Keller Williams Realty South Shore

Apollo Beach FL Area Guide

Apollo Beach is located on the eastern side of Tampa Bay and is the South Shore region of Hillsborough County. It embodies all of the great benefits of living in Florida including a wide range of recreational opportunities and substantial economic growth. Apollo Beach is centrally located in the region is a short commute to the Tampa Bay area. The area is also only 30 minutes from Bradenton and Busch Gardens, 45 minutes from Tampa International Airport and the Gulf Beaches, and 90 minutes from Disney in Orlando. Apollo Beach is a man-made community of waterfront real estate that is suitable for boating, sailing and fishing enthusiasts.

History

Apollo Beach was named after the mythical Greek God who brought light and warmth to the Earth every day. In the 1920s the land here was used mainly for farming and grazing pasture, and the remaining areas were estuaries and mangrove swamps. The swamp lands were low-lying and considered uninhabitable.

Originally the land here was owned by Paul Dickman, and he conceived the idea of building a waterfront community here. He believed that a community here would be good because U.S. Highway 41 was an equal distance away from both Tampa and Bradenton. The Dickman family went to great lengths hiring engineers, contractors, and architects to design subdivisions, roads, canals, schools and recreation areas for the town. In the 1950s Mr. Dickman sold the land to three New Yorkers so construction could begin under their supervision, but by 1956 the project had become too large for the amount of capital they had invested and they announced to Mr. Dickman that they were unable to complete the project. The conditions for construction in the area (then known as Tampa Beach) were extremely difficult; the marshes and swamps were full of mosquitos, snakes, and alligators in addition to the relentless wet vegetation. In 1957 Mr. Dickman began several months of negotiations with Francis Con, a retired business man from Michigan who was interested in the land’s potential.  Finally Mr. Dickman agreed again to sell the 5,500 acres of land. 

Mr. Con began the construction of 50 homes in the area and reached an agreement with a South Carolina contractor to help with dredging the canals in exchange for parcels of land. The area was renamed Apollo Beach and residents began moving into the town due to its convenient location to the larger Florida cities.

Parks and Recreation

Apollo Beach is home to many great parks and recreational opportunities. The community is dedicated to providing a safe and fun environment in which residents and visitors alike can relax and enjoy the outdoors.

Apollo Beach Nature Park
This small park maintained by the county is at the end of Surfside Blvd. in southern Hillsborough County.  The beach allows residents and visitors to picnic on the sand and walk along the beautiful beach.

Events

Apollo Beach offers exciting events for residents and visitors to participate in throughout the year. Check out the list below for great events to bring your family and friends to!

Manatee Arts Festival (March)
http://www.apollobeachchamber.com/manatee.htm
This arts festival features two full days of arts and crafts for residents of Apollo Beach.

Beach Party and Beer Can Island (May)
Celebrate summer at this beach party featuring live music, drinks, games and plenty of fun under the sun.

Attractions

Apollo Beach is home to great attractions that are sure to satisfy everyone in your family’s needs for fun. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture all the great memories you’ll be making here in Apollo Beach!

Mosquito Lagoon
At Mosquito Lagoon visitors are able to take guided fishing tours in some of the best fishing waters in the area. There is a turn of the century settlement along the Eldora Trail, and hiking is available at the Turtle Mound Trail which leads to the top of Timucuan Mound.

For more information on Apollo Beach FL visit the Chamber of Commerce website by clicking here http://www.apollobeachchamber.com