end of the pier where it catered to the local fishermen and their numerous fishing poles, also having white plastic cutting boards where your arms would rest. As a result, it had fish guts and blood on them; very gross. So word of warning, if you go here, don't bother walking to the end! read more

Melbourne Beach Pier - Parks Near Me - Melbourne Beach, Florida

A great place to relax alongside the beach! The area is well-maintained with pretty views and plenty of wildlife. At the end of the pier sits a pavilion with benches and even a sink for those fishing. There is limited free street parking running down along the park, but we usually are able to find a spot. Restrooms are available in the park and a couple of nearby dining options are present as well. read more

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Fun with the family!! I love the beach! This beach is one that holds a special place in my heart because it's the beach I learned to surf at and spent plenty of summers and skipped school days! Every time I comeback and visit my parents going to the beach is essential! It's safe clean and there are lifeguards on duty from Dawn to dusk. They have great facilities to use the bathroom or change clothes in and an out side shower to rinse off in. It is a well water, but it's clean and gets the sand off. Come to this beach and enjoy time with family or friends or just a stroll with yourself. Come on in the water is just right! read more

This is a great place to end you evening at Melbourne Beach! There is a park where you can "pay to park" via an app (easy to download) and an hour cost about $2.50. Then you can walk out on the pier and watch the sunset ... afterward just a few steps away from a great seafood/steakhouse where you can have dinner and a drink before heading out. Enjoy! read more

Melbourne Beach Pier - Parks Near Me - Melbourne Beach, Florida

This is one of the beaches where I learned to how surf and was able to practice freely with the consistent and clean waves that break here. The boardwalk pier is a sturdy wooden deck offering a space for friends and family to visit and soak in the gorgeous views that Melbourne Beach has to offer. It's safe and clean with plenty of lifeguards patrolling the waters. The temperature is warmer during the summer months so a wetsuit might be necessary for the cooler seasons Florida experiences. You can't go wrong here, it's absolutely breathtaking to see the great beaches that Florida offers. Plenty of the markers give you inside information on pertinent historical facts on how the pier care to be. I love this beach and usually frequent here when the waves are great. read more

SO tired of not being able to fish here because of crowds of kids leaving 25 bikes in the middle of the pier and jumping off of it EVERYWHERE including the roof. i don't feel like being the reason a kid gets hooked with a shark hook because they aren't being at all considerate of where they're going. they aren't even supposed to be swimming off of this pier period. it's extremely disappointing because we see so many beautiful fish but won't have the opportunity to go fishing here. we've had 3 fishing nights ruined by this and their parents are just sitting there watching it all happen. sad that i won't be able to come back here to fish as it's a beautiful pier read more

Great beach.. very relaxing. Exactly what we were looking for. Bathrooms were close and clean. Good place if you are looking to lay down , get some sun and relax. read more

Melbourne Beach Pier - Parks Near Me - Melbourne Beach, Florida

VERY PEACEFUL AND RELAXING! The pier is a nice and relaxing spot where you can enjoy a beautiful view and cool breeze. The perfect time to visit is early in the morning when it is cool and comfortable. You will see others out fishing, boating or just enjoying the view as well. You can go out in the evening as well but you may have to compete with the insects. As you approach the pier, you will see a couple of historical markers that provide information about the pier and how it was used years ago. You will also see several benches placed around the property and upon closer inspection, you will see that they are all dedicated in memory to people have since passed. This is a great place for taking kids just remember to hold on to them tightly! read more

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I love the Melbourne Beach pier it's so beautiful and peaceful I grew up in Melbourne Beach so many good memories for me

This pier is an excellent place to fish and is not a tourist spot. The parking is free, there is 1 restaurant (pricey) across the street and a bait shop up the road. if you are looking for a beach with bike rentals, shopping, lots of food, then this is not the pier for you. This is a place to go for a quiet relaxing afternoon. The end of the pier is covered with seating. Last I checked, the pier was closed and undergoing hurricane damage repairs. read more

