Sarasota County to buy Camp Venice for $14 million

Sarasota County has agreed to buy Camp Venice, an RV park off River Road, for $14 million. The county intends to turn the area into a campground connected to adjacent Snook Haven Park, which it also owns and where an $8.75 million improvement project is underway. County staff projects that when up and running, the campground will require 10 staff to operate and will generate upwards of $1 million a year.

Located at 4085 E. Venice Ave. near the Myakka River, the 20.83-acre property is owned by Camp Venice LLC, an entity with a Boca Raton address. It has functioned as a campground for the past 40 years and has around 135 campsites for RV and tent camping, according to the county.