Snook Haven's comeback is almost built, but nobody has been named to run it. At 5000 E. Venice Ave., the fishing pier is done. Decking is down at the pavilion and the bandshell. Lights and fans work at the concession building. The order windows already have their roll-up covers. Sarasota County has not publicly named who will stand behind those windows, run the kayak cabin, or book the bands.
That gap shows what kind of place Snook Haven is becoming. For decades it was a riverside restaurant on land the county owned. Starting this fall it will be a regional park of more than 40 acres with a food counter in it. The county built the park first and is choosing the kitchen operator second.
The Old Fish Camp, and What Replaced It
Snook Haven opened in 1948 as a fishing camp with an indoor restaurant. It sits on a stretch of the Myakka River that, by local accounts, once hid Prohibition smugglers and later hosted Hollywood film crews. Venice Pier Group ran the restaurant for its last 13 years. The sit-down restaurant closed May 1, 2025.
The county did not plan to bring that building back. Sun Newspapers reported that it had needed repairs for years and was in poor condition after Hurricane Ian flooded it. The county's plan was to tear it down and replace it with a concession stand with outdoor seating. The new food facility sits on an elevated pier system above the FEMA floodplain. Shawn Yeager, the county parks director, told Venice City Lifestyle that one of the biggest changes is moving facilities farther from the river while keeping the waterfront setting.
The cost has grown along with the scope. When the restaurant closed, Sun Newspapers reported that the County Commission had approved $6.25 million for the work. By July 2026, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune put the project at $8.75 million. The money came from impact fees, Surtax III, Surtax IV and Tourist Development Capital funds. Sweet Sparkman Architects designed the project and Jon F Swift Construction built it.
How the Site Came Together, Month by Month
The county's project page has posted progress updates throughout the summer. They show the outdoor spaces finishing first, with the inside of the kitchen building finishing last.
- May 16, 2025. Construction begins.
- June 30, 2026. Power lines now run underground, and the county is working with FPL to remove the remaining utility poles. The fishing pier is finished. Roll-up covers are installed at the concession building's order windows.
- July 31, 2026. The outfitter building is getting its final touches. The restroom building is being refreshed. Sidewalks, pedestrian lighting and fencing are going in, and the county says the reopening and ribbon cutting are scheduled for fall 2026.
- August 31, 2026. Decking at the pavilion and bandshell is complete, and handrails are next. Lighting and fans at the concession building and pavilion are working. Interior work in the concession building is still underway.
- October 4, 2026. The page reads "Ribbon Cutting and Park Reopening Coming Soon!" with no date.
The order of the work matters here. The kitchen building is the last part to be finished, and running it is also the last decision the county has left to make.
The Kitchen Question
Choosing an operator has taken longer than the construction. In the first round, Venice Pier Group was the only bidder. On April 7, a few weeks before the old restaurant closed, the county canceled that solicitation because it was considering buying land next to the park, which could expand the plans for the concession.
In the second round, three vendors applied, Venice Pier Group among them. The county was still negotiating a contract as of April 2026, according to The Sarasota Record. The Herald-Tribune reported on July 2, 2026, that negotiations with a new vendor for food, drinks and entertainment were still going on. In late June, Venice City Lifestyle described the deal as covering food and beverage service, live entertainment and eco-tourism, and said it still needed approval from the Board of County Commissioners.
As of the county's October 4 update, no operator has been named publicly. That leaves the menu, hours, prices and music lineup unknown for now.
The county has committed to one thing about the music. A new bandshell and stage are part of the build, and county officials have said the Gulf Coast Banjo Society is expected to return after the reopening.
What Is Settled Before Your First Visit Back
| Item | Status as of October 7, 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing pier | Complete since June 2026 | Sarasota County project page |
| Pavilion and bandshell decking | Complete as of August 31 | Sarasota County project page |
| Canoe and kayak outfitter cabin, with public restroom | Built; operator not named | Sarasota County project page |
| Concession building | Interior work ongoing as of August 31; operator not named | Sarasota County project page |
| Gulf Coast Banjo Society | Expected to return | Venice City Lifestyle, June 2026 |
| Reopening date | Oct. 15 at 9 a.m., as reported in August; the county page says "Coming Soon" | The Sarasota Record; Sarasota County |
The date needs some explanation. On August 12, The Sarasota Record reported that Snook Haven would reopen October 15 with a 9 a.m. ribbon cutting, and attributed the date to the county's July 31 update. The July 31 update as it appears on the county page says only "fall 2026." The county's newest post, from October 4, still gives no date. If October 15 holds, the reopening is eight days away. Until the county posts a date, it is best treated as reported, not confirmed.
Why the Food Counter Is Now the Smaller Piece
The restaurant was once the main attraction at Snook Haven. Now it is one part of a much bigger site. The county bought the original 2.5-acre fish camp, with its restaurant and cottages, in 2006. It has since added enough land to grow the property past 40 acres.
County staff have sent commissioners a 10-year concept plan for Snook Haven Regional Park that runs through 2036, in three phases:
- Short-term, 2026 to 2028, starting with this fall's opening
- Mid-term, 2029 to 2031
- Long-term, 2032 to 2036
The plan calls itself a "living" document. Most of its costs are still to be determined, to be worked out after the new food facility opens. It was scheduled to go to the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Oversight Committee on Aug. 6 and the Parks Advisory and Recreation Council on Sept. 3 before reaching the County Commission. No published result from those reviews has surfaced yet.
The plan gives Snook Haven a bigger role. The Record describes it as a hub and trailhead linking thousands of acres of protected land, including Sleeping Turtles Preserve South, Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and Jelks Preserve. Trails would connect them, along with a planned multi-use path on River Road that would become part of the Florida Gulf Coast Trail between Tampa and Naples. A campground on the former Camp Venice property is expected to open in 2027.
In a memo to commissioners this summer, Yeager tied the park to growth along the corridor. He wrote that the improvements "will not only be a major asset for regional tourism, but also for access to thousands of new housing units and increased commercial development within two miles of the park."
That explains why the county could finish the pier, the paths and the bandshell without first naming a food operator. The trailhead, the kayak launch and the river access all work no matter who runs the kitchen. The county says it designed the new buildings "with the feel of a historic fish camp," a place for "friends and family" to "catch up over a meal along the riverbank." Who serves that meal is still being decided. The ribbon cutting will show how much of the old Snook Haven comes back with it.
If you're watching how the River Road and East Venice Avenue corridor is growing around Snook Haven and want to know what it means for nearby property, Anthony LaPorta follows these county decisions as they happen and would be glad to go over them with you. Explore the Venice neighborhood guide, or reach out when you're ready. Let's Connect.
