The Jupiter Lighthouse

Jupiter’s cylindrical tower and most famous landmark; the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse is a beacon that shines brightly at night to illuminate the city and serves as a guide for numerous vessels traveling along Jupiter’s shores. The lighthouse is located on the north side of the Jupiter Inlet (anchor link) and it sits on a piece of land situated at the junction between the Jupiter Inlet and the Indian River. It is the only lighthouse along the east Florida coastline to be found between the Cape Canaveral and Hillsboro Inlet lighthouses and one of the oldest buildings in Palm Beach County.

Although the site for the Jupiter lighthouse was decided upon in 1853, the actual lighthouse was not fully constructed until 1860. This was due to building interruptions caused by the Third Seminole War. The design of the lighthouse came from Lieutenant George G. Meade of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers. This design was then slightly modified by Lieutenant William Reynolds, who succeeded Meade as head of the 4th and 7th Lighthouse Districts and improved the strength of the lighthouse with a double wall design and a First Order Fresnel Lens, the most powerful lens available. The lighthouse’s lens is actually thought to be the oldest First Order Fresnel Lens in Florida. Behind the lens sits the 1,000-watt, 120-volt GE quartz-iodine bulb lamp, which is socketed into a lamp changer with an identical spare. When in operation, the light is visible 24 miles out to sea and in an airplane, it is visible 40 to 50 miles away. Subsequently, the lighthouse and oil house construction was completed by Captain Edward Yorke on in May 1860. It was first lit July 10, 1860.

The Jupiter Lighthouse’s Daymark is red with a black lantern. This distinctive color combination allowed ships to determine that they were sailing past Jupiter, Florida during the daylight hours. During the night; however, the Lighthouse also needed a distinctive mark to alert sailors to their location. This is accomplished with the light itself. Just as each lighthouse is painted in distinctive colors and patterns, each flashes in distinctive sequences. The Jupiter Lighthouse flashes for 1.2 seconds, eclipses (or darkens) for 6.6 seconds, flashes for 1.2 seconds, eclipses for 21 seconds, and then repeats the cycle. It is important to note that the bulbs do not blink (the original oil lamps did not blink either). It is the rotation of the lens that causes the bursts of light to be perceived as flashes.

In 1936, the US navy acquired 8.4 acres of the lighthouse’s grounds from the US Government and established an Intelligence Listening Post and a Naval Radio Station on the site. This later became known as Station-J. Station-J was a secret operation base tasked with intercepting German U-boat radio messages, warning Allied ships, and helping US forces attack enemy vessels. Station-J was able to pinpoint the names and locations of the submarines and, in 1943, over 60 German submarines were destroyed on account of the efforts of the men of Station-J.

Today, by continuous support of the Loxahatchee River Historical Society (LRHS) – a nonprofit organization which was initially founded to preserve the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse area's history – the lighthouse can be easily accessed with a visit to the now-in-place Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum. Proclaimed one of Jupiter’s greatest attractions, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse is an absolute must for visitors from near and far. It offers a complete history of the tower and full access to the grounds, not to mention daily tours that lead visitors up the tower’s 105 spiraling, cast-iron stairs to the top of the venerable lighthouse to come in close range of the optic and revel in arguably the best view of the city of Jupiter. Also on the grounds are a Seminole Chickee, in illustration of the relationship between the Seminoles and the early lighthouse keepers. Although the Keeper’s house is no longer standing, some of the outbuildings are, providing a sense of life at the lighthouse. This is also enhanced by the Tindall Pioneer House, which is the earliest house still in existence in Jupiter, affording a true glimpse of early life along the Loxahatchee. The last remaining Station-J building is to be found in the Museum itself, wherein visitors learn the history while actually walking among it. The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 7 days a week from May – December, and from Tuesday to Sunday from January – April. The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum is located in Lighthouse Park, 500 Captain Armour's Way, Jupiter, Florida.

Roger Dean Stadium

There are only two stadiums in Florida that host spring training for Major League Baseball teams, and one of them is located right here in Jupiter – Roger Dean Stadium. Built in 1998, Roger Dean Stadium is home to the Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals’ spring training. It holds approximately 6,871 people, and features sky-box seating, as well as two levels of permanent seating, in addition to parking and concessions. The Roger Dean Stadium Complex is the only stadium in the country to host four minor league teams. These are: The Jupiter Hammerheads of the Class A-Advanced Baseball Florida State League, The Palm Beach Cardinals of the Class A-Advanced Baseball Florida State League, The Gulf Coast Marlins of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, and The Gulf Coast Cardinals of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

Owner Roger Houston Dean, who the stadium is named after, was one of the first Mega Auto Dealers in the United States. Throughout his life, Dean’s achieved great success via his excellent customer service and his ability to to create customers for life. Today, these qualities have been passed on to his daughter, Patty Dean, who continues Dean’s hard work and dedication by building on this legacy within the three dealerships that she owns today; Roger Dean Chevrolet of West Palm Beach, Roger Dean Chevrolet of Cape Coral and Roger Dean Buick GMC of Fort Pierce.

