In northeastern Collier County is the ranching and agricultural community of Immokalee. If do you make your way here you may not see much at first glance beyond the casino.
In town you’ll find glimpses of Florida’s heritage as well as one of Florida’s most elegant casinos. On the outskirts of town wonderful natural attractions await.
Seminole Casino and Hotel
The Seminole Tribe of Florida has a half-dozen casinos across South Florida. One of those is the Immokalee Casino.
Just minutes west of downtown, the casino's popularity is evidenced by a steady stream of guests checking in as well as the rhythmic din of 1,300 slot machines ringing across the 76,000-square-foot casino. Players with the confidence to take on the house gather at 38 tables to face off against dealers at poker, blackjack, Texas hold-‘em, mini-baccarat, pai gow, and other table games.
With a style that would look at home in Vegas, the complex also features the EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill where chefs blend ingredients from the Immokalee Produce Center (more below) to enhance dishes ranging from authentic Seminole fry bread to classic crab cakes, prime rib and lobster.
Entertainment, of course, is part of the package and showrooms feature music from funk to rock. As the city’s centerpiece, this 80-room, 19-suite hotel is also a popular venue for special events including car shows, hot-air balloon festivals, food truck rallies, and fireworks extravaganzas.
Immokalee Pioneer Museum
In Patrick D. Smith’s novel ‘A Land Remembered’, pages are filled with vivid descriptions of the era of the Florida Cracker cowboy. Come to this living history museum and images from this classic will appear right before your eyes.
Heading to a region that attracted a mixture of cowboys, missionaries, traders, and Indians, in 1914 cattleman Robert Roberts and his family left Wauchula and settled in and around Immokalee, eventually acquiring 160,000 acres. A century later, 15 acres of the Roberts’ family homestead include 20 original structures including the hide house, bunkhouse, and ranch house. Through the buildings, living history programs, and exhibits of the Pioneer Museum, you’ll learn how cow hunters, ranchers, and Crackers adapted to the wilderness of southwest Florida.
Lake Trafford Marina and Boat Tours
Toxic muck once threatened to kill Lake Trafford, but a six-year restoration project concluded with the 1,500-acre lake being restocked with freshwater fish including crappie, bluegill, and bass. Not only are anglers eager to catch them, so are the alligators and predatory birds that have made the lake and surrounding woodlands their home. To see authentic Florida wildlife up close – alligators, snakes, egrets, ibis, herons, and bald eagles – check out the Airboats & Alligators tour that departs from the marina.
Immokalee Regional Raceway
Located by the airport, the multi-purpose track known by fans as “The Playground for Power” is where local motorheads gear up for a wide range of races in a wide range of vehicles: stockcars, dragsters, funny cars and even family cars -- some pieced together by shade tree mechanics and others that look like a million bucks. Then again, the racecar’s roots don’t matter as much as the spirit of the driver at the wheel. Often loud, fast, and thrilling, the excitement of the events is matched by the enthusiasm of fans that have made thise Immokalee raceway a local favorite since the 1960s.
Immokalee Produce Center
Every day, thousands of Immokalee's residents are working the fields to plant and harvest food for Florida and the nation. Come to this daily farmers’ market and you’ll find the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor: Farm fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, potatoes, oranges, lemons, limes, plantains, bananas, watermelons, cantaloupes, corn, strawberries, beans and an overflowing cornucopia of produce sold at a fair price. It’s a popular destination for locals and visiting foodies who favor fresh and affordable hand-picked produce. Not to be confused with the State Farmers Market, this is at 114 New Market Road West. Call ahead for hours at (239) 657-3020.
Pepper Ranch Preserve
For those who enjoy biking, the 2,512-acre Pepper Ranch Preserve in Immokalee invites you to explore their outdoor playground. The preserve also offers camping, horseback riding and hunting opportunities.