Pre-dawn humid-warm mist soothes aching muscles hamstrings stretch brain dead body a stillborn 'morn ... reluctant legs carry my tired body away headlong into the green tunneled passage the foreboding trail awaits me in the gloom a worm hole-track? this better be good ... sleepy face bared arms & shoulders i shred the night's sticky spider webs casting away their patiently captured bounty strands pitifully streaming from my legs long-dead prey along for the stormy ride skies grumbling at thor's demands ... wary feet skip-hop the twisting shadowy roots slithering across the sandy track the mother trunks learing at the unwelcome runner the intruder i ready myself for the unknowns ahead ... The chosen track winds gently downslope a lazy early morning river awaits my mind starts it's gradual awakening the senses coming alive ready for something ready for the impending journey down and up forward and back on the track on track ... ? Aaaahh, there's a sight! my first sight first sight best sight towering bluffs oversee my track's attachment to ol' man river i see that now i've caught the connections just a bit just maybe understand the reasons here the structures of nature the purpose exposed to me ... My loosening legs search their natural rhythms thoughts start flashing in and out no patterns yet ambling along eyes scanning ready for today's sun rising mighty river on left bluffs on right birds chinging their morn's coded messages waiting for my sun ... There she comes! Fiery midwest-red sun-disc edges cautiously into view beckoning me into the zone inviting me to zen track on the zen-track this on a real fine midwest 'morn somehow i am not surprised ... Sheepishly i check the time-store on my wrist a reluctant link to responsibilities gauging the unwanted turn back to 'the world' ... time to zone? zone time ... ? i am not ready yet of course never am doncha know ... ? just a few more minutes i plead to mr sun i don't want to go back ... on and on legs loose now arms pumping body-mind-sync zone penetrates deep pain erased endorphin-saturated-brain body soothed mind mind soothed body full circle i'll make time on fast-track-back i rationalise i'll get back on track ... No backtracks now! As i stare quizzically at mr sun i sense the impending colour change red sun can not last long nothing can it seems i've seen this before can accept it now ... i give over to the molting orange disc glaring relentlessly at me cool-red morphs to red-hot orange daring me to keep running HALT! turn back runner boy ... ooookay i say ... Brain-quiet i start the back-track on the zone-track zen-tracks on the zen-track relief felt after decision's made back on track ... gotta think clearly carefully recall trail breaks note the route sign posts easy to miss a key fork in the zone overrun a necessary turn rumoured it's possible to run clean off a bluff kesey mebbe said as much i think where would that trip end ... ? Ohhh, i'm fast now! oh yes, oh boy oh here i go ... but yesss, whole body muscles loose astride of my stride gut-drawn breaths suck hard on musty river air wave-patterned track rises earily flared nostrils greedily inhale zenair inject enlightened air deep into my soul all seems to make sense again ... no worries no hurries it all fits i feel nature's track i'm on my track ... cicadas sing-song chirps in time to my steps? for my steps ... ? green zone speed zone sweat zone zzzen zone i'm in it zoned it! make no mistake knowhaddimean mate? ... My country-boy ears pick up chattering mr squirrel i'm ready cuz i know he's planning to ping-dent me with a hickory nut shard there, my eyes find him just in time i wait to the last second then feint right off track on track hickory shell thud-thumps track missed me HAH! HAH! mr squirrel can not meet my sneering gaze! i won that time always a next time though ya cain't win'em all ... OKAY, cruisin' again danger past thoughts in focus dreams re-ignite mad thoughts bad mad-thoughts bad thoughts mad bad-thoughts but just thoughts far's as i know ... Past last majestic st petersburg bluff ancient upthrusts other worldlies i pick a steeply climbing track back to the topside winding back to 'the world' burning thighs searing lungs tiring legs carry me slowly up and back ... 'the world' i muse i muse 'the world' it's a place i guess ... workshop-mates pile hours on hours good too of course pleasant surprises philosophical spurts amidst the bits best bits for me it's why i'm here afterall after all ... So, i'm running again? back away to to where? where where to? can i stop someday in someplace ... ? read more

I love this pier. It is always such a relaxing place to be and I have very fond memories of my son running up and down the pier, glancing over the edge for fish, and yelling at the birds. I also love the little "corner" it is tucked away in, with the playground next door and the beach right down the street, it is a place I will always go when I return to visit. read more

Quaint historic section of Melbourne Beach with a pier, great restaurant, lovely playground for children and park benches to sit on. Lovely. Perfect getaway quiet spot. read more

I love this place! I recently watched the sunset with a girlfriend and it was wonderful

Very romantic and peaceful. Sunset is the best here. Make sure to look for marine life.

This is a fantastic place to go to enjoy the water. I highly recommend a romantic walk out on the pier.