Sarasota County Parks and Recreation staff are reopening a popular riverside restaurant and entertainment site on the banks of the Myakka River after finding sites around Snook Haven flooded and littered with debris during an assessment this week. He said it was too early to think about a schedule for doing so.
The restaurant grounds at 5000 E. Venice Avenue were flooded by the Myakka River during the rains of Hurricane Ian.
Related:What happens to Snook Haven after being flooded by Ian?
“The Myakka River has receded, but parts of the site are still flooded,” Sarasota County spokeswoman Brian Grant said in an email Wednesday morning. At this time, the site is not yet safe for public use due to the construction of the building, and the need for additional assessments to be made.”
She added that county staff will continue to monitor Snook Haven and begin initial cleanup of debris.
“Through this process, we discourage the public from entering the park as debris clearance operations are ongoing and not all safety concerns can be addressed immediately,” Grant wrote. .
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Snook Haven has served as everything from a movie set to a bootleg outpost in the 1930s before opening as Fish Camp in 1948.
The Venice Pier Group, a vendor hired by the county to operate concessions at the park, including food sales and canoe and kayak rentals, has a 10-year tenure to operate the restaurant, which was built in 1958. I have less than 10 months left on my contract.
After the lease expires at the end of July 2023, Sarasota County plans to replace the existing restaurant with a new 1,500-square-foot food concession building and an outdoor pavilion designed to maximize views of the Myakka River. was standing.
Justin Pachota, president of the Venice Pier Group, which operates Sharky’s on the Pier and Fins at Venice and Siesta Beach Eats in Siesta Public Beach, previously said he would work with Sarasota County to reopen Snook Haven as it sees fit. said. .
Snook Haven employees are currently working at existing Venice Pier Group restaurants.
Earle Kimel is primarily responsible for the Herald-Tribune in Southern Sarasota County and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. The Herald-Tribune Digital Support local journalism with his subscription.
