In 1922, the McKee-Sexton Land Company was established in Vero Beach, Florida. This partnership purchased an 80-acre tropical hammock along the Indian River in 1929 and McKee Jungle Gardens was born.
With the help of landscape architect William Lyman Phillips, now known as the pioneer of tropical landscape architecture, the basic infrastructure of streams, ponds and trails was designed. Native vegetation was augmented with ornamental plants and seeds from around the world as Arthur G. McKee and Waldo E. Sexton set about assembling one of the most outstanding collections of water lilies and orchids.
By the 1940's more than 100,000 tourists were visiting McKee Jungle Gardens each year, making it one of Florida's most popular attractions. In the early 1970's, attendance dwindled due to competition from new large-scale attractions and the garden was forced to close its doors in 1976.
The land was sold and all but 18 acres were developed. The remaining acreage, zoned for additional development, sat vacant for twenty years. In 1994, the Indian River Land Trust launched a fund-raising campaign and successfully purchased the property on December 1, 1995 for $1.7 million.
Since that pivotal date, close to $9.1 million was raised to purchase, stabilize and restore the Garden. The Garden held its formal Dedication November, 2001.
Since 2001, McKee Botanical Garden has also achieved the following successes and awards:
May 17, 2002
McKee Botanical Garden receives an Outstanding Achievement Award for Historic Landscape/Archaeology from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.
November 8-9, 2002
The Bamboo Pavilion Dedication and Celebration is held. The first permitted, structurally engineered bamboo structure in the United States, the Bamboo Pavilion was built in Colombia and then reassembled at McKee. It contains nearly 350 stems of bamboo 18-24 feet in length. The roof was completed locally by Seminole Indians who used more than 9,000 palm fronds to thatch it.
Fall, 2002
The Royal Palm Grove is recreated to resemble the 1937 historical records of what it once looked like before the garden was abandoned. It included 52 new Royal Palms, measuring 22 feet.
January, 2003
Indian River Land Trust and McKee Botanical Garden become separate institutions. The garden is now completely independent and is able to begin realizing its potential.
Winter, 2003
Thanks to the generosity of the O’Malley family, finally the mahogany table returns to the garden. Sexton discovered the table when he was just a boy at the St. Louis Exposition. It was so exquisite that he remembered it as an adult and set out to find it. He discovered it in a New York basement, where he purchased it and brought it to live in the Hall of Giants. At 5 feet wide, 5 inches thick, and 35 feet long, it truly is a beautiful sight. Many a meal has been consumed on the table in the days of Sexton and McKee and the tradition continues today for weddings and other events.
April 29, 2003
McKee is awarded 501(c) 3 status. This simply states that McKee Botanical Garden is a non-profit organization and is now tax exempt.
January, 2005
David Rogers’ Big Bugs exhibit is brought to the Garden through the generosity of the Schumann Foundation. It featured seven larger than life bugs that were made out of fallen branches, tree roots, vines, bark and green saplings. These enormous bugs were on display January 8 th through March 31 st. The exhibit included a grasshopper, praying mantis, dragonfly, spider on a web, and three 25 foot long x 16 foot tall ants marching through the Royal Palm Grove.
July, 2005
The Inaugural “Water Lily Celebration” is held. The day’s events include potting demos, an exhibit of Water Lily art, slide shows, and much more. The goal was to educate the public through a variety of programs and to celebrate the beautiful trademark of the garden.
October, 2005
Hurricane Wilma hits Florida. Staff and volunteers work tirelessly to clear debris and triage the trees that were impacted by the 80 mph winds.
November, 2006
Christine Hobart, formerly Director of Operations, is named Executive Director of McKee Botanical Garden. She has been with the garden since 1998.
November, 2006
McKee Botanical Garden is awarded $7,500 from Quail Valley Charities, Inc. The grant was used to bus in students from Gifford Youth Activity Center, Redlands Christian Migrant Association, and guest passes were given to Hibiscus Children’s Center, and the Children’s Home Society. The money was also used to print the wonderful Children’s Guide to the Dinosaurs.
January, 2007
McKee Botanical Garden is invaded by dinosaurs! Thirty life sized dinosaurs were brought to the garden by artist Guy Darrough. Scattered throughout the garden, this exhibit was a huge success, brining more people to the garden than ever before. With events and activities to coincide with the exhibit, the dinosaurs were a wonderful addition to the garden.
McKee Botanical Garden, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit cultural organization located at the southern gateway to Vero Beach, Florida, with the mission of "nurturing and enhancing a historic garden in a unique subtropical setting for the education, enjoyment and enrichment of all."
The garden is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a historic Florida landmark. It has been endorsed by The Garden Conservancy as a project of National Significance and received the Florida Trust's "Outstanding Achievement in Landscape Architecture" in 2002.
The Garden receives support from individuals, foundations, and corporations and from income generated from admissions, gift shop sales, special events, and rentals. The Garden can be rented for weddings, dinner parties, receptions, ceremonies and other private events.
McKee Botanical Garden is known for its 18-acre subtropical jungle hammock, filled with plants appropriate for horticultural growing zone 9B. This dense and diverse collection also features several restored architectural treasures.
