Fire breaks out at Boondocks on Ramrod Key, cause unclear

Flames at Boondocks Grille, Draft House & Miniature Golf turned one of the Lower Keys’ most familiar gathering spots into a late-night fire scene Wednesday, sending Monroe County Fire Rescue units to Ramrod Key just after 10 p.m. The fire broke out at the restaurant and entertainment complex on U.S. 1 at Mile Marker 27 1/2, and officials had not yet said what started it or how much of the property was damaged.

For Ramrod Key and the surrounding Lower Keys, the fire mattered immediately because Boondocks is not just a roadside stop. It is a restaurant, tiki bar, mini-golf course and live-entertainment venue that draws locals, tourists and families moving up and down the Overseas Highway. Visit Florida Keys describes it as home to the only 18-hole mini-golf course in the Florida Keys, and the business itself says it offers live programming and a busy schedule that keeps the property active throughout the week.

Boondocks lists its address as 27205 Overseas Hwy, Ramrod Key, FL 33042, at Mile Marker 27.5. Its posted hours show restaurant and bar service seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with mini-golf open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The venue also promotes Taco Tuesday, Family Night on Wednesdays, Singo Thursdays and a Saturday open-air market, all of which point to a property that functions as a community hub as much as a business.

A local history note says Boondocks opened more than 25 years ago as a small ice cream shop before expanding into a larger destination along the Overseas Highway. Another local listing has described it as one of the most popular stops in the Keys and, in one account, the largest tiki bar in the island chain. That long presence helps explain why even an early-stage fire there drew quick attention from residents and regulars who know the property well.

The initial report did not say whether anyone was hurt, and it did not spell out whether the restaurant, bar or mini-golf course would remain closed after the blaze. For now, the key facts are simple: a well-known Ramrod Key landmark caught fire, fire crews responded fast, and the Lower Keys are waiting to learn what was lost and when Boondocks can reopen.