The name Lake Okeechobee was first documented by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. Okeechobee…read moremeans "big water" in the Hitchiti Seminole Indian language. With a surface area of 730 square miles, it is the largest lake in the southeastern United States but relatively shallow at only 10 to 12 feet deep. The primary source of water for the lake is the Kissimmee River located just to the north of the lake. Before European settlers arrived, the lake was home to Native Americans including the Calusa and Seminole tribes. The late 19th century saw the arrival of European settlers who farmed and raised cattle which became an important industry in the region. The fertile land around Lake Okeechobee attracted many farmers for its agricultural potential. The Hurricane of 1928 caused the lake's dike to fail, resulting in catastrophic flooding and the loss of as many as 3,000 people who were in the area to pick crops. There are several mass burial sites of hurricane victims in the area. In the 1930's the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the Herbert Hoover Dike to prevent future flooding disasters. The dike was completed in the 1960's and serves to protect the surrounding communities from lake overflow. The Okeechobee Waterway, a canal system connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, was completed in the mid-20th century. This waterway included the Caloosahatchee River and the St. Lucie Canal, providing a navigable route across the state of Florida. While the canal system facilitated the transportation of goods and contributed to the agricultural development of the region, it negatively impacted the health of Lake Okeechobee with agriculture runoff. Current efforts are focused on restoring the water quality and health of the lake while still meeting the agriculture needs of the surrounding farms. Lake Okeechobee is one of those Florida landmarks you have to experience at least once. Surrounding the lake is the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, a mostly paved 109 mile trail that sits on top of the Herbert Hoover Dike. Along the trail are parks with amenities like picnic areas and restrooms. The trail is ideal for bikers, bird watchers, and anyone who wants a scenic views of the lake. Some of my favorite stops around the lake are the John Stretch Memorial Park, Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area, and the Lake Okeechobee North Pier. The lake is known for bass, crappie also known as speckled perch, and bluegill fishing and there are number of fishing camps and places that offer fishing and boating excursions on the lake. Charming small towns like Clewiston, Belle Glade, and Okeechobee also surround the lake and are places where you can see buildings and places of historical interest and grab a meal. One of my favorite Okeechobee festivals is the Speckled Perch festival which celebrates the fishing heritage of the area and where you can see an authentic cattle drive. Lake Okeechobee is a a great place to explore and experience the more natural side of Florida.

Great day for the family to experience some Florida wildlife! Airboat rides and bass fishing!read more

Named for the battle that took place here in 1837 during the Second Seminole War and it's nice that…read morethey have reserved the space as a park. That said, it is quite basic with very little to see. The park has a nice public restroom, a picnic pavilion that would usually be covered but has lost its thatch and there is a grill. A small parking lot. A display with pamphlets that explain the history is a nice add. Overall? I'd say skip this one unless you specifically want a picnic in the sun where there is open water and wildlife nearby. The caution sign for gators was enough for me to move on swiftly. [Review 443 of 2025 - 2086 in Florida - 24005 overall]

Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park is named for the battle fought here on Christmas Day in…read more1837 during the Second Seminole War. The park is located near Lake Okeechobee, the largest fresh water lake in Florida. The US Army were trying to round up the Seminoles to send them on the Trail of Tears out to Oklahoma. Although they were out numbered, the Seminoles understanding of the land allowed them to elude the government. This battle involved 1,000 volunteers and army soldiers against against several hundred Seminole and Miccosukee warriors along the northern edge of Lake Okeechobee. Troops of the 1st, 4th, and 6th Infantry Regiments were under the command of Colonel Zachary Taylor who after the Mexican-American War would go on to become president. This was the largest and bloodiest battle during the war. The Seminoles had setup on a high hammock that overlooked a dense saw grass swamp. As the troops approached they were able to inflict heavy casualties. Many of commissioned officers and noncommissioned officers were killed during the battle. After taking out about a third of the army, the Seminoles were forced to flee deeper in the the Everglades where they would hide for the next 10 years. During the battle the Seminoles lost only twelve warriors. The government declared themselves the winner of the battle but the Seminole were the only tribe never to sign a peace treaty with the US Government. The Okeechobee Battlefield was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and it was acquired by the Florida Park Service on November 30, 2006 with funds from the Florida Forever Program. In the 1980's, the National Park Service commissioned archaeological excavation which allowed them to more precisely narrow the battlefield area to 440 acres. The original Battle of Okeechobee marker in the park was erected in 1939 by Descendants of Colonel Richard Gentry, commanding officer of the Missouri militia who was killed by the battle, and the Florida Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. Recently the park added a new chickee hut and a restroom. Every February a recreation of the battle is staged by volunteers. Admission is $10 and they have food, vendors, and demonstrations. That is really the best time to visit because there isn't a lot to see in the park normally. If you do want to visit at another time it is important to note that the park is closed on Monday and Tuesdays. I really enjoyed visiting this historical site and learning about the battle.

