The City of LaBelle, Florida is located centrally between Fort Myers and Naples to the west; Miami and the Palm Beaches to the east; Okeechobee to the North; and the Everglades to the south. All of these areas are within 45-90 miles of LaBelle depending on your route and final destination. We are part of the Florida Heartland Region.
The town of LaBelle formed in 1889, but the city was incorporated in 1925. Hendry County was named for early resident and”Cattle King of South Florida” Captain Francis A. Hendry with LaBelle as its county seat. Hendry began to build his cattle business after the Civil War. He made arrangements with a lot of cattle buyers in Cuba, and was one of the first ranchers in Florida to ship cattle there. LaBelle is known as the City of Oaks.
LaBelle resides along the Caloosahatchee River, which is part of the Okeechobee Waterway. The Okeechobee Waterway will take you from coast to coast across the State of Florida. The Caloosahatchee starts at Lake Okeechobee and flows west past LaBelle and eventually enters the Gulf of Mexico just outside of Fort Myers. More than 40 species of freshwater fish have been reported including large mouth bass, bluegill and crappie. Florida tourism season is not just limited to the coastal regions and beaches. Tourism season here in LaBelle ramps up beginning in October and goes through April.
Known for a long history of cattle ranching and agriculture, LaBelle hosts a variety of farm supply businesses and farm to table restaurants. LaBelle and Port LaBelle combined population is more than 10,000 people, but there are many surrounding rural communities. Hendry County has a population of more than 40,000.
Swamp Cabbage Festival happens every year in March. Swamp Cabbage is ‘hearts of palm’ from the native Cabbage Palm Tree.
Amenities:
The City has a Civic Center, Rodeo Grounds, Barron Library, Chamber of Commerce, and a wide range of recreational parks, including a boat ramp and wharf walk along the Caloosahatchee River.
The Port LaBelle Marina – offer boat 100 boat slips and the following ammenities: Diesel, electricity, pump-out facilities, restrooms, ice & drinks, laundry & kitchen facilities, parking and WiFi.
Health: Hendry County Regional Convenience Care, LaBelle Medical Center, K&M Drugs
Groceries: Walmart Supercenter, Save A Lot, Winn Dixie, Dollar General Food Market, Azteca, Las Gemelas, and a few other small markets.
Housewares & Retail: Clementine’s Southern Boutique, LaBelle Family Florist Gifts, Harold Curtis Honey Company, Cottage Under the Oaks, All Around Fashion
Hardware, Farm & Auto Supplies: LaBelle Ranch Supply, AAction Power Equipment, Tractor Supply, Ace Hardware, Advanced Auto Parts, Big A Auto Parts, AutoZone
General Supplies: Walmart, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Goodwill
Restaurants & Bars: The Launch, LaBelle Brewery, Forrey’s Grill, The Red Rooster, Jalepeno’s, Log Cabin BBQ, Short Cakes, Sal Cal, Bridge Street Coffee & Tea, China Uno, Amigos & Beer, The Farmacy Juice Bar, Contrera’s Mexican Grill, Beef O Brady’s, Hungry Howie’s Pizza, Chinese Fortune Cookie
Fast Food: Taco Bell, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, Burger King, Popeye’s, Little Caesar’s Pizza, Domino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Culver’s Custard
Hotels/Overnight Stays: River’s Edge Motel, Port LaBelle Inn & Conference Center, LaBelle Motel
Airport: LaBelle Aiport
Area Attractions:
LaBelle Downtown Revitalization Group – Hosting events and activities throughout the year.
Firehouse Community Theatre – Adorable hometown theatre in Downtown LaBelle run by a great group of volunteers.
LaBelle Heritage Museum – Featuring history of LaBelle
Captain Francis Hendry House – Musuem and wedding/rental venue
Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area – Recreational space and preserve for hiking, biking, fishing, camping and hunting – Managed by the Florida Wildlife and Conservation Commission.
Florida Trail – recreational trail follows around much of Lake Okeechobee
Common Wildlife:
White Tailed Deer, Bobcat, River Otters, Wild Boar, Racoons, Opossum, Osceola Turkey, Black Vultures, Turkey Vultures, Osprey, Crested Caracara, Red Tailed Hawks, Red Shouldered Hawks, Screech Owls, Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, White Ibis, Wood Storks, Cattle Egrets, White Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons, Glossy Ibis, Anhinga
Common Trees:
Sabal Palm (Cabbage Palm), Live Oak, Bald Cypress, Mahogany, Strangler Fig, Bay Tree, Slash Pine, Ficus, Banyan, Bismarck Palm, Royal Palm, Christmas Palm, Pygmy Date Palm, Coconut Palm, Fishtail Palm, Ponytail Palm, Citrus Trees, Mango, Avocado