Pahokee, Florida
Pahokee invitees you to share its simple life in the great outdoors. The only city located directly on the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee, Pahokee gets its name from the Indian term “Pai-hai-O- Kee,” which means grassy waters. This lovely community was established around 1914 and was originally known as East Beach and then called Ridgeway Beach. Pahokee is also known as Palm Beach County’s “Other” Coast, the coast without the crowds and the sticky sand.
About The Community
Not many people know of Pahokee and the locals (Population: 6,269) are happy to maintain its small town, quaint, and rural atmosphere. If you are looking for a quiet vacation in the great outdoors, Pahokee is just the place. The towering native Royal Palm trees that line the roads are the majestic ‘signposts’ for almost seven miles before you reach the city that is quite off the beaten path. Unlike the rest of Florida, not much has changed here and while you may not find the usual tourist trappings, there is plenty to see and do. The town covers less than six square miles but there are over twenty churches of different denominations for the local congregation to pray.
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Pahokee is not without historical structures. The Pahokee High School was built in 1928 and was designed by well-known architect William Manley King. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The Pahokee Woman’s Club constructed 1939 and the Prince Theater built a few years earlier are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The St. Mary’s Catholic Church was built in 1933 as a mission church of St. Ann’s in West Palm Beach. Have a look at the 100-year-old pews and stained glass donated from St. Ann’s during the depression. It also houses a free museum and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
The wooden fishing pier, commonly known as the T-Dock is perfect for a stroll along the waters of the second largest lake in the country. You can also camp directly on the scenic Lake Okeechobee at the local camping ground, which has 118 lakefront campsites. Every possible outdoor activity is available here and the campground boasts of a deep-water marina, boat rentals, open-air cafe, fishing pier and deluxe cabins.
Vicinity of Pahokee
Hikers can choose a trip of any duration when they hike on the Heritage Trail and Hoover dike nearby. Circling the lake, the Florida Trail follows the top of the Herbert Hoover Dike, thirty feet above lake level providing unparalleled panoramic views of the vast blue lake, surrounding sugar cane fields, cattle ranches and many picturesque small towns. The dike was built in the 1930s as a flood control project after the 1928 hurricane. Backpackers will find lakeside primitive campsites with waterfront views and trail towns to visit along the way.
