1923 Sykes Creek Drive, Merritt Island, FL 32953

Property Description

Some waterfront homes have a view. This one has a front-row seat to Sykes Creek. Set on a bend directly across from the protected Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary, this 4BR/4BA home offers expansive water views, exceptional privacy and no neighboring backyards across the creek. Over $400,000 in improvements complement 4,288 SF of architecture designed around the water. Soaring ceilings, walls of glass and dramatic living spaces capture Sykes Creek from nearly every room. The waterfront living room opens to a pool and outdoor entertaining areas. Upstairs, an expansive loft offers flexible space for entertaining, billiards or fitness and opens to a 217 SF rooftop launch-viewing deck angled toward the Cape launch pads. The primary suite offers sweeping creek views, including from the double shower, plus access to a 200 SF wraparound deck. A private dock and boat lift complete the waterfront lifestyle. Sunrises, dolphins, manatees and rocket launches provide the ever-changing backdrop. IMPROVEMENTS 2020 New flooring - 1st floor & spiral stairs New paint throughout (adding blue & green accent walls) New lighting fixtures in foyer & kitchen Kitchen island replace stack stone Removed 2 steps to raised floor in Speakeasy Removed planters speak easy Norman Automatic Blinds in loft & main BR New electric service under couch Solar light in mailbox New LED Ceiling Lights throughout (approx 80) Variable speed pool pump 3 Carrier Variable Speed HVAC "Niagara Falls Style" viewer New gutters 2021 Landscaping Redesign Removed Hedge Regraded New GAF Roof with Gold Pledge Warranty (transfers to new owner) New flooring - 2nd Floor New Walls High end jetted tub New vanity with granite x 2 in Main Bath Matching granite on Bar Sink in Loft New Cabinet Doors below Bar Sink Ikea Cabinet in Main Bath Added adjustable LED lights in Pool Area 2022 Rebuilt launch deck with Trex & cable railing Resurfaced Master BR deck, added drip edge, new stucco Painted House Exterior with elastomeric Paint Kayak Hand-Crank Lift Added Garage Shelving & Cabinets 2023 Complete renovation of pool bath. New shower. New Vanity Added folding shelf in Laundry New Cabinets in Laundry Replaced 3 outdoor hose bibs 2024 High End electrolux oven & microwave New Dishwasher 2025 Sealed pool waterfall Dug 6" trench around entire exterior, added rocks & anti termite chemical 2026 New drain pipe from Driveway to Creek FROM ROCKETTES TO ROCKETS Some houses have owners. 1923 Sykes Creek Drive has characters. Its story begins with a former New York City Rockette and her larger-than-life boyfriend, whom neighborhood lore remembers as having mob connections. He was known to stand in the driveway smoking a fat cigar, sometimes with bodyguards nearby. Old photographs show etched-glass front doors featuring the New York skyline and Ginger Rogers. We are told the primary bath was once almost entirely mirrored. Then came the house's wild years. After the Rockette was widowed, she reportedly evacuated to Ocala ahead of a hurricane and never returned. For nearly two years, the property sat in limbo. Merritt Island natives of a certain age still tell stories about slipping through a side door and socializing in the loft. The next owner rescued it. A county executive bought the home out of foreclosure, stripped away the damage, replaced the drywall and brought the house back to life. What might have been a quick flip became a decade-long stay. Then came the current owners, who had been living in a 1,400-square-foot home before the dot-com boom. He, an Internet entrepreneur. She, an orchid grower. Both, rocket photographers. They were captivated by the private launch-viewing deck. She discovered that the screened pool enclosure filtered the Florida sun by just the right amount for orchids. Before long, hundreds of rare orchids were thriving there. For them, the magic was the combination: more than 4,000 square feet, remarkable architecture, dolphins and manatees in the backyard, protected wetlands across the water, and rockets rising over the Space Coast. And now the house is ready for its next chapter. Maybe the next owner comes for the fishing. Maybe the wildlife. Maybe the privacy. Maybe the launch views. Maybe they simply walk in and realize they have found a home unlike anything they expected. For more than 30 years, 1923 Sykes Creek Drive has attracted unlikely owners with interesting stories. Who will be next?