C. Scott Driver was an environmental champion for Lake Okeechobee. The fishing guide and lake…read moreactivist came to the public spotlight in 1985 when he demanded that the state clean up Lake Okeechobee. Conservationists fighting to save the lake took up the cause. Driver was a major influence on then governor Bob Graham who appointed a Lake Okeechobee task force that recommended plans to halt lake pollution and establish Florida's water clean-up law, the Surface Water Improvement and Management Act of 1987. Sadly Mr. Driver passed away from leukemia in 2021 but he is remembered as the heart and soul of the waters of Lake Okeechobee. His dedication to the largest freshwater lake in Florida is celebrated with this recreation area on the eastern shore of the Kissimmee River just north of the SR 78 bridge that was named in his honor. C. Scott Driver Park was created for the outdoor enthusiast. It has two stand-alone boat ramps with four singles lanes and 1 double lane. There are also four launch docks and a parking area for vehicles with trailers next to the restroom. While this recreation is enjoyed by boaters it is also a favorite of bird watchers. There are two places for birdwatching, one along the north bound Florida trail and the other on a trail along the Kissimmee River where you may spot great egret, ibis, snowy egret, cattle egret, little blue herons, and wood storks. C. Scott Driver Recreation Area is a wonderful destination for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors.

First time there was a great time. Staff were great people were really friendly. The pool was great…read morerelaxing. They got two pools DJ Friday night in the bar karaoke was awesome. It's like cheers. In the shanty's lounge if you don't know nobody, you will know them real quick really friendly bar only open till 1030 but you have a good time the cabins were good but they should offer you free Wi-Fi for them cause the 11 channels you get with the TV they ain't worth nothing and on top of that you gotta rent your TV for the cabin but overall it's always a good time to get out in nature fishing is good seen a lot of nature

We rented a deluxe cabin for Labor Day weekend and while it was a little pricey we did really enjoy…read morethe accommodations. There is plenty to do here. There is a really nice golf course with nine holes and a putting green, Miniature golf and a small fitness center. They have two pools and a hot tub. There is a full liquor bar with live entertainment. Since it was a holiday weekend, they had planned activities like candy bar bingo, an ice cream social and reasonably priced lunch and breakfast. The staff was phenomenal. Especially the AGM, she was everywhere doing everything always with a smile on her face and remembered everyone's names. We will be back for sure.

Beautiful, clean spacious resort with a load of amenities. The staff is friendly, helpful &…read moreresponsive. The other glampers are welcoming and friendly. There are activities galore and the pool snack bar/bar hosts live music 2-3 days a wk during the winter season 1-4pm. The menu at the snack bar offers plenty of lunch options and is pretty darn good & well priced. There are dinner dances for owners & renters alike, theres poker, game nights, bocce ball, shuffle board, karaoke, pool & hot tub, billards, a sm library, fitness room and so much more.

Great place to enjoy a fun and relaxing few days! Very clean and well maintained property! The…read moreamenities were super convenient and nice. The staff were friendly and accommodating! Pickle ball was a big bonus, too! Thank you!

Had a blast artificial fishing with Justin Morgan on a 3 day trip. Caught my personal best bass on…read moremy birthday too.

