Clewiston
Clewiston is a city in the Florida Heartland.
Understand
The town had a population of roughly 8,000 in 2019, having increased by over 1,500 in the past twenty years. Permanent settlement did not take place until 1920 and the town was incorporated in 1925. John O'Brien and Alonzo Clewis founded the city. The newly incorporated town maintained the local Native American tradition in the area, fishing, due to the largemouth bass in Lake Okeechobee. Agriculture was important during the mid-20th century, and crops included sugar, citrus, and vegetables. The US Sugar Corporation's location in Clewiston has made it important for manufacturing.
Clewiston is an ethnically diverse minority-majority community, with 49% of its residents being of Hispanic or Latino origin and 13% identifying as Black or African American.
Get in
By car
US-27 is the main local route, as it is across much of the Florida Heartland which goes through town as Sugarland Hwy (as the 'main street'). In Clewiston it is merged with FL-80. FL-80 comes from Belle Glade in the east and from Fort Myers to the west. West of town Fl-80 and US-27 splits where US-27 goes up north towards Lake Placid.
By bus
- 🌍 Greyhound Lines, (bus stop) Walmart Parking Lot @ 1005 W Sugarland Hwy, toll-free: +1 800 231-2222. SR-80/US98/I-95 (Ft Myers, Clewiston, Belle Glade, W Palm Beach, Ft Lauderdale, Miami). They also have another route going towards Tampa through Lake Placid, Sebering, Avon Park, Lake Wales, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Lakeland and Plant City along US Hwy 27/98 from Clewiston. Passengers transfer in Ft Myers, Tampa or Miami to reach additional destinations.
See
- 🌍 Clewiston Museum, 109 Central Ave (off US 27 within a block of the Clewiston Inn), ☏ +1 863 983-2870. M-F 9AM-4PM. $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 students.
- 🌍 St. Margaret Parish Church, 318 E Osceola Ave, ☏ +1 863 983-8585, saintmargaretoffice@stmargaretcc.org. M–Tu Th 8AM–5PM, W F 9AM–2PM.
Do
- 🌍 Dixie Crystal Theatre (Clewiston Theater), 100 E Sugarland Hwy. It was built in 1941 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Buy
- 🌍 Walmart Supercenter, 1005 W Sugarland Hwy, ☏ +1 863 983-4844. Daily 6AM-11PM.
- 🌍 Clewiston Plaza, 905-975 W Sugarland Hwy. Advanced Auto Parts, Bealls Outlet, Dollar General, Goodwill, McDonalds, Tractor Supply Co, etc.
- 🌍 Goodwill, 957 W Sugarland Hwy, ☏ +1 863 983-8059. One man's trash is another man's treasure. Goodwill is one of the largest second-hand store chains in the nation.
Eat
- 🌍 Jalapeños, 444 E Sugarland Hwy, ☏ +1 863 983-4444.
- 🌍 Main St Subs, 344 E Sugarland Hwy, ☏ +1 863 983-0277. M–F 10AM–6PM, Sa 10AM–2PM, closed Su.
Sleep
- 🌍 Americas Best Value Inn Historic Clewiston Inn, 108 Royal Palm Ave, ☏ +1 863 983-8151. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Has restaurant as part of the inn. Historic nature mural in the bar. $86 (Mar 2022).
- 🌍 Best Western, 1020 W Sugarland Hwy (Across the street from Walmart), ☏ +1 863 983-3400. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM.
- 🌍 Holiday Express (An IHG Hotel), 1024 W Sugarland Hwy (Across the street from Walmart.), ☏ +1 863 983-5100. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.
- 🌍 Motor Inn Clewiston, 412 W Sugarland Hwy (W Sugarland & Coruna/Arcade), ☏ +1 863 983-4115. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM.
- 🌍 Roland & Mary Ann Martins Marina & Resort, 920 E Del Monte Ave, ☏ +1 863 983-3151, toll-free: +1 800 473-6766, oson@rolandmartinmarina.com.
- 🌍 West Express Inn, 433 W Sugarland Hwy (Along Sugarland Hwy between W Circle & Arcade, next to KFC), ☏ +1 863 983-9161.
Go next
- Okeechobee is at the other end of the lake.
| Routes through Clewiston |
| Ocala ← Moore Haven ← | N S | → Belle Glade → Miami |
| Fort Myers ← LaBelle ← | W E | → Belle Glade → West Palm Beach |