McKee Botanical Garden

Vero Beach South, Florida, United States

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McKee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach South, Florida, originated in 1929 when land developers Arthur McKee and Waldo Sexton purchased an 80-acre tropical hammock to cultivate citrus but soon recognized the area's natural beauty and shifted their focus to creating a tropical botanical garden.

They commissioned landscape architect William Lyman Phillips to design streams, ponds, and trails while collecting a vast array of orchids, water lilies, and exotic plants. The garden opened as McKee Jungle Gardens in 1932 and became one of Florida's most popular attractions, drawing over 100,000 visitors annually by the 1940s.

After closing in 1976 and facing potential development, community efforts and the Indian River Land Trust helped preserve 18 acres of the garden, leading to its restoration and reopening in 2001 under its current name. Today, the garden hosts over 10,000 native and tropical plants, including one of the state's largest waterlily collections, with tranquil landscapes, waterfalls, historic structures, and educational programs, preserving its legacy as a botanical and cultural landmark.