Me and my family have lived in buckhead and have been fishing Lake Okeechobee for 30+ years. I Was…read morehoping it wouldn't come to this but after allowing several attempts to make this right and still nothing has been done I feel it only necessary to warn others before they feel taken advantage of as well. First and foremost Id like to say I have always been a diehard Fastbreak customer. I am there weekly, i fish weekly and have lived in Okeechobee all my life. I have purchased many jigs, rods, bait and their gas is all I put in my boat and truck, their ice is all I put on my fish. So this is not an attack on Fastbreak but rather a call for action and responsibility of a knowingly faulty product they promote. Everything I have said on this review has been said to the store in person as well as Glenn Harris and nothing has been done. I first purchased Unique crappie jigs by Glenn from Garrard's tackle shop as I was there for propane. I then found out Fastbreak carried them. I didn't have many issues with this jig at first...paint cracking and chipping and NOT just after multiple fish being caught but I liked the body and kept hearing good things so figured I would just buy more and as the paint came off I'd swap them out. At the end of November I had multiple hooks break or straighten to the point when bent back they would break which for me is understandable that you bend something enough it will break. Me and three of my neighbor went out in December and two of them were also using Glenn's crappie jigs and said they too had the same issue one with the paint and second with the hook not being of good quality and several that have broke. That same day one of my neighbors had one of the bodies partially unravel to where the tail came completely off the jig and into the water. We went in to Fastbreak that afternoon and told this to 2 employees at the counter and showed them the pictures of the unraveled jig. They both agreed that they have had some complaints about the quality of the hook and they had told Glenn about it as well. It just so happens the following day Glenn was at Fastbreak delivering jigs while I was getting gas and I spoke to him in the parking lot. Super nice guy, said he was aware of the problem,  that he had ordered new hooks and should have them that next week. I thought great, problem solved. Beginning of January I asked an employee at Fastbreak if they had gotten any of Glenn's jigs in with the new hooks yet and he said he didn't know what I was talking about but again said that they have made Glenn aware of the hook issue. I checked the few jigs that were there and surprise surprise they were all the same old cheap hooks. I really wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt because all I keep reading is the success of these jigs and I really did like some of the color combos. That day I bought a couple more new colors at the advice of a fishing guide that was in there that same day. He said he guides out of Fastbreak and because that's their biggest selling jig he promotes it to help them out. I mentioned to him the issues I had had and he agreed he had a couple like that as well but said "5 times out of 10 he doesn't have any issues". My exact words to him were 9 times out of 10? thinking I didn't hear correctly and he laughed and said 5 times out of 10. Seriously? With this my radar really went up and I started to question how and why this store would be promoting these jigs. A store that I and my fellow buckhead community use almost daily. People come here from all over to crappie fish this lake and this is the best we can do, this is the quality these guides and the 2 most prevalent tackles shops in this town are selling and pushing on people? So at this point I have brought my concerns/ complaints several times to the store and from what the Fastbreak employees have said multiple other customers have done the same as well. I've brought my concerns to Glenn himself who said he was aware and changing the hook and then as of yesterday they're still the same and yet the store is still promoting them not only themselves but through the people that frequent the store and guide out of the store just to not lose money? This is where I take issue. I've always been a Fastbreak fan but until they can recognize the garbage they're selling and not be so worried about the money they're making and Until Glenn can make good on his promise of making a better quality product I will voice my opinion to anyone that will listen about the quality of this jig and how Fastbreak knowingly promotes such an inferior product. I really am disappointed that this store would allow this to continue as I've always thought more of them and the owners but even more so that Glenn would say he's changing the hooks BECAUSE OF THE COMPLAINTS  and has yet to even do so makes us all that have voiced our opinions look stupid. I know this was a long review and I apologize but if I can keep one person from being ripped off like m

Avoid this RV park, the owners are beyond rude…read more They target seniors and pressure them to leave their long term RV sites in order to raise the month lot rents.

This is a nice quiet friendly place. It's close to town where you can get supplies or Walmart…read more There is a laundry room coin operated. There is a small river on the back where you can fish. If you're coming down in the winter it will be on the full side so you might want to call ahead.