Okee-Tantie is a large county park that was named for a historic community founded at the mouth of the Kissimmee River on the North Shore of Lake Okeechobee. Originally this area was known as Tantie after popular local school teacher Tantie Huckabee. In 1911 the town name was changed to Okeechobee when Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad was building its Kissimmee Valley extension.
For many years there was an active campground with a restaurant in the park. It is now closed with signs warning you to stay away. The abandoned buildings give the park a bit of a derelict vibe but Bass Pro has plans to turn the park into a world class fishing resort.
Today the park is popular with boaters who can get direct access to Lake Okeechobee. There is a marina with dockage along the Kissimmee River side of the park. There is also a bandshell, restrooms, and covered picnic tables.
Okee-Tantie is part of the Florida Birding Trail. Woodstorks, woodpeckers, and song birds are common in the park. If you are able to boat on Lake Okeechobee you can see ducks, gulls, terns, shorebirds, and a great blue heron rookery. Sometimes you can see ospreys, bald eagles, snail kites, and peregrine falcons (in winter ) over the lake.
There are a number of hikes you can do from Okee-Tantie. These include Okee-Tantie to Platts Bluff (14.9 miles), Okee-Tantie to Indian Prairie (10.4 miles), and Okee-Tantie to Okeechobee (3.8 miles).
Okee-Tantie is ideal for anyone who enjoys hiking, boating, bird watching, and fishing. It is also a great place for anyone looking for a scenic view or just a place to stop and stretch your legs. read more