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Welcome to The Parkhouse: A 1920s Tropical Retreat Reborn
Imagine stepping into a slice of 1920s Florida, where the soft glow of Edison bulbs casts a warm front porch welcome at The Parkhouse, a plantation home lovingly restored to its former glory. The air carries the sweet scent of tropical blooms, and the gentle splash of a heated pool out back mingles with laughter. Just beyond lies the 40-acre Rotary Park Nature Center, once the heartbeat of a bustling pineapple plantation. This is Old Florida charm melding with modern comfort—a retreat crafted by our family for your unforgettable escape.
We’re the Street family—Tim, Liz, and our four daughters, Allie, Olivia, Kate, and Heidi, joined by our trusty pup, Maggie. Our hearts beat for gathering, for weaving memories that linger, and it’s this love that drove us to transform The Parkhouse into a haven for guests like you. Every corner of this home reflects our dedication, making your stay as cherished as our own family moments.
Back in the 1920s, as Merritt Island thrived amid sprawling pineapple plantations and Florida pulsed with the rhythms of the Jazz Age, The Parkhouse emerged as a practical symbol of its time. Strategically built along South Tropical Trail—the island’s only north-south road and a lifeline for shuttling fruit to the commercial docks at Hacienda Del Sol on the Indian River—it reflected the ingenuity of its visionary builder. Beyond crafting a home, he laid the foundation for a lasting legacy: the land he owned would one day become Rotary Park. For years, his horse-drawn buggies hauled golden pineapples to the river’s edge, and in the 1970s, he cemented his impact by donating 40 acres to the Brevard County School District, creating a cherished space for generations of children. So deeply woven into Merritt Island’s identity was The Parkhouse that it remained untaxed until the ‘70s, a quiet tribute to its enduring significance.
But that was then. Fast forward a century to 2023, and we found her—a grand dame fallen on hard times. Formerly breathtaking in the 1920s, The Parkhouse was sinking, rotting, a neglected shell of her past. But where others saw ruin, we saw a story begging to be revived. We took on the mission to bring her back, despite the pitying glances from neighbors and the headshakes of contractors. Every wall we pried open unleashed budget-crushing surprises, and with four girls and Maggie in tow, I wrestled with doubt—was risking our future worth it to save this piece of history? Yet the spirit of the 1920s—the whisper of pineapple breezes, the faint hum of speakeasy jazz, the echo of that original owner’s dreams—held us captive. We couldn’t let this gem be lost to the bulldozers that have claimed so much of Florida’s heritage.
So, with grit and heart, we dove into a two-year restoration odyssey. The result? A triumph we’re beyond thrilled to share. The Parkhouse lives again, and we’ve opened its doors to you, infusing it with touches to make you feel instantly at home. With a humble nod toward the past, Edison bulbs greet your entry, a screened porch catches the cool island air, and a fenced yard invites kids and pets to play free. We’ve woven in modern comforts—smart TVs, blazing fast WiFi, that sparkling heated pool—while guarding the home’s timeless soul. Steps away, Rotary Park Nature Center buzzes with guided walks, hands-on exhibits, and events showcasing Merritt Island’s wild beauty (peek at brevardfl.gov/ParksAndRecreation/ParksCalendar for the latest). Our promise? To make your stay as magical as the memories we’ve built here.
Today, The Parkhouse at 1790 South Tropical Trail stands as your tropical sanctuary, ideal for families, teams, and friend groups. Dive into the heated pool, roam Rotary Park’s trails, or unwind with firepit s’mores and porch-swing tales—whatever your getaway vision, we’re here to bring it to life.
Before we move forward, I just wanted to point out that the SEARCH option for this digital guide is at the bottom. Consider it your fast pass to answers - or you can get there by tapping here.
1. Parties or Events are not allowed without prior approval. Quiet Hours are from 10P-9A 7 days a week; sound level is monitored by NoiseAware Automation to ensure you and the neighbors enjoy a safe, peaceful environment. Pro tip: Quiet hours are not a challenge :-) PLEASE understand that this is a quiet neighborhood with very involved neighbors, and even outside quiet hours if they can hear loud music, shouting, etc across their property line, they will complain resulting in a breach of house rules and a potential cancellation of your reservation.
2. For insurance reasons, please ensure that only registered guests are invited to the property. Any undeclared guests on the property will incur a $40 per person fee.
3. Please do not smoke anything inside the home. If there is smoking inside the home a $200 additional cleaning fee will be charged.
4. Please remove your shoes upon entering the house.
5. Accidents happen - but willful damages/destruction exceeding the coverage amount will be billed to the guest and unfortunately reported to the booking company. Upon issuing any complaints about any aspect of the property, the Guest authorizes the Host or his designee to enter the property in order to provide a resolution.
6. Must be at least 25 years old to book - Exceptions considered, please inquire before booking.
7. We warmly welcome pets, but please note that prior approval is required along with payment of a pet deposit and nightly fee. For the comfort and health of future guests, it's important that pets are crated when left alone and are not allowed in sleeping areas. If any evidence of pet hair or waste is found in living areas, the $500 pet deposit will be retained to cover the deep cleaning and deallergen fees.
8. Because many of the house safety and environmental systems rely on being connected to the internet, please do not unplug or disable the internet routers/modems as this will cause damage to the home.
9. Because this home is booked virtually 100% of the time, any guests who have not left the home within 30 minutes of the 10am checkout without authorization will be billed for an additional full night rate to pay for extra cleaners to come and make the home to be spotless for the next guests.
10. Please under no circumstances bring any food/drink other than water into the sleeping areas - if our cleaning staff finds leftover food items and/or drinks in the sleeping areas a $200 pest control fee will be charged.
11. Guests agree to read, understand, and adhere to the Liability Waiver at the end of the house rules.
Because your safety and privacy matter, the property features security a doorbell camera - there are ABSOLUTELY NO cameras inside the living areas of the home.
A few days before your visit begins, I will send you additional details with check-in and access instructions. If you have any questions in the meantime, let me know :-)
Thanks,
Tim (dad), Liz (mom), Allie, Olivia, Kate and Heidi (the girls).
Liability Waiver:
You understand that swimming, hiking and the use of Kayaks, Paddleboards (AKA watertoys) is at your own risk and that special risks may be involved with swimming, hiking and using the water toys. You accept full responsibility for any bodily injury arising from swimming, hiking and use of the water toys and hold owner harmless. You understand there are potential dangers that swimming, hiking and the use of water toys may present to children who are not carefully supervised, as well as the danger to any person swimming, hiking or using the water toys if a person has health risks, or if a person swims, hikes or uses the water toys while intoxicated or using any kind of drugs or medication, or while pregnant. You agree to be fully and solely responsible for any accidents you may incur. You understand the risks discussed above and agree that you will assume all responsibility for yourself and for the consequences of those in your party. You agree to waive any claim whatsoever against the owner for accidents or claims arising from swimming, hiking or using the water toys. All Airbnb Guests in my party acknowledge and agree that they have read and understand this waiver and they acknowledge that confirming below constitutes a binding and enforceable contract between Airbnb Guests and Airbnb Host.
