Everglades Rod & Gun Club

Everglades Rod & Gun Club is a historic lodge, restaurant, and marina on the Barron River in Everglades City. It's outside Everglades National Park, but makes sense as a gateway-town stop if you're exploring the Gulf Coast side and want a meal with a bit of local history attached. The appeal is the combination: old lodge interiors, Florida seafood, and a waterfront setting. Expect a lived-in historic property rather than a polished resort; upkeep and service can be uneven.

The restaurant serves Florida seafood and Southern dishes in a dining room overlooking the river, with more river views from the screened porch. Blackened grouper is a named specialty, and the menu also lists stone crab claws. The club says it can prepare your fresh catch, and key lime pie is a favorite with diners. Come for a meal as much as for the building; this is a working restaurant, not a museum.

The familiar 1864 date belongs to the area's early settler story, not a clearly established founding date for the named Rod & Gun Club. A homestead and later trading post and lodge came first; Barron Collier acquired the property in 1922 and turned it into a private retreat in the 1920s. The Bowen family bought it in 1972 and kept the lower floor's historic character as guest cottages were added. Stories about famous guests are part of the club's lore, but aren't well documented.

Inside, pecky cypress walls, an antique ship wheel and pool table, a mounted alligator, and other old furnishings give the bar and lounge their unmistakable Old Florida feel. The property has 17 rooms and cottages, a pool, guest parking, a public boat ramp, and marina dockage, so the visit can be a meal, an overnight stay, or a boating stop. The boat facilities and lodging are separate from the restaurant visit; check with the club about access and arrangements if you're coming to use them.