KRVSA's - Goin' Shady on July 1st - Clean Up & Good Eats

[Daddy Dave]

KRVSA Pres. Danny "Big Gobbler" Brantley announced the club has decided to hold another Lake Kissimmee cleanup / airboat family gathering / Cracker feast at Shady Oaks Park on Saturday, July 01.

This comes as a result of trash spotted all along the southern shore of Lake Kissimmee during last Memorial Day Weekend's event. Lower water levels revealed the need for additional cleanup efforts.

Trash gathering participants will be highly paid for their efforts. All who help clean the lake will be treated to a fish fry feast including American farmer raised catfish and the World's Best Hushpuppies. Come celebrate Independence with KRVSA.

 

[Daddy Dave]

Looks like we will have plenty of access to Shady Oaks Park. The July 1 permit request calls for 6 am - midnight. If anyone wants to camp there or bring in a motor home, let us know and we will work on that as well.

 

[basketcase0302]

Big Daddy,

Ms Wizard and I Discovered "first hand" how beautiful a place Shady Oaks really is on the poker run a few weeks ago. Nice trailer launching, dry launching and lots of room to move around. Well worth fightin' for to keep open!

For those that haven't been there it's an excellent placxe to launch from.

Sorry to say it don't look like we'll make the cleanup this time.

Basketcase

 

[Daddy Dave]

I'm bringing this back to the top for a couple of reasons.

First, it is only going to be a Polk County park because KRVSA fought for it. Polk County made no presentation at or request for it at SFWMD when this park was carved off the plum handed to POMCOR - only because KRVSA raised Hell at that meeting.

And, because we live in a country where Independence, Innitiative and vocal objection to governmental imperialism are possible.

I look forward to cooking for every airboiater that shows up. You'll see the Stars and Bars above my obligatory safely orange airboat flag.

They'll keep us out of that park over KRVSA's grave. Git R Done.

No other group of "users" has every organized or conducted any effort to improve that habitat or clean that habitat or gain access to that habitat except KRVSA. I'll be there to support the decision by Big Gobbler and others that the area needs to be recleaned.

 

[Daddy Dave]

Big Gobbler at work: SFWMD TO KRVSA Pres. Danny Brantley

Danny

I hope by now you have been assured by our admin support for the quarterly Kissimmee River Users meetings that you will be notified by e-mail of these meetings.

The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday August 5th at 10 am in the Basinger Community Hall which is located at the intersection of Micco Bluff Road and US 98.

I also returned your call to Ruth Clements regarding the recent meeting we had with Polk County regarding the development of a new boat and airboat launching facility in the general area of the old Shady Oaks Fish camp. I believe you saw the article in the local newspaper about this meeting. At this time the District is conducting necessary survey work to support the design of launch facilities as well as the required roads and parking areas. We are also proposing to provide picnic areas and waterless toilets. Once we have a general design we will hold public meetings to get feedback from the boating interest for the design details. We are hopeful that the county will join us as the managing partner but we will construct these minimal facilities regardless of the county’s decision.

Fred Davis

 

[basketcase0302]

Bid Daddy,

Good work again by "big gobbler" and the KRVSA :cheers:

Now if we could get Polk County Parks and Rec to pitch in it would be an airboaters launch site dream!

Basketcase

 

[Daddy Dave]

We will have to watch Polk County very closely on this one. They are hesitant to even accept the property for management and maintenance.from SFWMD. The Director of Polk County Parks and Recreation is hesitant to get involved because he doesn't want to irritate "residents" with airboat sounds. POMCOR will likely be developing this plum into a multi million dollar residential area for wealthy snow birds and airboats may not be a large part of their overall development plans. Now is the time for unity and strength building, I suspect. I just wish there were a hundred Big Gobblers out there working for us.

 

[jdotson]

I posted those same concerns on another thread when the article came out in the newspaper. I was hoping I wasn't the only one with raised eyebrows.

 

[cntry141iq]

There ya'll go gettin all worried about government again. LOL I had long hoped that kiss. would be a stronghold for airboats because of the lack of development on it's shores. Then the water agency goes and sets it up for the developer. Well at least we still have the glades and okeechobee.

