The Rock Shrimp Story from Dixie Crossroads This is not just another fish tale! Have you ever wondered how rock shrimp became such a popular seafood? Twenty years ago this small little crustacean couldn't even be given away, never mind eaten. Well, Rodney Thompson, the owner of the Dixie Crossroads, has a very interesting story to tell about how rock shrimp (now the largest shrimp industry on the East Coast of Florida) all began. This is not just another fish tale! Back in 1969, we used to be one of Titusville's best local boat builders. One day I decided I wanted to be a "King" ... King Shrimper, that is. In order to do this we built the first fiberglass shrimp boat ever to be made in the Western Hemisphere. This 73 ft. was a beauty, but she just couldn't catch regular shrimp. One lonely afternoon, we tied up at Port Canaveral next to the NOAA Research Vessel ... "Oregon II." Smiling down at us, Captain Barrett looked at our empty nets and grinned. "Do you want to make a million dollars?... I'II show you how!" We were hesitant, but we were starving. The next day, in the wake of the Oregon II, we found ourselves twenty miles east of Melbourne. Down went the sample nets. After a number of "tries," not one brown shrimp was to be found. Upon Captain Barrett's orders, we dropped our large nets and after an hour of trawling, decked over 1000 lbs... of "peanuts," "trash" or "hard heads" ... those which we all know and love as rock shrimp. Captain Barrett's remark was, "Captain Rodney, if you can figure out how to sell those 'peanuts', you'll be a millionaire!" After heading the shrimp, we shipped them to fish markets throughout the country.. No one would bite. I paid for shipping costs but I couldn't give them away! But perseverance paid off. One Sunday, pondering over what to do, my daughter, Captain Laurilee., split one, buttered it, threw it on the broiler ... and it, of course, was delicious! With the advent of high speed splitting machines and new processing rooms. Dixie Crossroads now is the world's leader in sales of rock shrimp. Selling the boat business and devoting full time to Dixie Crossroads the Thompsons use their knowledge of the fisheries to purchase only the finest Florida seafood from the best fisherman in Florida. The Vona Fleet provides all of the Dixie Crossroads shrimp using specially equipped trawlers capable of fishing in depth up to 1200 feet in Cape Canaveral's offshore waters. Local mullet fisherman ply the waters of the Indian River for Florida's favorite fish. Daily the boats unload their catches at the crossroads where they are prepared in Dixie's special way - carefully removing the skin and bone and using only the heart of the filet. Mullet are served fried, broiled or steamed. Our menu is Florida's seafood at its best - not masked by sauces, pasta or extenders - just cooked in old Cracker tradition and served to you with Southern Hospitality. Poverty, and his underlying love for rock shrimp led to the creation of the one and only Dixie Crossroads. Opened January 1, 1983, Dixie today is recognized as one of the best seafood (and rock shrimp) restaurants in our area. Rodney and his staff would like to invite everyone in the country to come experience his delicious rock shrimp. To some it's only "peanuts," but to the Rock Shrimp King, it's worth a million bucks! Dixie Crossroads, Inc. 1475 Garden Street Titusville, FL 32796 (321) 268-5000 HOME