Haulover Canal

(4/12/18) The Haulover Canal is home to many manatees.  It was incorporated into the Intracoastal Waterway in 1927 and is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  It is north of Merritt Island Florida and is near the former site of Allenhurst, a community  which was demolished along with 12 others when the Kennedy Space Center was built.  The canal connects the Indian River with Mosquito Lagoon.  

Early Americans, Native Americans, and explorers would carry their canoes and small boats over a thin strip of land between the lagoon and the river.  Over time, it became know as the “haulover”, hence the name Haulover Canal.  The original canal was 3 feet deep and 14 feet wide and was used by steamboats and cargo ships before the railroad system was built.  The Old Haulover Canal is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.  Today, the Haulover Canal is much deeper and wider and has a basin into which boats may be launched.  It was so early when we went through the canal there weren’t many people out fishing, but later in the day this canal will be full of boats out to throw in a line.  

Joy