Historical Everglades City dates back over 1,000 years. The Rod & Gun Club is built on the original structure of the first permanent white settler who founded Everglades City in 1864. In 1922 Barron G. Collier, a banker and railroad man, bought almost all of Southwest Florida including the Rod & Gun Club which he operated as a private club. He hosted international dignitaries and several United State presidents here.

In 1972, the Bowen family, from Michigan bought the Club and is still operating it today. Celebrity guests, past and present include Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Hoover and Nixon. John Wayne and Ernest Hemingway visted in 1942. burl Ives and Gypsy Rose Lee were guests in 1945 while on location filming "Winds Across the Everglades". In 1983 during filming of "Cannonball Run," Kate Jackson, Burt Reynolds and Sally Field visited here. Other guests were Mich Jagger and Jeri Hall and in 1991; as well as David Carradine, Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, Eddie Arnold and Jack Nicklaus. Location fiming of "Just Cause" brought Sean Connery and the shooting of Walt Disney's "Gone Fishin'" brought Danny Glover and Joe Pesci. And the list goes on.

The well marked channel carries 6 feet M.L.W. The have dockage available for boats up to 100 feet.