Fire Closes Islamorada's Cheeca Lodge

A New Year’s Eve blaze that firefighters are calling the biggest in the Keys in 20 years has closed Cheeca Lodge indefinitely. It appears that the lodge, a favorite among upscale Islamorada fly fishers, may lose months of business in the height of the season. “Resort officials on Thursday officially closed the entire 199-room resort indefinitely while repairs are made. More than 80 firefighters from departments from Marathon in the Middle Keys to South Miami-Dade responded to the blaze that began around 9:45 p.m. in the front of the hotel.” In the Miami Herald. (Thanks to David Dalu for this link.)