Wekiva Island | Experience the REAL Florida

 An island….in Central Florida….on a river?

Florida is the place where imagination makes fantasy a reality, and the love of the water drives ingenuity. This family-owned 2,000-square-foot island was built and created to promote their mission of Sustainability, Education, and Art. 

Wekiva Island is the perfect place to stop by after exploring Wekiwa Springs or King’s Landing. Or you can spend all day here relaxing by the river. 

The parking lot is on the right when you enter. When walking towards the main building, there will be a table where you pay the $5.00 per person entrance fee. 

This island might not have a typical beach, but it has sandy areas by the water, with various Adirondack chairs nestled in. On both ends of the waterfront are cabanas available to rent, which include shaded coverage and furniture perfect for lounging. You can also reserve the lounge space on the second level of the main building, offering a great unobstructed view of the river. These areas require a reservation, and prices vary from weekdays to weekends. 

Check out the Wekiva Island cabanas HERE

Also located on the second level is Gallery CERO. CERO stands for Conservation, Efficiency, Renewables, and Offset. The gallery showcases work by local artists and their unique viewpoints of the natural world. Once a month, they have a Wine & Paint night, where you get a lesson from painter Elisabeth Ferber while enjoying wine and charcuterie, all included in the ticket price. 

 

FOOD, DRINKS, & MORE

There is a huge outdoor bar called The Tooting Otter decorated in delightfully quirky river rat fashion. They have several beers and wines on tap, part of their efforts to reduce waste and reduce beverage wait time.

 

And if you get hungry, visit the Without a Paddle Café, cranking out delicious grub for your taste buds after spending hours enjoying various water activities.

 

Right next to The Tooting Otter is the General Store, where you can grab some needed sunscreen or a cute Pure Vida bracelet, Costa sunglasses, or a comfy shirt. 

 

For those wanting to live their best Summer Olympic lives, there is a huge beach volleyball court. There are bleachers where you can cheer on your favorite players, and from the wooden walk-up, you get the perfect commentator view. 

 

 

Wekiva Island is always having fun events, from Wine and Paint nights to weekly live music jam sessions, so be sure to follow their Facebook page or visit their website to see what’s happening.

For more information about upcoming events at Wekiva Island, click HERE to be directed to their Facebook account

 

PADDLING WEKIVA RIVER

To launch a watercraft (boat, kayak, or SUP) or purchase a rental, you will need to visit the concession stand by the bar. The rentals are on a first come first served basis. Prices vary depending on when you want to begin your adventure, but you have until 6 pm to return the vessel. If you are launching your own vessel, it is $10.00 on weekdays and $20.00 on weekends. For boats, it is $50.00 on the weekend due to river traffic. 

If you launched from King’s Landing and did the 8.5 mile paddle to Wekiva Island and paid for the shuttle, make sure you are on the only shuttle at 3:30 pm to head back. Those who have the appropriate wristband can enter Wekiva Island using the band you received at King’s Landing. 

If you launch from Wekiwa Springs, it is only about 1 mile paddle to Wekiva Island.  

Rules: No outside food or drinks, No speakers, No pets, No drones, No grills, No balloons, and No feeding the wildlife.

But You Can: bring your friends, bring your beach towels, bring your floaty, and bring on the good times. 

 

What is truly remarkable about this place is not only is it offering the people of Central Florida a unique and fun way to enjoy the Wekiva River and all its glory, but it is the constant efforts in their mission to do so sustainably. Launching many initiatives such as using solar panels, beverages on tap, available recycling bins, and bathrooms that are energy efficient and work to conserve water. Throughout the island are visual examples with tidbits of information, not only educating but showing people the importance of keeping the river clean and healthy from pollution such as trash and fertilizer. We all enjoy the beautiful views the water provides and how refreshing it feels, but if we want to keep enjoying it, we have to preserve and protect it. 

 

Whether you are hanging out with friends, needing a place to host a work retreat, or a unique wedding venue, check out this luxurious island right in The City Beautiful.