Key West Poker Run Stops
I chased the Florida Powerboat Club from Miami to Key West during their annual Key West Poker Run. I started in Miami at Haulover Inlet and raced them all th.
- Boondocks Grill and Draft House is an official stop of Phil Peterson’s Annual Florida Keys Poker Run. At mile marker 27.5 we are about 45 minutes from Old Town Key West. And here on Ramrod Key Boondocks has something for every rider. Boondocks has live music every night either in the bar or on patio stage next to the fire pit.
- Every year, an estimated 10,000 motorcycles rumble down the Overseas Highway from Miami to the Key West Poker Run during the third weekend of September in the annual Phil Peterson’s Poker Run. But a little more than three months before this year’s scheduled event, the city of Key West has no agreement with the event organizer.
- 2020 Key West Poker Run: Gallery 6 – Saturday Party. November 25, 2020.
PHIL PETERSON’S 30TH KEY WEST POKER RUN
The storms were playing in the Gulf of Mexico and around Cuba but that didn’t stop the bikers from coming out for this great event. The ride through the Keys in September is something that you do not want to miss. Riding with the tropical breeze, the blue ocean on either side of you as you ride through the small unique islands over the famous Seven Mile Bridge, with great views and places to stop for a cold one, or delicious food along the way. Most of these places are filled with your fellow riders and have something special going on. The threat of rain was not going to stop the bikers or the party. Hell, it rains in Florida all the time. You just pull into one of the party stops and wait until it passes. Then, of course, when you get to Key West, the main event, there’s more partying.
Though it is not an official poker run stop, the Last Chance Saloon is always one that is made. It sits at the end of the Florida Turnpike and the start of the Keys. I always stop at the Caribbean Club in Key Largo and also at the Holiday Isle in Islamorada, which were official stops this year. All the other run stops, and those you have visited in the past and have mafia friends at, have parties going on, and all of it together makes for a totally enjoyable ride and a great day.
Key West Poker Run Stops Near Me
There are so many bars and restaurants that they all can not be listed but some of those that had special events were Crabby Bill’s Biker Babe Bike Wash, The Schooner Warf Bar had their tattoo show, plus the Leather and Lace, Chrome and Steel show, and of course SloppyJoe’s held the bike show.
I have to mention the famous Hogs Breath Saloon and my hangout, The Bull—both cater to bikers all year long.
In addition to the poker hand, if you got three of a kind or better you got a chance to roll six special dice and if you rolled H-A-R-L-E-Y you won a new Harley or $20,000 cash.
All of the money raised goes to benefit the Diabetes Research Institute and Key West Sunrise Rotary Club.
I am proud to say that Phil Peterson is a personal friend of mine and a finer person you will never meet. He, his family and staff spend a lot of time putting this event on and it shows by how efficiently it runs. Thanks Phil.
I have been making this run since the late ‘70s and can usually be found in the window of The Bull Bar on Duval Street, with camera in hand. You may be in one of my pictures.
For info on Key West runs contact Miami H-D at 305-651-4811; www.miamiharley.com or Rogue at www.bikerrogue.com.
Hope to see you there next year.
—Rogue
Key West Poker Run Stops 2019
With 160 boats currently pre-registered, the 2017 Florida Powerboat Clubs Key West Poker Run is going to be incredible. But, it has not been a smooth year by any means for Club President Stu Jones his wife Jackie and their team. This year Hurricane Irma did create a series of hurdles for Stu to overcome.
With little to no dockage available at Gilbert’s, the usual lunch stop, everything had to be moved to Marathon Key, which will have three separate lunch stops at some new locations that should prove to be outstanding.
The actual poker run course was also of great concern so Stu hired a sea plane and just last week flew the entire course from Miami to Key West low and slow checking every inch of the inter-coastal waterway to verify the course remained well marked and free of any submerged objects or debris. Stu told us he has also been promised a full waterways report from Florida Fish and Wildlife near the end of this month.
Stu said” The bottom line is that the Key West Poker Run is on in full form. Key West is fully recovered, all the marinas, hotels, and other venues are open and ready to accommodate everyone. There are about 10 to 15 boats still on the fence you have indicated they are coming but have not registered and while hotel accommodations remain available they will go fast as the date approaches.
This is the Florida Powerboat Clubs 25th year and the contributions the club has provided to marine industry especially in the high performance segment are clearly not measurable. The number of boaters inspired to buy a boat new or used, big or small has to be huge and a significant amount of credit goes to Stu and his team for continuing to provide safe and fun powerboating experiences throughout Florida and the world.
This years run is also dedicated to my great friend Larry Goldman. Larry was always at each and every FPC run since the beginning and was the host of the very first club Poker Run at Sunny Isles, Marina 25 years ago. The dedication of the 2017 Key west Poker Run to Larry’s memory is a great honor to Larry and his family and close friends who miss him so very very much.
Powerboat Nation will be all over Key West shooting video for out new episodes so be sure to be camera ready when we catch you in and around Key West!