As a proud community sponsor, Roger Dean Stadium has promoted growth through sports since it opened its gates. Through its numerous events, Roger Dean Stadium has played an integral role in giving back and bringing the communities of Palm Beach and Martin County together. The stadium is not only a safe and fun environment for families to enjoy America’s baseball games, but it continues to be a vital sponsor of many activities and promotions that support local charities and organizations.

Some of Roger Dean Stadium’s past community events include:  Kids Fest, Education Day, Super Splash Recreation Day, Dog Days, Gator Night and Slammin’ Saturdays The stadium is located at 4751 Main Street, Jupiter, Florida 33458. Roger Dean Stadium is approximately 19 miles south of Stuart and 14 miles north of West Palm Beach.

Jupiter Inlet

Historical accounts from the U.S. Army Corps Engineers date the Jupiter Inlet’s first appearance to 1671 when the Spanish first came to the area and produced maps. At first, the Jupiter Inlet was the only outlet for the Jupiter Sound, Lake Worth Creek, the Loxahatchee River (anchor link), and parts of the Indian River and St. Lucie River. The total flow was enough to maintain adequate depth throughout the Inlet with the exception of severe storm occurrences, in which case the Inlet would temporarily close.

The Jupiter Inlet was first known as Hobe, or Jobe for a tribe of aboriginal Jeaga Indians who lived on the banks of the Inlet and river. And so, when the Spanish explorers first came to the area, they named the river that ran into the Inlet the Jobe River in observance of the native tribe.  Later, when the English settlers came upon the area in 1763, they interpreted Jobe as Jove, the mythological god, which in turn became Jupiter. Hobe or Hoe-Bay continues today as Jupiter’s neighbor Hobe Sound.

Before 1922, Jupiter Inlet was a natural inlet without any man-made structures at the Inlet mouth. Under the combined effect of tidal flow through the Inlet and the predominant littoral drift in the southward direction, the Inlet joined the Atlantic Ocean with an orientation in the southeastern direction. That year, chief engineer of Lake Worth, Florida, J. C. Wagen issued a permit to construct two, 400-foot long entrance jetties that were 122 meters apart from each other, on the north side and one on the south side of the Inlet. These jetties would provide the Inlet with stability and flow direction to the East. In order to do this, a channel was dredged in the easterly direction across the sand barrier. The channel was 30 meters wide at bottom with a 6-foot depth below the mean low water level. Following natural cycles of opening and closing, as well as years of maintenance, including extensions and modifications of the jetties and further dredging along the inlet, the Jupiter Inlet gradually became the main accessing channel from Jupiter to the Atlantic Ocean that many locals and tourists enjoy today. The Inlet offers a scenic view of the Jupiter Lighthouse before a day of boating and sport fishing ensues.

Loxahatchee River

The Loxahatchee River is the southernmost tributary of the Indian River Lagoon and includes the 7.6-mile long Northwest Fork  portion of the Loxahatchee River – or the “River of Turtles” in Seminole Indian tongue – which is one of two rivers in the State of Florida is federally designated as a “National Wild and Scenic River”. The river itself has three main forks that flow to the central embayment area before heading out the Jupiter Inlet. The extensive Loxahatchee River watershed is home to several saltwater and freshwater habitats of many rare, threatened, and endangered species from flora and fauna such as the sandhill crane, the peregrine falcon, wood storks, manatees, and the four-petal pawpaw, a tree that is uniquely native to Palm Beach and Martin counties. This 260-square mile ecosystem includes the communities of Jupiter, Tequesta, Juno Beach, Jupiter Island, Jupiter Inlet Colony, Jupiter Farms, Hobe Sound, and Palm Beach Gardens. One of Florida’s most stand-alone natural features, the Loxahatchee River is a peaceful, slow-paced flowing river that travels through freshwater creeks, into a brackish water estuary, and finally funnels through the Jupiter Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Northwest Fork – or the “National Wild and Scenic” portion of the Loxahatchee River – is arguably the best spot for paddling enthusiasts in Jupiter. It offers many miles of scenic canoe and kayak runs that vary from narrow cypress tree-lined freshwater creeks to open mangrove-lined saltwater bays.The source for this portion of the Loxahatchee River is in Riverbend Park on the south side of Indiantown Road about 1.5 miles west of the Florida Turnpike and I-95 in Jupiter, Florida. Launching points for canoe and kayak trips on the river are accessible at Riverbend Park and also at Jonathan Dickinson State Park (anchor link) in Hobe Sound, Florida. As an added bonus, while traveling down the river, paddlers can come across the home of late Vince "Trapper" Nelson. Nelson turned this homestead into a zoo and filled with wild and exotic animals, and the zoo became a popular tourists spot that was visited by many celebrities during the 1940s and 1950s before it was shut down in 1960. Nelson’s home remained and it lies along the river in a section that runs through Jonathan Dickinson State Park (anchor link). Whether it is by boat, canoe, kayak, or by foot, no visit to Jupiter is complete without exploring this gem.

