ABOUT OUR ACTION SPORTS ECO PARK
boy learning how to kiteboard at keys cable park
The lagoon was originally dug back in the 70’s as a quarry to provide limerock fill for the surrounding neighborhoods and ever developing Overseas Highway. Once environmental regulations began to catch up with development, the harvesting of rock was put on halt. The lagoon sat idle for a decade with the property frequented only by the occasional swimmer, sunbather, nudist, or smuggler.
As a limestone quarry in between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, the tide freely flows in and out of the lagoon filtering clean ocean water throughout the day. In the late 80’s, this caught the eye of some aquaculture enthusiasts who turned the lagoon into the Big K Lobster Farm and eventually another short-lived fish farming endeavor called the Aqua Ranch. Despite a massive investment into both these operations, a significant amount of infrastructure, and a research partnership with the University of Miami, the dreams of sustainable lobster, snapper, and Cobia farming faded away with the tides. The property again laid dormant now with rusty bones. The only allure was to the seedier travelers involved in illicit practices such as drug smuggling, squatting, and salvaging scrap metal.
composting and gardening, restoring the grounds
In 2011 Matt Sexton partnered with Mike and Shana Walsh of Otherside Boardsports to create Keys Cable Park. Over the years, Sexton spent his time salvaging what he could from the old fish farms. He turned the original laboratory into a retail shop and employee housing facility. Old lobster cooling refrigerators became a hip food truck and booze garden, which he named after his four legged companion, Bongo.
As Matt continued to clean decades worth of materials from the properties, he found many underutilized resources that the island provided. He began a large-scale composting operation that helped repurpose local organic matter and storm debris. He then used that material to build multiple gardens around the property and in different locations on Grassy Key.
Salvaging old fish farming equipment and marine storage units, Sexton created small marketplaces and attractions around the property for artists and craftsman to utilize affordable spaces to create the oddities that the Keys have always been known for.
In 2017 Hurricane Irma struck the middle and lower keys as a catastrophic category 4 storm. Over 6 feet of water rose out of the lagoon and flushed in from the Atlantic accompanied by 140 + mph winds. The Keys Cable Crew worked tirelessly for a year putting the pieces back together, but without the tourism industry and big hotels providing daily patrons the park was burdened with debt and destruction. Over the last 20 years, the majority of the hotels had been bought out by large corporate interests, who capitalized on the down turn and their insurance settlements to revamp their accommodations. This caused the local economies severe distress as scores of businesses that depended on consistent visitors closed.
mural by local artists within the community garden
During this post-hurricane slump, Sexton decided to diversify the parks dependency on large corporate interests and founded a small investment group to take over three abandoned mom and pop resorts just down the road on Grassy Key. In the Spring of 2019, Grassy Flats Resort and Beach Club opened for business. As a waterfront resort, Grassy Flats attracted guests specifically for the enjoyment of board, wind, and paddle sports, utilizing Keys Cable as an ideal training facility to help the experience.
The resort also became an attraction for locals, providing a resort-style atmosphere for families to enjoy the pool, bar, and beach as Beach Club Members in their own back yard. The badly damaged resort was opened at half capacity while Sexton planned a large expansion project. The end result would be a world-class sustainable watersports beach resort consisting of 38 diverse guest rooms, 2 pools, a waterfront restaurant, and an extensive garden and landscape program. As the 2020 story goes, COVID-19 decided to throw a wrench in the plans.
aerial view of keys cable park at the lagoon on grassy key
Still riddled by debt, Keys Cable Park was shuttered due to COVID-19 during spring break, one of the most profitable times of year. With little reprieve in sight, Sexton and the Walsh Family decided to restructure the business. Sexton’s investment group and Grassy Flats Resort would take over the operation and the Walsh’s would operate Otherside Boardsports as an affiliate sister company solely based out of Islamorada. As the operations manager since the beginning, Sexton will operate Keys Cable Park as he always has, with a much needed revamp to the ramps and park features, as well as the viewing areas and amenities around the lagoon!
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