The Sarasota County Commission is expected to approve a $14 million contract for the acquisition of Camp Venice RV Resort, a 20.8-acre property located on the west bank of the Myakka River, just south of Snook Haven.
The proposed purchase, which is scheduled for inclusion in the May 6 meeting agenda, would be funded through the county’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program.
Camp Venice RV Resort has operated as a campground for approximately 40 years.
The site currently includes 135 campsites for both RVs and tents, along with supporting amenities such as a manager’s office, two washhouses, a laundry facility, a swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, a kayak launch, a boat ramp, and a private wastewater treatment plant.
Additionally, the park contains 13 independently owned park model modular homes.
If approved, the county will proceed with an environmental evaluation by August 24. Closing on the property will be scheduled within 30 days after the seller, Camp Venice LLC, provides written notice confirming the removal of all park models.
If necessary, this deadline could be extended to as late as March 31, 2026, according to a press release.
Following the acquisition, Sarasota County plans to maintain the campground for public use.
Part of the initial work will include decommissioning the existing wastewater treatment plant and connecting the campground to county water and sewer systems.
Depending on condition assessments, existing facilities may be repaired, upgraded, or removed. Approximately $2 million of the total project cost has been earmarked for utility connections and site improvements.
The location holds ecological significance due to its six acres of mesic hammock and riverine habitat along the federally designated Wild and Scenic Myakka River.
It is also situated near several other county-owned properties along the river, including Snook Haven, the Sleeping Turtles Preserve, the Jelks Preserve, and the Deer Prairie Creek Preserve.
Sarasota County intends to integrate Camp Venice into a broader waterfront access and ecotourism initiative. As part of this plan, the county aims to operate Camp Venice and Snook Haven as a combined complex.
Justin Pachota, president of the Venice Pier Group, stated via text that “Sarasota County has stopped negotiations for a new vendor to operate Snook Haven.” Instead, the county will seek a new operator for the joint site after an $8.8 million renovation of Snook Haven is complete.
The project aligns with Sarasota County’s broader strategic goals of increasing access to waterfront lands and expanding nature-based programming, including educational experiences for schoolchildren.
For outdoor hospitality professionals, this move highlights potential shifts in public-private partnership opportunities, as well as changing dynamics in campground management and ecotourism infrastructure planning.
The Sarasota County Commission will meet at 9 a.m. on May 6 at the Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, located at 4000 S. Tamiami Trail in Venice.
The Camp Venice purchase is included in the consent agenda but may be brought up for further discussion at the request of any commissioner.