A legendary beachside Brevard home known for parties attended by astronauts has new owners.
The sale was complete Monday for the home built by race car legend Jim Rathmann. He was known for hosting pool parties for astronauts during the space industry’s heyday. Rathmann built and lived in the Indialantic home after he won the Indianapolis 500 in 1960.
He opened Jim Rathmann Chevrolet in Melbourne in 1961, and famously arranged for the early astronauts to lease cars — typically Chevy Corvettes — at a low price. From that, he developed a friendship with many of the astronauts.
Rathmann died in a Brevard County hospice in 2011 at the age of 83.
What did Rathmann’s former house sell for?
The house sold for $1.15 million, which was just below the asking price of $1.195 million, according to Aaron Young with Island Pineapple Realty, the firm that listed the house.
The home, located at 500 Palmetto Place in Indialantic, went on the market in June. It’s on a .45 acre, corner lo, has four-bedroom, four-bathrooms an is just a short walk to a park and the beach. There’s a gourmet kitchen, custom cabinetry, a whole-home generator and plenty more amenities.
But the home’s most famous feature is an oversized saltwater pool complete with cabana bath.
“I was told 500 Palmetto was a place where astronauts were entertained and enjoyed the gigantic swimming pool in the backyard,” Young previously told FLORIDA TODAY.
Over the last six years the home has been renovated to a midcentury modern look.
Who are the new owner’s of Rathmann’s former house?
The new owners' identity hasn't been released. However, Young said they are moving from Merritt Island.
How did Rathmann develop a friendship with astronauts?
Apparently it all started back in the early 1960s when he leased Corvettes to the Apollo astronauts.
Remember we stated Rathmann gave the astronauts, including the first man to walk on the moon Neil Armstrong, a deal? The deal was to lease a Corvette for one year for just $1.
Pat Fischer of Nissan car dealer in Titusville previously recalled to FLORIDA TODAY how the exchange between Armstrong and Rathmann went down.
“So (Armstrong) goes down to buy this car at Jim Rathmann Chevrolet and Jim Rathmann realizes who he is and goes on and gives it to him,” Nissan car dealer in Titusville, Pat Fischer told FLORIDA TODAY. “So (Armstrong) takes it back and NASA, the government, says, ‘You can’t get a free car, you have to go and take it back.’ So he goes and takes it back and Jim Rathmann was like, ‘Oh, hell no, open your wallet and give me a dollar.’ So he gives him a dollar and he goes, ‘sold.’”
According to General Motors press release, Rathmann actually starting selling the $1 corvettes to the Mercury astronauts, before Armstrong came into the picture.
Rathmann and his car dealership was brought to the big screen in "The Right Stuff"
Rathmann’s car dealership was showcased in the TV series, “The Right Stuff” loosely based on Tom Wolfe’s book of the same name. The series, executively produced by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, was based on the early days of the U.S. space program.
A building in Titusville was used to resemble Rathmann’s Chevrolet car dealership. The show premiered on Disney+ in October 2020, but was cancelled the series less than a year later.
Rathmann’s racing career
Rathmann began racing professionally when he was 16 years old .
He first qualified for the Indy 500 in 1949 at the age of 20. He finished in 11 th place that year.
By 1959, he had finished second three times, but had yet to capture a win. That was until the following year.
Rathmann and Rodger Ward, the driver who beat him the previous year, were neck and neck most of the race. Rathmann squeaked out a win at the last moment in what many consider the greatest Indy 500 race ever.
Spitzer is a Trending Reporter. She can be reached at MSpitzer@Florida.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Sold: Someone buys Brevard home owned by racing legend who hosted parties for astronauts
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