I think unity is important dont get me wrong and I think fighting for something is good and noble. The reality is when it comes down to a choice between a huge happy tax base and a bunch of soundy airboats we all know how it shakes out. Sad but true. But what the heck the fight is half the fun anyways and it will be at least 3 or 4 years before development hits the kiss. lake shores. I know most of you remember how welcome airboats were at shady oaks when it was a campground right... remember you had to rent a lot there in order to launch .. no drive ins were welcome at all with airboats. So maybe history will not repeat it's self and the shady oaks boat park of the future will include an airboat ramp. We can only hope and support the ones who will fight for this on our behalf, airboaters. So support your local politicians and make sure they know you are an airboater and you vote. That is about the best you can do, maybe once thge developer puts the houses on the market they will all be bougt up by airboaters who will open the area up for the rest of the airboat world. ya think???

 

[Daddy Dave]

Understand everyone's frustrations about Big Brother and the BS involved.

We have put Shady Oaks Park to good use so far and I assure everyone that KRVSA will do everything possible to protect continued access for airboaters from anywhere and everywhere to use this facillity.

Once again, an open invite to come on down Saturady, July 01 and join KRVSA for FREE FOOD and a great time. The new access road should be in to the NEW Shady Oaks Park by then.

Weather reports indicate a good drenching of the marsh is a real possibility this week so the ridin' might just get good. We will take this one into the wee hours.

 

[bandit9077]

can anyone help me with good directions to shady oaks for the clean-up?? Got lost last time ended up going to camp mack. Are there any good places to stay or should we go back to camp mack?? heard the ranch is good?? thanks as usual

 

[basketcase0302]

Bandit,

Yes river ranch is awesome! They book up fast so call early. They have a rodeo and cowboy "shoot-out" every Sat. night if you're there check it out. Also only 10 minutes from Shady Oaks launch.

Basketcase

 

[Robby Bondurant]

What time does this kick-off in the morning? I don't think i will have my boat finished in time, but i would like to come down in the morning and talk to people and see if there is anything i can do. Thanks, Robby.

 

[SwampMatt]

To get there from the Clermont area and for the folks coming up from SE Florida...

First off, it's located about 15 minutes EAST of the town of Lake Wales.

It's sort of next door to GRAPE HAMMOCK. http://www.grapehammock.com/

You'd be best served if you took the turnpike to the Yehaw Junction exit and doubled back (WEST) on hwy 60 to the place.

When you are heading west on Hwy 60, you'll cross the big bridge that goes over the Kissimmee River there at the south end of the lake. There are locks there and quite an ordeal.

Soon after the bridge, you'll see the giant enterance to River Ranch on the LEFT - Big Horse sculptures on the sign.

After you cross the bridge, take the FIRST PAVED ROAD to the north - RIGHT. There is a billboard there advertising Grape hammock. There is also an old deserted convience store there.

Heading north on that road thru cow pastures, you'll come to a fork. There is an airboat mechanic and airboat graveyard at the fork. Heading to the right will take you to Grape hammock (a really nice place with cabins and mobile homes for rent) and if you take the left fork, you'll end up at Shady Oaks where the road dead-ends.

I've made up a section of my Kissimmee aerial map, that you can use to see the aerial view.

You can see it here:

Hope this helps!!!

matt.

 

[Daddy Dave]

Mood,

Thanks Again for your outstanding map works.

If folks are coming from Lake Wales on Hwy. 60, it is pretty simple. Go west, you'll eventually (prox. 15 miles west of Lake Wales) pass Indian Lakes Estates on your right - it has a restaurant and small motel adjoining - you'll then go through a sweeping left turn on Hwy. 60 at the Frostproof Road fork, keep going east on Hwy. 60. The road to Shady Oaks is about 5 miles east of Indian Lakes Estates. It will be on the left at an abandoned convenience store . Just beyond this road and on the rt. side of Hwy. 60 will be the entrance to River Ranch Resort Dude Ranch.

Hope to see you there. KRVSA will treat our members and guests very well. It will be my first contact with my airboat in more than two months. I can hardly wait.