Gather in the hut

The Hut is open again.

A Lee County institution, The Hut Restaurant and Peace Tropical Gardens reopened after a yearlong multi-million-dollar renovation.

Located off Buckingham Road on the Orange River, the gardens were originally established by settler Edwin Peace, a wandering soldier-of-fortune, to please his wife.

The restaurant was later built in the 1970s and has been a favorite gathering spot for locals, many of whom have celebrated weddings, birthdays and other events at The Hut.

Be sure to dust off those dancing shoes, because owner Tommy Lee Cook is bringing back the popular live bands on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.