Call Us Today!

(239) 282-3232

 

Call Us Today!

(239) 282-3232

 

 

Dock & Dine

Get Here By Boat!

 

Dock & Dine

Get Here By Boat!

Enjoy Food, Brews, Views... and Live Music of course!

Most of Florida's tiny fishing towns are disappearing and giving way to McDonald's, high rises and hotel chains. Not Matlacha, however. Here you still find cozy cottages, bed & breakfasts, fishermen tending their nets, bait shops and shrimp boats.

 

Matlacha housing started in the 20's. The bridge to Pine Island was completed in 1927. Fishing shanties and squatter shacks appeared on the Island. Many of them have survived to present day. The area around the Matlacha Bridge was made famous by Ft. Myers author, Richard Powell, in his book, Pioneer Go Home. This book was made into an Elvis Presley movie called "Follow that Dream".

 

Bert's Bar is composed of two buildings. The original building was the bar near the road. It was built in the 30's as a "sweet shop". Then in 1941 the hotel building was built. It consisted of eight sleeping rooms. During WWII, army bases were set up at Page Field and many of the soldiers would come out for a weekend to Matlacha to go fishing off the "fishingest bridge in Florida" at Matlacha Pass. They became regular customers of the hotel and bar. The hotel had the reputation of "ill repute" and ladies of the night. Imagine that!

Some time after WWII the bar became known as "Mother's." In the seventies, the bar became known as the Tri Dilly Inn and then Harry's Barge Inn. The hotel continued to operate up to the 70's. It was the home to many local fisherman. Shrimp boats were parked out back of the Inn. We still have deep water at the end of the dock as a result of that. Later, the building was purchased by Bert Clubb, a famous Lee County bar operator. Hence, the name Bert's. Bert's became the bar of choice for many people from all over Lee & Charlotte County. It has even been said that there were "Dancers" in the back room (formerly the hotel). Bert operated the establishment for many years and then sold it to a long time employee. In 2000, the establishment was sold again, the name stayed and the legend lives on. For over seventy five years, Bert's has had a colorful history and is the home for many stories…If only the walls could talk.

Ready To Relax & Enjoy Great Food? Stop Into Bert’s Bar Today!  - (239) 282-3232

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Latitude N 26 degrees 38' 2.645" Longitude W 82 degrees 3' 58.003"

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