Everglades Rod & Gun Club

It was our first time to the area and we showed at night with our 4 kids. There was no one working front desk. The hotel was completely closed with no one around. My kids, being from a much more populated area of Florida and had seen maybe too many scary movies were freaked out. I couldn’t get our door locked properly at first and the kids wanted to leave. I texted Taylor (the lady I made our arrangements with) and she contacted the owner and he was there within minutes. He was very nice, showed me to the lock the door 🤦🏻‍♀️, and out the kids at ease. The room was very nice. It looked freshly painted, had a wonderful screened in patio, and was right next to the boat ramp. There’s plenty of parking for your truck and trailers if coming with boats. Great launch spot. We were only in town for not even 24 hours but we walked around the property and it’s beautiful. It’s old of course being a historic building but it’s being worked on and it has so much character. You have to understand the nature of the area. It seems to be a quiet sleepy town so don’t expect big city things. We will be back when we have more time.

Should be called the rotten gun club. The one amenity that was described accurately was the pool. Other then that, it was a total disappointment. There is a reason they ask for cash, and no credit cards are accepted. Once they have the funds for multiple nights, they have the money in hand and will not issue refunds. The other bad reviews here are completely accurate and I am trying to figure out where the good reviewers stayed the night. Sparsely furnished, poorly appointed, poorly organized, poor customer service, NO assistance after hours.. or before. No wifi in rooms. For a lodge that has been in business for this long and at this price point, one would expect some level of customer experience. There is none to be had at the Rod and Gun Club. The reviewer that called it the Bait and Switch Club nailed it. The rate should be reduced to <$100/ night. No amenities available, no service.

Came here for late lunch/early dinner. 3 ppl in our party. Hit it at an off time on a chilly day, it was very quiet but no complaints, this place is SO COOL. As soon as you walk in, the history of the place is visible from the creaky wood floors to the giant fireplace, mounted animals, antique finishings.... honestly the ambiance alone is enough to return. There were only a couple tables here, service was not quick but very pleasant and the drinks were cold,food was hot and fresh. Frog legs and gator bites for our table, all were good with homemade dipping sauce to boot. Come here to unwind and take everything in. There were two dining rooms as well as veranda seating along the water. I feel like this is a gem and I can't wait to return. Cash only FYI.

What a cool spot to grab lunch! We left our Everglades boat ride and headed here for lunch. First, the rod and gun club is amazing to look at all the stuff inside and the detail! We had a large party but we’re sat quickly. Our waitress, I wish I could remember her name, was the best, great personality! We of course tried gator bites, calamari and all the sea food options. Everything was delicious! So worth the stop!

We were in the area and had read about the history of this place and decided to check it out. We love Florida history and the Rod and Gun Club was quite an interesting visit. What made it different was it wasn't museum-like. Rather, it is in business as a hotel with a restaurant. We went in and travelled back in time 50 to 100 years. The plaque above the back door read Circa 1864. There was a vintage barroom finished in mahogany that was my favorite. The bar was closed and may be just for viewing, but we could sit at that bar like people did a century ago. Much of the inside was dimly lit, which was realistic, although there were electric lights here and there. The hotel front desk was from yesteryear with an old fashioned cash register. The local taxidermist must have been busy back in the day with all the critters that decorated the walls. We wanted to purchase something here, and stay longer, so we had beers on the open air patio. As far as we knew, there was no air conditioning, but this day in March was most comfortable. We felt a nice breeze on the patio as we enjoyed the view of the Barron River. Pelicans were the main attraction as they were feeding along the river. We paid for our drinks with cash, like in the old days, which was the only option to settle up. We enjoyed the time warp exploring the lobby, parlor, barroom and patio at the Rod and Gun Club before returning to 2023 as we walked back out to our car parked outside. I don't know many places where we could experience what we did here.