You’re on Goodland time!

By Natalie Strom

As we enter the month of July, the little village of Goodland has begun to wind down for the next few months of summer. We all know what this means:  intense heat, lots of mosquitoes and mini monsoons that seem to pop up out of nowhere. This is why we have snowbirds. Summers in Southwest Florida certainly are not for everybody. As the snowbirds flock back up north many of our local businesses begin to slow down. Some change their hours and some close altogether. To give you an idea of what’s left to do in Goodland, here is a list of some of the businesses in town and what they have to offer.

Calusa Marina

385 Anglers Drive/239-394-3668

Calusa’s hours remain the same all year long. They are only closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hours of operation are 7 AM to 5 PM. This full-service marina offers boat storage, slip rentals and overnight parking for cars and boats. Their public boat ramp is  open year-round as well. With a gas pump for filling up and bait for sale, Calusa Marina offers all you need for a great day on the water.

Stan’s Idle Hour

221 Harbor Place/239-394-3041

After celebrating his 85th birthday in Key West, Stan has begun summer hours at his establishment. Stan’s Idle Hour will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 AM to ??? These hours will run through the month of July. Along

with serving up fine food and drinks, the bar will also host live entertainment all day and night. Don’t forget to visit The Island Woman boutique located right next to Stan’s for funky gifts and fine jewelry. Stan’s will be closed through the months of August and September.

American Airboat Tours

212 Harbor Place/239-970-2335

Located right next to Stan’s, American Airboats takes you on a fast and educational tour of the Ten Thousand Islands. Call or stop by to find out more about scheduling your Airboat experience. American Airboats runs tours Monday through Saturday.

The Little Bar Restaurant

205 Harbor Place/239-394-5663

Following a very successful Spammy Jammy, the Little Bar has hung up its hat for the summer. They will be closed until they reopen (usually sometime in mid-October.)

Goodland Post Office

427 Papaya Street/239-394-7387

“Never a line and always a friendly face” should be the motto for this unique post office. Postmaster Judith Prichard always greets guests with a smile, helping them in any way that she can. Even if you have nothing to mail, stop by to check out the different artwork on the walls created by local artists. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM with a break from 12:00 to 12:30. The lobby, however, is open 24 hours.

Marker 8

123 Bayshore Way/239-393-0888

This establishment is the only consistent restaurant for Goodlanders in the summer. Hours of operation vary slightly this time of year. For the summer, Marker

8 will be open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Friday. They will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. During the summer this restaurant becomes a fixture to the locals who stick around to brave the heat.

The Old Marco Lodge

401 Papaya Street/239-642-7227

“The Lodge” is currently open for lunch and dinner on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. This schedule will continue through the month of July. And after that? Closed for the summer! To be reopened at a later date, sometime in October. Make sure to stop by one last time before they close up shop.

Walker’s Coon Key Marina

604 Palm Avenue East/239-394-2797

Located at the tip of the glorious Ten Thousand Islands, this marina offers boat rentals, storage rentals, full service repairs and much more. Stock up on bait, ice, gas and beer here! This marina is open 7 days a week from 8 AM to 5 PM.

While Goodland’s pace becomes noticeably slower, there are still plenty of things to do in our little village. As all locals know, there is always something going on in Goodland, but during the summer you just have to look a little harder to find it.

Natalie Strom has lived in Goodland for over two years and has worked in Goodland on and off for more than five years. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is also a former Buzzard Queen of Stan’s Idle Hour in Goodland.