World Wide Sportsman Bass Pro Shop, Islamorada: Hidden Hemingway History and More

I rarely recommend stopping into a store or having dedicated shopping time, but the Bass Pro Shop World Sportsman is a cool stop to make as you’re driving through the Florida Keys. No, I’m not telling you to go in and buy fishing gear from a company that has a terrible Goods Unite Us rating, but I’m saying you can stop in and see a cool piece of Florida Keys and literary history. And you can enjoy watching the tarpon too. Yes, the Bass Pro Shop in Marathon is actually the home of Ernest Hemingway’s famous boat, the Pilar. This antique ship is open for visitors to tour and be transported back to the Hemingway era of the Keys.

I enjoy our time out on the water and fishing is great, but you can go to an outdoors store anywhere. Really, the draw of visiting the Bass Pro Shop World Wide Sportsman is the novelty factors they’ve built in, and in particular the Pilar. If you have any questions about visiting the shop or need other Ernest Hemingway/Florida Keys ideas, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan your stops as you drive through the Keys!

Highlights of visiting World Wide Sportsman Islamorada

Of course on the surface the highlight of visiting World Wide Sportsman in Islamorada is getting to shop for fishing gear and UPF shirts, and honestly, the atmosphere of the shop is awesome and really a fun shopping experience on top of being able to get whatever gear you actually need.

What I think is awesome about visiting this Bass Pro Shop is everything else; it’s everything that somebody who isn’t into fishing can enjoy that makes World Wide Sportsman a great spot to visit. Everyone will find something to interest them: a live fish exhibit inside the store Ernest Hemingway’s historic boat a classy bar upstairs a beautiful place to relax outside another bar down on the dock. tarpon feeding like at Robbie’s of Islamorada…

Literally you can be traveling with any smattering of people and stop at the Islamorada World Wide Sportsman shop and have a great visit. And this is coming from somebody who literally rolls their eyes whenever I drive past a Bass Pro Shop anywhere else.

Ernest Hemingway History at World Wide Sportsman

For history or literature lovers, stopping into the Bass Pro Shop World Wide Sportsman in Islamorada is actually a bit of a mecca. If you know about Ernest Hemingway and his time in the Florida Keys, you know he’s something of a legend when it comes to embracing the wild side of the Keys and burying himself in the lifestyle and lore of the backwaters. And if you’ve been to the Hemingway House Museum in Key West, you’ve seen his adventurous side.

From epic fishing to spending time on his boat, the Pilar, writing and sailing, Ernest Hemingway is the embodiment of why I love the Florida Keys: live to explore, to create, to enjoy select few people and take care of the cats. The Pilar, despite being in the center of the Bass Pro Shop World Wide Sportsman, exudes this vibe and to this day still feels like an inspiring place to write. Inside there are photos of Hemingway out on the Pilar, and pictures of him typing away at the typewriter that’s still at his desk on the boat. It’s just this perfect slice of Florida Keys and literary history that feels so nice to step into.

Dining at World Wide Sportsman Islamorada

Most of the features of the Bass Pro Shop World Wide Sportsman on Islamorada are available all day long from open to close, but there are a few elements that are afternoon activities. Within the shop it’s open all day for shopping and visiting Ernest Hemingway’s boat, the Pilar, but if you head upstairs you’ll see that there is actually a classy bar called the Zane Grey Lounge (opens at 11:00 am).

Here you’ll see vintage fishing photos, taxidermy animal busts and a view out to the Florida Bay. This is a part of the Islamorada Fish Company, which has its main dining area and dockside bar space outside. Between having lunch at the Fish Co and having a cocktail at the Zane Grey Lounge or bar on the water, you’ve got a nice afternoon plan.

The Marina at World Wide Sportsman Islamorada

And don’t forget that the marina is an actual functioning marina. Boaters can pull in here as they navigate the Keys and tourists can enjoy hanging out on the water while the rest of their travel party shops. There is a bait counter here if you need to get setup for your day of fishing, and then of course you can feed the tarpon as well. Part of the marina that I think is cool is the outdoor art along the connecting walkways. I love sportsman painting and the ones here at Bass Pro Shop World Wide Sportsman are perfect Florida Keys, featuring beautiful water and tarpon.

Getting to Bass Pro Shop World Wide Sportsman Islamorada

Getting to the World Wide Sportsman Islamorada is easy, as you’ll have to drive by it if you’re heading to Marathon or Key West. Heading south on the Overseas Highway, Bass Pro Shop will be on your right, and if you’re heading north towards Key Largo it’ll be on your left. The parking is tight, so be cautious and thoughtful as you enter the parking lot.