Everglades Rod and Gun Club

After leaving Marco Island, we left the developed part of southwest Florida behind. The 42 miles between Marco Island and Everglades city is completely undeveloped and almost uninhabited. The same can be said for the 92 miles from Everglades City to the Keys. This area encompasses all of the Everglades National Sanctuary and cannot be developed by man.

This is what much of the coast of southern Florida looked like two hundred years ago coming in from the Gulf of Mexico.

Coming in off the Gulf we had to locate the channel markers for the Barron River that would lead us on a ten mile winding course through the Everglades National Sanctuary to Everglades City.

The Mangrove Islands that makeup Everglades National Sanctuary.

We finally reach the historic Rod and Gun Club in the heart of the Everglades. This hotel/restaurant is the original structure from the first permanent white settler who founded Everglades City in 1864. 

In 1922, Barron Collier, a banker and railroad baron bought almost all of southwest Florida and turned the building below into his private club. He turned Everglades City into his headquarters and developed a planned community for workers and their families to live,  while his company built the Tamiami Trail. The Tamiami Trail was the first direct route through the Everglades that connected Tampa on the west coast with Miami on the east coast. It was officially opened on April 26, 1928.

The sign in front of the Rod and Gun Club on the foggy morning we left.

The wide screened porch and eating area for the restaurant is a popular gathering place.

Inside the hotel is all dark wood with a definite fishing and hunting theme. Many Presidents, to include Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Hoover and Nixon have stayed here over the years as well as many celebrities from Gypsy Rose Lee to John Wayne and Earnest Hemingway.

One of the many interesting "touches" in one of the private bars and game room.

An old Chevy truck parked outside used for advertising.

An antique phone booth that still works.

The grandfather clock in the hotel lobby definitely adds to the "olde Florida Charm" of a bygone era.

Though they have space for many boats to tie up in front of the club, ITHAKA was the only big boat to stay overnight. Except for a couple of small fishing boats, we had the whole dock to ourselves.

We walked around the small town of Everglades City and visited the Museum of the Everglades. This building was built in 1927 and operated as the commercial laundry for the planned community until the end of WWII.

Though the Rod and Gun Lodge is open to the public, they state in their brochure that "they do not intend to meet the needs of all vacationers; therein lies our unique character. We invite you to stay with us with faith that you will appreciate the simple, basic values of Olde Florida." 

Sara and I thought it was well worth our time and effort to make this memorable stop!