One of the great things about the Keys are all of the great dining choices; especially those with Happy Hour Specials. Larry and Karen invited us to one of their favorites, The Lighthouse Grill, 1996 Overseas Highway, Marathon. Most of their menu items are $19.95 before 6:00. Randy and I both had their prime rib. Both the Captain’s Cut and the Mate’s Cut were discounted down to $19.95. And both were very good!! The tables in the restaurant were all made from the same granite as what we have in our RV. Seemed like home!!
The restaurant is part of the Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club. In addition to the restaurant, the Resort also includes a Hyatt with 125 rooms and suites and a full-service Marina & Yacht club.
According to their website the marina has easy access from the Atlantic via the 7-mile bridge and Moser Channel. The 74 slip marina boasts about their state of the art docking facility, fuel service, pump out, 24-hour security, marine concierge services, wireless internet, marine store, two pools and fitness center. I only saw the one pool adjacent to the restaurant. It was small and only looked to be 3.5’ deep. Enough to cool off, but not much for swimming. The second pool on their map appears larger but I did see it personally.
Information on the Faro Blanca lighthouse from the website: https://www.us-lighthouses.com/faro-blanco-lighthouse:
“Marathon Key once advertised itself as “the heart of the Keys” and was famous for sport fishing. During the 1950s and 1960s, dredging on the key allowed unprecedented growth. At that time, numerous motels and businesses popped up. One of those motels had incorporated a facsimile lighthouse, which was called the Faro Blanco Lighthouse.
Although not much is known about the Faro Blanco Lighthouse, it was designed by Les Barrett and is believed to be built in 1950 by a local contractor named Archie Rackley. At some point, the lighthouse contained a light and was a private aid to navigation
The lighthouse was severely damaged in 1960 by Hurricane Donna. It was either rebuilt or repaired at that time, but it is unclear which took place. Over the years, it was most likely damaged by other hurricanes as well, but the lighthouse was damaged beyond repair in 2005 by Hurricane Wilma.
After Hurricane Wilma, the property was condemned. The Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club was rebuilt by the Spottswood Company, which reopened in January of 2015. Added to the property was a 125-room Hayatt Place Hotel, full-service marina, and an elegant waterfront restaurant and bar.
Of course the resort just wouldn’t be the same without the Faro Blanco Lighthouse, which was restored and repainted. In November of 2014, a new lantern was placed atop the tower. From what I understand, there are no more guest rooms available inside the lighthouse. Today, it is the Dock-Master’s office.”
