The Black Hammock

What The Black Hammock does

The Black Hammock is a privately held, founder-owned nature tourism and hospitality destination operating on the shores of Lake Jesup in Oviedo, Florida, east of Orlando. Founded in 1999 by Joel Martin and operating for over 25 years, the company runs an integrated leisure complex combining guided airboat tours on Lake Jesup (home to one of the densest alligator populations in the world, with 10,000-13,000 registered gators), a full-service award-winning Florida/Southern restaurant (known for fried gator tail and catfish), the Lazy Gator Bar (a waterfront cocktail and live entertainment venue), nine vacation rental properties, a gift shop, three rentable event venues, marina access, and a 700-acre protected wilderness preserve with 4.5 miles of trails.

The underlying operating technology is asset-based rather than software-based: a U.S. Coast Guard certified airboat fleet of three large vessels (18, 15, and 12 passenger capacity) plus a smaller 6-passenger boat, all operated by USCG-licensed captains. Reservation infrastructure is delivered through the embedded FareHarbor booking platform for tours, packages, and gift cards, with a separate vacation rental booking system (blackhammockgetaways.com and external Escapia listings). The company's differentiating content is the combination of geographic exclusivity on Lake Jesup, including Bird Island (documented by the Seminole Audubon Society as likely the largest wading bird colony in the county), and on-site live animal exhibits.

The business model is multi-stream direct-to-consumer leisure and tourism. Revenue is generated through unit-priced ticket sales (30-min rides at $35-$40 adult, 1-hour rides at $60 adult, sunset/night/VIP packages priced $50-$84, private charters at $320), restaurant and bar transaction revenue (appetizers $8.99-$15.99, entrees $21.99-$25.99, cocktails $10-$15), nightly vacation rental bookings (nine properties ranging from a 1BR condo to a 6BR/6BA manor), event venue rentals ($200+ per booking, banquet room at $800 plus fees), marina slip rentals ($150/month), gift shop merchandise, and group/corporate event packages (group rates from $25.95/person, buffets from $10.99/person). Customer segments span Orlando-area tourists, K-12 school field trips ($19.99/student), bachelor/bachelorette and celebration groups, corporate events, nature enthusiasts/birdwatchers, and extended-stay vacation rental guests.

Name

The Black Hammock

Legal name

The Black Hammock

Website

https://theblackhammock.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Black Hammock is a privately held, founder-owned nature tourism destination in Oviedo, Florida, offering USCG-certified airboat tours on Lake Jesup alongside a restaurant, bar, event venues, gift shop, marina, nine vacation rentals, and a 700-acre wilderness preserve, primarily serving Orlando-area tourists, school groups, and corporate/celebration events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Tourism and Hospitality Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Marinas (71393), Recreational Goods Rental (532284)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beachfront & Lakefront Homes (THAMAAAF), Marine Wildlife & Birding Cruises (dolphins, seals, seabirds) (THAAAIAD)

Keywords

• Airboat tours
• Wildlife excursions
• Waterfront dining
• Vacation rentals
• Event venues

Headquarters

HQ city

Oviedo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Airboat Ride Tickets: Ticket-based tours departing every 30 minutes for 30-minute rides and hourly for 1-hour rides. Individual, group, and special packages (sunset, night rides, VIP eco-tours) available. Bookings via FareHarbor platform.
2. Restaurant Dining: Full-service award-winning restaurant serving Southern/Florida cuisine including fried gator tail, catfish, seafood, burgers, and homemade desserts. Hours Tue-Sun, lunch and dinner service.
3. Lazy Gator Bar: Lakeside bar serving cocktails, beer, wine with 2-for-1 margaritas daily. Live music on weekends, karaoke, trivia, bingo nights. Food available from bar menu.
4. Vacation Rentals: Nine vacation rental properties near Lake Jesup including Gator Manor (6BR/6BA), Gator Mansion (6BR/5BA), Gator Palace (5BR/4BA), Gator's Den (3BR/2BA), Gator's Nest (3BR/2BA), Gator Lodge (2BR/1BA), Gator Cove (2BR/1BA), Gator Cottage (2BR/1BA), Gator Hole (2BR/1.5BA), and Ramsea (1BR/1BA condo). Short to medium term rentals 365 days a year.
5. Gift Shop: Souvenir retail including t-shirts, mugs, alligator-themed merchandise, photo sessions with live baby alligator Oscar and parrot Morgan.
6. Event Venue Rental: Private event venue rentals including Lazy Gator Bar venue, Restaurant Patio, Banquet Room (Great Room at Gator Manor), and Tiki Terrace. Catering and buffet options available for corporate events, weddings, birthdays.
7. Marina Services: Boat launch services ($10), boat slip rentals ($150/month), electricity hookups. Marina open Tue-Sun with restroom, bar, gift shop, and restaurant access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Black Hammock operates U.S. Coast Guard certified airboat tours on Lake Jesup, an award-winning waterfront restaurant serving Florida/Southern cuisine (notably fried gator tail), the Lazy Gator Bar, nine vacation rental properties, event venues, a marina, and a 700-acre wilderness preserve. The integrated complex serves as a single-destination Old Florida nature tourism and hospitality experience in Oviedo, Florida, near Orlando.

