Bass Pro Shops announced that it has agreed to acquire Cheeca Lodge & Spa, a historic oceanfront resort in Islamorada, Florida. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The acquisition is being made through Bass Pro Shops’ nature-based resorts division and reflects the company’s growing focus on hospitality and outdoor adventure destinations.
Cheeca Lodge & Spa is one of the most historic fishing and sporting resorts in the Florida Keys. The resort has long served as a destination for anglers, adventurers, families, and travelers drawn to Islamorada’s waters and outdoor culture.
Bass Pro Shops said it plans to enhance the resort while preserving its character and heritage.
The acquisition also brings Cheeca Lodge together with Bass Pro Shops’ nearby World Wide Sportsman Store & Marina, creating a broader hospitality, retail, marina, dining, and outdoor adventure experience in the Florida Keys.
Cheeca Lodge includes oceanfront lodges and cottages, three tropical swimming pools, a full-service spa, a 9-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed par-3 golf course, a 525-foot fishing pier, fitness and meeting facilities, tennis and pickleball courts, and waterfront dining.
World Wide Sportsman Store & Marina overlooks Florida Bay and provides direct access to the Everglades and Gulf Stream waters. The Islamorada Fish Company, Morada Bay, and Pierre’s restaurants are located near the store and marina.
World Wide Sportsman was originally founded in 1967 by anglers George Hommell Jr. and Billy Pate. Hommell is widely recognized as a pioneer of flats fishing and conservation in the Florida Keys.
Cheeca Lodge and the Florida Keys have also been closely tied to the history of American sportfishing, with connections to figures including Ernest Hemingway, Zane Grey, President Harry Truman, President George H.W. Bush, Ted Williams, Jack Nicklaus, and Curt Gowdy.
Bass Pro Shops said it remains committed to supporting Islamorada’s fishing community, captains, marinas, resorts, restaurants, and other local destinations.
The company also said conservation will remain central to its work in the region, including support for fisheries, habitats, coral reef research, and Everglades restoration.
Cheeca Lodge adds to Bass Pro Shops’ nature-based hospitality portfolio, which includes Big Cedar Lodge in the Missouri Ozarks.
KEY QUOTES:
“I have been very blessed to have spent my entire life around the great sport of fishing. Growing up as far from the ocean as you can get in the Missouri Ozark Mountains, fly-fishing beautiful streams for perch and smallmouth bass. I will never forget dreaming about and then getting to catch my first tarpon on a fly. I was 16 years old fishing with my best buddy, my Dad and Capt. Sonny Eslinger on Buchanan Bank out of Bud N’ Mary’s Marina.”
“From that special day forward, like many others, I have come to have enormous respect for the history of Islamorada, and the generations of anglers and families who have made memories here or who are blessed to call the Keys home. We’re humbled and honored to have the opportunity to help protect it and carry that story forward.”
Johnny Morris, Founder of Bass Pro Shops
“Johnny and Bass Pro Shops have always understood the importance of protecting the Everglades and celebrating our fishing heritage, making them outstanding partners for the future of the Keys.”
Eric Eikenberg, CEO of The Everglades Foundation
“We were very excited to learn that Johnny and Bass Pro Shops will be expanding their involvement in the Keys. They have been true leaders in conservation, standing alongside us with habitat work, restoring fisheries, educating future generations, and ensuring the outdoor traditions remain strong for years to come. They support communities that make the fishing culture so special.”
Nick Wiley, Executive Director of the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida
“We’re excited to welcome Bass Pro Shops as stewards of this iconic Florida Keys landmark. We extend our deepest appreciation for their generous support of BTT, which has made an important difference in the recovery of our bonefish and the ongoing conservation of tarpon and permit.”
Jim McDuffie, President and CEO of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust
