Christoph Thomas
Google
"Sugarloaf Lodge: So Good We Accidentally Stayed Twice – 2015’s Unexpected Paradise!"
Picture it: 2015. My wife and I were road-tripping through the Florida Keys, carefree and sunburned, looking for a place to rest our heads (and our mildly overcooked shoulders). We found Sugarloaf Lodge, tucked just off the Overseas Highway — and what we thought would be a simple overnight stop turned into an experience so delightful, we accidentally stayed there twice. On two different legs of our trip. Independently. Yes, really. It's that kind of place.
Let’s start with the location:
This place is a hidden slice of island magic. Out front: classic Florida Keys roadside charm. Out back? Absolute waterfront paradise. We opened the door to our room and there it was — the peaceful, glimmering water stretching out behind the lodge like it was posing for a postcard. The sun danced on the surface, palm trees waved gently, and we just stood there thinking: "Wait... why are we not living here?"
We took about 200 photos right then and there. Some with us grinning by the dock. Some just of the water. Some blurry ones where you can tell I was emotionally overwhelmed by the sunset.
But what really sealed the deal was the heart of the place — the owner himself.
While chatting one morning (probably while we looked dazed from joy or too much Key lime pie), he told us his story. He and his wife were originally from New York, and they used to come down to the Keys for vacation. Every time they had to leave, his wife would cry — genuinely heartbroken to go. So finally, they just said:
“Why don’t we stay?”
And stay they did.
At first, he worked as a hotel employee — just to be near the place that made her heart sing. Eventually, they took over Sugarloaf Lodge themselves. Hearing that story, while standing under a palm tree by the water, with my own wife by my side… well, let’s just say someone was cutting onions, and it wasn’t in the kitchen.
The rooms were simple but spotless, with everything we needed (comfy beds, cold A/C, a fridge for the snacks we definitely didn’t share). But let’s be honest — the real luxury here is the vibe. Quiet, laid-back, no plastic glamour — just the real Keys, with genuine people and a view that you could bottle and sell as therapy.
There’s also a marina, and you can rent kayaks or just sit and watch the world float by. And when we say “waterfront,” we mean step-outside-your-room-and-dangle-your-feet-in-the-ocean waterfront.
To summarize:
We stayed once.
We loved it.
We left.
Then we missed it so much, we stayed again.
Same year, on our way back.
Still talk about it.
Still recommend it to anyone heading anywhere near the Keys.
Still married. Possibly because of this place. 😉
Sugarloaf Lodge isn’t flashy. It’s better — it’s authentic, peaceful, warm, and unforgettable.
Thank you to the owners for creating something so real, so relaxing, and so clearly full of love.
Five stars.
Ten out of ten sunsets.
Would “accidentally” stay again any day.