The Loxahatchee River was also the film the inspiration for the 2005 film “Our Signature: the Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River,” The film was made possible by Florida film producer Elam Stoltzfus and the Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative, an organization that focuses on developing key projects that promote long-term care of the Loxahatchee River.

Riverwalk

The Riverwalk is an ongoing recreational corridor that is located along the eastern shoreline of the Intracoastal Waterway from the Jupiter Ridge Natural Area north to the Jupiter Inlet. It is an ongoing project that, upon completion, will provide a 2.5-mile, ADA-compliant trail along the Jupiter Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway. Throughout the corridor, hikers and bikers can enjoy a genuine Jupiter waterfront outing where many points of interests are located, passing – or zipping – by residential and commercial properties, marinas, parks, and many of Jupiter’s most celebrated tourists attractions.  

Start the run through Ocean Way, which connects the Atlantic Ocean to the southernmost point of Riverwalk, Jupiter Ridge Natural Area. This 267-acre natural area is parallel to a unique Florida coastal scrub habitat and it is a haven for bird watchers. Then, continue north to the Jupiter Yacht Club, where picturesque views of the Intracoastal are available throughout its 89-slip public marina, have a cup of coffee or grab a bite, or enjoy some outdoor shopping. Mosey on down to The Plaza Down Under on the Riverwalk where all kinds of special events take place, including festivals, arts & crafts fairs, and holiday celebrations. Farther along you will find the Harbourside development, located north of the Indiantown Road Bridge and serves as the main entertainment component of the Riverwalk. Harbourside offers an array of options for shopping, dining, entertainment, and special events, not to mention, the 179 room Wyndham Grand Hotel. Beyond Harbourside heading northbound, attractions such as Burt Reynolds Park (anchor link) and the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum (anchor link) can easily be accessed to bring the tour to a close.

There are many entry ways into Riverwalk: Through The Jupiter Yacht Club, or Mangrove Bay. or The Plaza Down Under on the Riverwalk, or The Best Western Intracoastal Inn Hotel.

Maltz Jupiter Theatre

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is a professional not-for-profit regional theatre dedicated to the performing arts whose mission is to entertain, educate and inspire our community.

The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida’s preeminent professional theatres, committed to performance, production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. The state's largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre’s performances have drawn rave reviews from media outlets across the world.

Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director and Chief Executive Andrew Kato, as well as a dedicated board and staff, the Theatre has received multiple Carbonell awards, South Florida’s highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence. The award is given to the theater company that exemplifies excellence for the totality of its programming: productions, educational outreach, developmental programs and audiences served.

The Theatre boasts a subscription base of more than 7,628 and has world-class facilities in support of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of students in after-school, weekend and summer programs. In 2015, the Conservatory launched its Professional Training Program, a two-year certificate program designed to prepare young performers for a career in performing arts. This competitive, audition-only program is the only program of its kind in Florida affiliated with a professional regional theatre.

In addition to a supportive Board of Directors, the Theatre has more than 400 volunteers assisting in a variety of functions, including office support, ushering, special events and computer services.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) public charity and serves over 100,000 people annually in the tri-county area. Located at the corner of State Road A1A and Indiantown Road in Jupiter, the Theatre's annual budget is $6.8 million, of which $2.5 is donated. The Theatre recently completed a $10 million endowment campaign to ensure that it continues in perpetuity and completed a $2.5 million expansion (including The Green Room Club Level Lounge and seating area).

The Theatre’s standing as largest in the state is determined through average box office income by the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the largest professional theater association of its kind in the United States.

The 617-seat venue is Florida’s only LORT B theatre. Theaters are categorized into tiers A through D, with tiers determined by the weekly actual box office receipts averaged over the last three complete fiscal years.

Juno Beach Pier