CHeeca Lodge New Years Eve Fire

MIami Herald ^ | 1/1/09 | rodguy911

[rodguy911]

The Miami Herald is reporting the fire started at the Cheeca Lodge, "at 9:45 pm with more than 20 fire fighting units from Islamorada, Key Largo and Layton responding to the blaze in the Middle Keys that witness es said started in a tiki hut in front of the main buidling."

There are so many errors here I will stop quoting them and relate what I have leared so far.

[rodguy911]

My wife has worked at Cheeca for many years and here's what we are finding.

To begin with my guess is that the fire started somewhat earlier than 9:30 since I heard emergency veichles go past my house,4 miles North of the lodge which is at MM 82 before 9:30.

Fire fighting equipement was brought in from all the local areas including Islamorada, Tavernier, Key Largo, Layton and probably Marathon.

I just left the scene about two hours ago and there were fire trucks from Dade County there as well.

Cheeca lodge is a huge area with over 200 rooms and much of the main building was ablaze last night and much of all 4 floors burned.

Initial rumors are that kids were playing with fireworks and several brush tikis caught on fire. One employee told me the roof caught on fire and the fire trucks had a hard time getting equipment there in time.

The Herald has Islamorada in the Middle Keys but its really in the Upper Keys.

The damage will be in the millions.

As we left the scene a bride still in her dress was standing in front of the guard shack still dazed from what happened. My wife told me that the bride had forfeited her deposit elsewhere so she could be married at Cheeca.

[rodguy911]

Cheeca lodge is a true landmark in Islamorada and has been a vacation home to many of the stars and Presidents for many years.Bush 41 has been staying and eating here since 1979.

[Gondring]

As we left the scene a bride still in her dress was standing in front of the guard shack still dazed from what happened. My wife told me that the bride had forfeited her deposit elsewhere so she could be married at Cheeca.

And the groom...?

Short honeymoon. :-(

[Bahbah]

Thanks for the report, rodguy.

[rodguy911]

I'm sure he was there as well but in her bridal dress most of the emphasis is always on the bride.
The irony is that she had forfeited her deposit at another resort to be married here.

[rodguy911]

No problem,Cheeca is one of a handful of huge resorts in the Upper Keys and its a huge tragedy/story for many in S.Fla.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Islamorada”???
What’s the history on that name? Hadn’t heard of it before.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

“Islamorada”??? What’s the history on that name? Hadn’t heard of it before.

Not from around here, are ya stranger? (Sorry! Couldn't pass up the opportunity to use the line.)

[rodguy911]

It was built in 46 by some grocery chain people but in 70 Carl Navarre --a Coca Cola bottling exec. bought it and they have been very well know in the community(maintaining a Villa on proper y after they sold it for years-my wife knows some of the Navarre women they are class act people) and were/are avid fishermen. Cheeca has been the scene of many fishing events for the 38 years that I have been here.

Until recently it was the scene of the Redbone celebrity tourney, the Cheeca Sailfish Tourney and so may others it boggles the mind.

At one time it was a 4 star resort and many of the elite stayed and ate here.

[combat_boots]

http://www.cheeca.com/gallery/

[clintonh8r]

Terrible news. The Cheeca is a great place. Thanks for the eyewitness report. Please post some pictures if you can.

[JimRed]

"Islamorada"???

Pronounced EYE-LA Morada, not ISLAM- orada!

Great fishing, water sports and dining. Spent a week there last winter.

[Sunnyflorida]

Rod, sounds like the main building was destroyed. True? We used to belong to the “athletic” club and hung at the small pool with other locals, but by the time we moved up to here it was getting pretty full of barging-in Miami-ites. Slobs.

[rodguy911]

Thanks,there are still many many rooms that were completely untouched by the fire and rumors are that since the restaurant was burned up they may try and open a restaurant they bought not too long ago named Squid Row. That would be an excellent idea.

[rodguy911]

I've been looking but no luck so far.

At breakfast one of the waitresses at Mangrove Mikes had the fire on her cell phone but couldn't get it on the computer.

My wife was babysitting there last night and said the flames were really shooting up into the air big time when she left about 10:00 pm.

[rodguy911]

Yeah our fishing has been excellent this year, hope it continues.

[rodguy911]

Yeah Cheeca has been sold a number of times over the years and has undergone many changes. My guess is much of the main building will be totalled. They would not let anyone but top mgmt. or ownership in this morning. My wife works at the spa it should be O.K.

[Morgan in Denver]

1. You have email

2. The fire was caused by Obama and people like him.

3. I pray nobody was hurt.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Pronounced EYE-LA Morada, not ISLAM- orada!”

Still can’t seem to find the history of the name. Is it old Spanish? How is islam pronounced in Spanish?

[Sunnyflorida]

I loved when Chef Dawn was the head of the kitchens at Cheeca. She opened a great eclectic restrurant with a sushi bar. But the day Allen, Ziggi’’s son, got killed on the Overseas Highway was the worst day in Keys gastronomy. I knew his dad but Allen, while a bit nutty, did a great job of keeping the food quality top notch. The Old Conch and the Warm Springs Inn in Ketchum, ID are the too best food memories of my live. Many meals and many pounds added to my waste line. Before we moved full time to the Keys way back a couple of decades ago we would call for reservations at Ziggi’s weeks in advance. I liked it a ton better than even ‘88 during the haydays. My other favorite place was the little fish market across from the Malibu.