Outdoor sporting company Bass Pro Shops has just become the owner of a luxury sports and leisure destination in the Florida Keys.
CSA reports that the retail giant has purchased Cheeca Lodge from Northwood Investors for an undisclosed sum.
The 27-acre oceanfront property, located at 81801 Overseas Highway in Islamorada, has been a destination for fishermen and tourists since opening in 1946. The purchase keeps Northwood Hospitality on to manage the 254-room luxury resort.
Over the past 15 years, Northwood Investors invested heavily in the property, adding 43 oceanfront suites, 11 luxury casitas and a 10,000-square-foot conference center. The company also purchased nearby hotels along the Overseas Highway. Founded in 1972, Bass Pro Shops operates nearly 200 retail locations across North America and is widely recognized as a leader in outdoor recreation and conservation. The chain operates a Bass Pro Shops directly across the street from the resort’s entrance in what is widely known as the “sportfishing capital of the world”.
Cheeca Lodge is known for its fishing heritage and upscale amenities, including three restaurants, a private beach, marina, spa and a nine-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The resort has hosted a slew of literary and political giants ranging from Ernest Hemingway and Zane Grey to Presidents Harry Truman and George H.W. Bush.
