A Return to an Old Favorite: Cedar Key, FL – Sunset Isle RV Park

Why did we do this to ourselves?

We love Cedar Key, Florida and it’s one of the few places we’ll put on the tire covers for more than a few weeks. And we know that a short stay is never ever enough to get in full groove of island time.

But we did it anyway.

When Nina & Paul needed to cancel their stop, we decided to keep our reservation as our app development partner, Robert of Hired Guns Software, had just settled in for an extended stay.

Considering we had never met in person, despite having worked together for a number of years, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return to this place full of memories.

So here we were, after a long driving day from Crooked River State Park –  paying high nightly rates of nearly $50 for a way too short 4-night stay.

This post covers November 18 – 21.

So Many Memories

We’ve now stayed a Sunset Isle RV Park in Cedar Key 4 times over the years. For a grand total of nearly 4 months.

It probably comes as no surprise that we have serious hitch itch – and tend to move every few days. Four months is an eternity for these hyper-nomads.

If there’s a place that keeps us still for a bit, there’s a solid reason for it.

With Cedar Key, it’s magic for us. A chill environment, a place at the end of the road where you have to be intentionally heading there. (And for clarification, Cedar Key is at the end of a road west of Gainesville, FL – not down in the Keys.)

A place that captivates just enough to form a vibrant and eclectic community, but not too many to install traffic lights.

It’s the one place we’ve actually looked at real estate (well, at least looked at listings… let’s not go getting crazy here.)

With past extended stays, Cedar Key is full of so many memories for us.

• 

  It’s where we retreated after my father’s first round of chemotherapy after his cancer returned.

• It was where we were at a few months later when we learned his condition turned terminal.
• It’s where he took his last trip to come visit us.
• It’s where I was when I found out my former career, the company I ran with my father, was ending.

• 

  A year later, it’s where we were while we were running focus groups for our secret project RVillage (now a thriving community of over 50,000 members and a just released new mobile app!).

• It’s where we were part of an epic 2-month long 40+ rig convergence.

So many lifelong friends made. So many intense emotions. So many highs. So many lows.

Our short visit was a whirlwind visiting these emotions, and a reminder of the healing we’ve undergone since.

A Lot Has Changed

Not only have we grown and changed since we left in early 2014, but Cedar Key has too.

Hurricane Recovery

Over Labor Day weekend, Cedar Key took a direct strike from Hurricane Hermeine. There was a lot of damage.

But this a community that worked through it together, and it’s amazing how few traces are left just a few short months later.

Yes, there are docks missing, trimmed vegetation and water marks still remaining. But from a visitor’s perspective, everything seemed business as usual.

Sunset Isle RV Park

One of our favorite little RV Parks. Waterfront, super tight spots and no privacy or being left alone expected.,

But the community spirit this park evokes is beyond measure for us. It was amazing to return, our visit pretty much unannounced – and to be recognized and greeted.

Not as ‘Technomadia’, but as Chris & Cherie – people who feel called to Cedar Key.

There’s not too many places we get that sort of welcome, that sort of coming home feeling. It’s pretty special.

Sunset Isle changed hands of ownership back in April, and the new owners have done wonderful things with the park. They were a part of the community before hand, and are carrying the intentions forward. We have no doubt it’ll remain the quirky little treasure it has always been, just better.

Some remarkable changes we noticed:

• The RV Park and motel check-in are now in their own area – not combined with onsite BBQ restaurant. This is a HUGE improvement, and creates less chaos overall.

• 

  Their new electronic reservation system is running smoothly, no more frequent mix-ups from the old pen & paper method.

• Lots of building renovations and general clean-up – some projects sped up during the hurriance recovery.
• Sites made easier to get into, many with gravel added. We noticed some former tricky spots that used to have obstacles have been vastly improved, and many sites have been graveled over instead of just on grass.

• 

  The mangroves along the water are all currently trimmed back. They’re protected by environmental laws, and when fully grown often block the premium waterfront views. Thanks to the hurricane, all sites currently have fabulous water views.

• The docks there were so integral to community sunsets are all gone due to the hurricane. The owners told us its in their 3-year capital improvement plan to have new floating ones built. But for now, it’s definitely part of the magic left in the past.

Low Key Hideaway

Just a short block away from Sunset Isle is the adult-only Low Key Hideway with a small motel and 3 RV spots… and of course, a Tiki Bar.

This spot was renovated by Pat & Cindy Bonish (former full time RVers who hit the road about the same time we did).

This year they too passed ownership on, and while not the same without Pat & Cindy, the place conitues to rock on and is the place to catch an amazing sunset with your favorite beverage.

Pat & Cindy originally thought they’d hit the road again, but ended up establishing a new combo art, bar and ammo shop downtown and buying a house in the area.

4-Days, Indeed, Wasn’t Enough

We knew we’d be teasing ourselves with a quick visit.

As soon as we arrived, we were tempted to beg and plead for a monthly spot.

But we made the best of our short stay (after all, we have exciting stuff up in the months ahead!)

We got the bikes out and toured around the island, just like we always had.

Kiki hunted lizards on the shoreline.

We soaked in every sunset from our waterfront spot.

And we made new memories and friendships. Finally getting to meet Robert and his wife Stephanie was a pure joy. Not only are we well aligned for working together, we clicked as fellow geeky Gen-Xers on the road.

Thank you Cedar Key for the memories – new and old.  Perhaps next visit, we’ll be anchored out in our boat?

More on Cedar Key:

• Our RVers Guide to Cedar Key
• Something Magical about Cedar Key
• A Cat’s Perspective on Cedar Key
• Cedar Key Sunsets & SerenDIPity!

 

What’s up Next?

We reluctantly pulled out Tuesday morning to head down the road to Thanksgiving with family.. and then off on our cruise vacation (which is where we are now!).

Once we return, we’ll ride out the rest of the year in Melbourne for the holidays. But our focus will be sharply shifting to finding our boat!