Ambitious plans for a theme restaurant on the Anclote River have now failed

After a year and a half Due to public disfavor, a developer has quietly withdrawn an ambitious plan for a 22,000-square-foot themed restaurant in Pasco’s Anclote River Park.

On Tuesday, county commissioners voted without comment to accept the lease termination agreement signed several weeks ago by developer Keith Overton.

Overton is the well-known former president of Tradewinds Island Resort, who founded RumFish Grill and spinoff locations there in St. Pete Beach. He also developed the OCC Roadhouse & Museum, a motorcycle-themed store with an entertainment venue in Clearwater.

His proposal, approved by the commission in August 2022, also included “water sports rentals of paddleboards, kayaks, ferry and parasailing boat rentals, wave runner rentals and group tours, dolphin and sunset cruises, snorkeling excursions and chartered fishing.” and shell trips, beach chair rentals and a ferry service to Anclote Key,” the original pitch says.

But his plan for the park, while initially met with enthusiasm, soon became a goal. Residents complained that it was too intense and didn’t fit into the passive park. Locals argued it was the only waterfront place they could still reach to find peace, quiet and nature.

Others soon joined the opposition, pointing out that signs in the park marked the location of the Spanish Well, which had been used by travelers for hundreds of years, and an indigenous mound identified by archaeologists in the past. Their reports stated that the site may contain burials and that it is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The district paid a consultant to find out clear signs of prehistoric settlement there. Following this study, a ground radar assessment was conducted. Although no burials were found at the site, the report left open the possibility that some could be there.

The tipping point came late last year, when County Administrator Mike Carballa wrote a memo to Overton informing him that the 22,000-square-foot lease was not intended for a large restaurant. He said county commissioners had instead always planned for a smaller restaurant space of a maximum of 3,000 square feet to be built on the site.

Overton reportedly did not want to pursue the lease further after receiving this memo. County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey told residents who attended a town hall meeting about the project last month that there is a possibility the smaller restaurant could still be built on the site. Some residents are still against a smaller restaurant.

In parallel with the Overton, Pasco Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources plans, officials have been designing for additional park expansions, but those have also been scaled back as the community and others interested in the impact on historic features watched closely. This could include creating parking spaces and redesigning the way people enter and exit the park.

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There is a lot of traffic at the local boat ramps at times, and officials have said they want to ensure better traffic flow in and out of the ramp area more efficient access to water.