An old school bar and step back in time
CARIBBEAN CLUB BAR IN KEY LARGO
Opened in 1938, the Caribbean Club is the
oldest bar in the Upper Keys and one of the last relics of Old Key Largo. It was
the final project of the famed automotive and real estate promoter Carl Fisher.
It served as a poor-man’s fishing retreat and included a small hotel,
restaurant and the bar that remains today—making it the oldest bar in the Upper
Keys.
After Fisher’s death in July 1939, the
Caribbean Club became a popular gambling joint, and in 1947, Warner Brothers
used the hotel and bar as inspiration to write the Humphrey Bogart and Lauren
Bacall film, Key Largo. I couldn’t resist taking a selfie with their
life-sized posters. Lots of exterior shots in the film were shot there for Key
Largo, and the tradition carried on until most recently it served as a
filming location for the Netflix original series Bloodine.
Bought by the Krone family in 1948, the bar was ravaged by fire that started under suspicious circumstances in 1955, destroying the hotel and kitchen. Ruth and Lefty Whitehurst purchased the Caribbean Club in 1963 and it was again damage by fire in 1971, this time a result of arson intended to conceal a burglary. The Caribbean Club remains in the Whitehurt family, currently run by Ruth & Lefty's three children and two grandchildren.
It’s
a watering hole for both locals and tourists, with memorabilia from the
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall days. Live music blasts away from Thursday
through Sunday nights, and the happy hours seem never-ending in this dog-friendly
haven. People arrive by car, boat or bike to enjoy the stiff drinks, live
music, and beautiful sunsets.
I
especially enjoyed the memorabilia hanging from the rafters and walls. Such
history! While sipping an Iguana Bait beer poured from the tap, I stepped
outside onto the back patio and sat at a comfortable bench, enjoying the
world-class view of the waters of Blackwater Sound and the distant southern
edge of the Everglades National Park. Gulls and herons flew overhead while and
I jotted down a things to do while visiting the Caribbean Club:
· Watch the
sunset.
· Inspect the
photos hanging on the walls. I found Jack Nicholson enjoying himself there.
· Definitely have
at least one Key Lime Pie rum punch.
· Talk to the
locals and learn the Best-Kept Secrets and things to do around Key Largo.
· Watch the live
entertainment there, which is usually awesome!
· Take a “selfie”
with the statues of Bogie and Bacall.
· Dump any fancy
needs at the door and get ready for an old school dive bar atmosphere. BTW, it’s
cash only.
Lastly, this video sums it all up: KJ Heads to Original Pit Stop Party at the Caribbean Club- Key Largo!
Robert Morton is a member of the Association
of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), enjoys writing about the U.S.
Intelligence Community, and relishes traveling to the Florida Keys and Key
West, the Bahamas and Caribbean. He combines both passions in his CoreyPearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thriller: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.
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