Product overview

The Black Hammock is a leisure and hospitality destination combining airboat adventures, waterfront dining, entertainment, and vacation rentals on Lake Jesup in Oviedo, Florida. The core offerings include guided airboat rides exploring Lake Jesup and Bird Island with wildlife viewing, an award-winning full-service restaurant serving Florida cuisine (notably fried gator tail), the Lazy Gator Bar offering lakeside cocktails and live entertainment, and nine vacation rental properties nearby. Additional offerings encompass event venues (Lazy Gator Venue, Restaurant Patio, Banquet Room), a 700-acre wilderness preserve, marina access, and a gift shop. The destination is owned by Joel Martin and operates as an integrated complex combining outdoor adventure, dining, lodging, and entertainment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lazy Gator Bar: Waterfront bar and event venue on Lake Jesup offering cocktails, live music, karaoke, and event rentals.
• Black Hammock Restaurant
• Black Hammock Getaways
• Black Hammock Wilderness Area

Products and services

• Airboat Rides Guided airboat tours on Lake Jesup with U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains, featuring wildlife viewing (alligators, wading birds), Bird Island visits, and multiple duration options (30 minutes and 1 hour) available day, sunset, and night. Targets leisure tourists, families, school groups, and nature enthusiasts visiting the Orlando area.
• Black Hammock Restaurant Full-service award-winning restaurant serving Florida and Southern cuisine, including fried gator tail, catfish, seafood, burgers, and homemade desserts, with lakeside views of Lake Jesup. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Targets leisure tourists, local residents, and event guests.
• Lazy Gator Bar

Quantifiable outcome

• 362 travelers rated experiences 'excellent' on TripAdvisor
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AECOMminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021AECOM conducted the Lake Jesup algae cleanup project in 2021, filtering toxic algae from the water using technology for biofuel and other products. Black Hammock hosted the news conference and provided airboat tours to the barge where the AECOM team gave demonstrations of their work.
• Seminole Education, Restoration & Volunteer (SERV) ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCF volunteers participated in Pegasus Palooza planting 2,080 native plants including duck potato, pickerelweed, fire flag, and golden canna to improve Lake Jesup water quality. Black Hammock provided support and venue for the volunteer event.
• Seminole County Watershed ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack Hammock provides free airboat services and captains twice a year for Lake Jesup Restoration projects with 100-150 volunteers. Supporting water quality education and community restoration efforts.
• Kid's House of Seminole IncminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlack Hammock Adventures is a Proud Supporter of Kid's House of Seminole Inc, supporting the fight against child abuse. Participated in the 10th Annual Kids House Gala with Vegas theme.
• Seminole County Sheriff's OfficeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlack Hammock Adventures is a Proud Supporter of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.
• FareHarborcoreTechnology or IntegrationEmbedded booking platform for airboat tours, packages, and gift cards. All online reservations and bookings processed through FareHarbor system.
• Seminole Audubon SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe society identifies Bird Island as believed to be the largest colony of wading birds in the county. Their 2017 survey documented 512 wading birds on the island.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St. Johns River Cruises: Sightseeing cruise operator on the St. Johns River system (which includes Lake Jesup). Comparable water-based sightseeing transportation and natural-Florida tourism positioning.
• Wild Florida Airboat Rides & Safari Park: Central Florida airboat tour operator near Orlando/Kissimmee offering guided wildlife tours, a drive-thru safari park, and nature-based attractions. Directly comparable in airboat tour product, target tourist, and pricing tier.
• Spirit of the Swamp Adventure: Florida airboat and swamp eco-tour operator offering wildlife-focused excursions. Comparable product, customer base (tourists seeking authentic Florida wildlife), and tour format.
• Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures: Long-established Kissimmee airboat tour operator offering 30- and 60-minute rides plus night tours with comparable pricing ($30-$60). Closest direct competitor in the Orlando airboat category.
• Kissimmee Swamp Tours: Orlando/Kissimmee-area swamp eco-tour operator running guided wildlife boat tours. Comparable tour format, customer base, and pricing.
• Forever Florida (Zipline Safari / Crescent J Ranch): Eco-tourism destination in Central Florida offering wildlife tours, ziplining, and nature experiences on a large conservation property. Comparable nature-tourism positioning and eco-tour product mix.

Others

• FareHarbor: Booking platform provider used by The Black Hammock and many tour operators. Enabler/ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor; comparable in that its tour-operator clients are competitive peers.

Broad incumbents

• Gatorland: Long-standing Orlando-area theme park/attraction featuring alligators, wildlife shows, and zip lines. Overlaps on the alligator/wildlife experience but is a broader attraction versus an airboat tour specialist.
• Discovery Cove (SeaWorld): Premium Orlando marine-animal experience owned by SeaWorld. Competes for the same tourist dollar on wildlife/animal experiences but at a much higher price point and broader resort-style offering.

Regional players

• Old Town Kissimmee: Kissimmee entertainment, dining, and shopping district catering to Orlando-area tourists. Adjacent in serving Central Florida tourist flow and capturing vacation-stay spend.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@blackhammockadventures7388
• Facebookfacebook.com/blackhammockadventures
• Instagraminstagram.com/theblackhammock
• TikToktiktok.com/@theblackhammock_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-black-hammock

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Black Hammock