Green Turtle Inn (Islamorada)

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81219 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
(305) 664-2006
www.facebook.com/GreenTurtleKeys/

After the devastating Labor day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed Flagler's Overseas Railroad, work soon began on what was to become the original Overseas Highway to Key West. The highway was completed in the early 1940's giving way to the first motoring tourists.

In 1947 a couple by the name of Sid and Roxie Siderious opened a little roadside cafe with a couple of rooms to rent along the original Overseas Highway on upper Matecumbe Key known as the Green Turtle Inn. It was a place where fishermen as well as travelers, to and from Key West, could get a good bite to eat and a comfortable night's rest. As you would expect from the name, their menu had many delicacies made from sea turtles harvested in local waters such as turtle steaks, soups and chowders.

As word of good food tends to travel fast, the Green Turtle Inn soon became popular with the local crowd as well. This made for a very lively mix of people from all walks of life sharing good times and great fishing stories that, no doubt, were helped along a little with a cocktail or two. As the good times continued into the evening, guests would often clear the floor of tables and chairs to make way for music and dancing into the wee hours of the night.

Now owned by local restaurateur and internationally acclaimed entertainer Henry Rosethal, this tradition continues.