Snook Haven, the low-slung riverfront restaurant, live-music venue and canoe launch on the Myakka River in Venice, is edging toward its long-promised comeback after a county-led rebuild. Work crews have wrapped the major structural phases, and county officials along with local reporting say the project is nearing substantial completion, with a public reopening expected this fall. The redesign scales back the old 1958 sit-down restaurant into a more resilient riverside campus with a concession area, covered pavilion, new fishing pier and a bandshell shifted farther from the water.
What’s being rebuilt at Snook Haven
As reported by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the project replaces the 1958 sit-down restaurant with a casual concession building and a covered seating deck that will still frame views of the Myakka River. The county plans a new ADA-compliant bandshell and performance patio moved farther inland, a rebuilt fishing pier and the remodeling of an existing cabin into an outfitter for canoe and kayak rentals and a public restroom.
Construction progress and timetable
Construction officially began in May 2025 and the project has moved quickly through foundations, framing and site work, putting the county on track for a fall 2026 reopening. As reported by City Lifestyle, county leaders say the redesign prioritizes accessibility and resilience while keeping Snook Haven’s Old Florida character. The outfitter building, pavilion and concession areas have advanced to roofing and interior equipment installation as crews continue site finishes.
Builders, designers and who will run the concessions
Sarasota County identifies Sweet Sparkman Architects as the project's designer and Jon F. Swift Inc. as the contractor on the county’s project page, and county updates show crews installing decking and roll-up windows at the concession building. The county also notes underground power lines are now active at the site and that work on the fishing pier and bandstand is in the finishing stages. Meanwhile, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports the SSA Group is the leading candidate to operate food, beverage and entertainment under a new concession agreement being negotiated by the county.
Flooding, resiliency and the local thread
Buildings at Snook Haven took on more than four feet of water when the Myakka River rose during Hurricane Ian in 2022, ABC7 MySuncoast reported. Moving primary amenities farther inland, installing accessible paths and replacing overhead utilities are part of the county’s resilience plan, which county leaders say also aims to keep the park’s live-music traditions intact. As City Lifestyle notes, the county wants to preserve the “Old Florida” character even as it upgrades safety and accessibility.
What to expect next
The 8.75 million dollar makeover, funded with impact fees and surtax dollars, began construction in May 2025 and will move into final inspections and punch-list work over the summer, with public-facing pieces going through sign-offs before reopening. Pending those inspections and a completed concession agreement, county and local reporting say visitors can expect a scaled-down dining footprint, a rebuilt bandshell and improved river access this fall. For more on the project timeline and renderings, see coverage by Business Observer.
