KICCO and Blanket Bay Slough

On the west side of the Kissimmee River is KICCO, which is pronounced kiss-oh. It takes its name from the Kissimmee Island Cattle Company that operated here from 1915 through the late '20s. KICCO contributed to the development of central Florida towns such as Kissimmee and Sebring that depended on beef production and river trade. At one time, the KICCO settlement had homes, a bunkhouse, mess hall, company store, ice house, power plant, schoolhouse and even its own steamboat landing!

Even though nearly 100 years have passed, KICCO is a place where you can go to get the real feel of "old Florida." In this region you will enjoy a rich patchwork of habitat extremes from scrub to marsh.

Experience the ambience by camping at any of five primitive campsites equipped with picnic tables, bicycling a ten-mile (one-way) dirt road, hiking 11 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail, or riding your own horse. Remember your fishing pole. Bass lurk in the waters of the C-38 canal and the oxbows of the Old Kissimmee River.

Consider primitive waterfront camping on the opposite, east side of the river at Blanket Bay Slough. The sheltered campsite, accessible only by boat, is readily seen from the river. There are no hiking trails on Blanket Bay, as it is mainly marsh. But during the dry season from November through March, you can hike along the river and take in a refreshing view of the water.

For More Information: Okeechobee Service Center FLWATS 1-800-250-4200 or (863) 462-5260

Activities by site:

Blanket Bay Slough - airboating, boating, camping (tent), canoeing, fishing, kayaking and, picnicking
KICCO - bicycling, boating, boat ramp, camping (tent), canoeing, equestrian trails, fishing, hiking, hunting, kayaking, picnicking and, wildflower viewing

KICCO Activities

Airboating

Bicycling

Boating

Boat Ramp

Canoeing

Camping (tent)

Equestrian Trails

Fishing

Hiking

Hunting

Kayaking

Picnicking

Wildflower Viewing

KICCO Events

View Calendar

Directions

KICCO: Access by foot, bicycle or horse.

Access provided from the public boat ramp off Hwy. 60 and at two trailhead/parking areas. The first access point is on the east side of River Ranch Blvd. about three miles south of the junction with Hwy. 60.
The second is at the north end of KICCO Road which is about onequarter mile past the Westgate River Ranch Resort guard house at the south end of River Ranch Blvd.
To get there from Lake Wales: Take Hwy. 60 east for 21.1 miles to Westgate River Ranch Resort. From Yeehaw Junction (junction of 441 and 60) go west 19 miles on Hwy. 60. Look for the Westgate River Ranch sign on the south side of the road.

Blanket Bay Slough:

Access is by boat only from the boat launch on the west side of the C-38 canal, just west of the Disston Bridge that spans the junction of the extreme northerly section of the Kissimmee River and the south end of Lake Kissimmee at Hwy. 60. Take Hwy. 60 from Lake Wales, 21 miles to the east, and from Yeehaw Junction, 19 miles to the west.