"Day passes are not sold to the public." That line sits in the FAQ for Coral Cay Adventure and Waterpark, the 2.5-acre park Hawks Cay Resort is scheduled to open on Duck Key in December. The Florida Keys will soon have their biggest waterslides right here on Duck Key, and a wristband from check-in is the only way onto them.
The rest of the resort works the other way. The dining rooms are open to the local community. The marina relaunched in 2025 and lists a day rate for its boat ramp. The season's one event marked open to the public happens on the marina promenade. For a Duck Key neighbor, the useful parts of Hawks Cay sit along the waterfront, and the water park isn't one of them.
What is going up behind the resort
The KeysNews report, citing the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, puts the opening at Dec. 1. Hawks Cay's own page says December 2026 and promises operating hours closer to opening.
Here is what the plans describe:
- A 32-foot launch tower anchoring three high-speed waterslides, the longest running 330 feet, with a 48-inch height minimum for the big three
- Three smaller slides and a coral reef splash pad designed for all ages
- A Sports Lawn for basketball, volleyball and lawn games, plus a climate-controlled arcade with retro games and racing simulators
- Coral Cove, a space for crafts, seasonal programming and birthday parties booked through the resort events team
- Coral Grill, a poolside walk-up spot with burgers, sandwiches and frozen drinks, which also delivers to cabanas
Hawks Cay calls it the largest water park in the Florida Keys. Its marketing points out that most Florida waterpark resorts sit near Orlando. The park is built for families who come to stay, and the access rules follow from that.
Who gets a wristband
The FAQ names two groups: registered Hawks Cay Resort guests, and villa owners who take part in the Resort Rental Management Program. Wristbands are handed out at check-in. If you rent a villa independently, the resort says to confirm access before booking. For registered guests, admission comes with the stay. Cabana rentals and anything bought at Coral Grill cost extra.
That means owning a villa at Hawks Cay isn't enough on its own. Whether a villa owner gets in depends on the owner's rental arrangement with the resort.
A local who wants a park day has two routes listed on the resort's site, and both involve a room. The Play & Stay package bundles an overnight stay with park admission, a $50 Coral Grill credit and a $20 arcade credit. The Florida residents offer lists up to 20% off stays and 20% off dining with a valid Florida ID at check-in. For a family on Duck Key or in Marathon, a discounted night down the road is the closest thing to a day pass.
The dining rooms are open to the neighborhood
Restaurants are where the resort's policy turns outward. Hawks Cay's dining FAQ says its restaurants are open "to both resort guests and the local community, based on availability." It encourages non-guests to reserve, especially on evenings, weekends and event nights. These are the posted schedules, and the resort notes that hours shift with the season:
- Salt + Ash: dinner 5 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations are strongly recommended and required for parties of eight or more.
- Angler & Ale: Captain's Hour 3 to 5 p.m. weekdays, the bar open 3 to 11 p.m., weekday dinner 5 to 10 p.m. and weekend lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Tiki Grill: bar 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and food 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
- Pilar Bar: walk-up only, Friday through Monday from noon to 8 p.m., with Gong Hour from 5 to 6.
- The Café: the market runs 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., breakfast 7 to 11 a.m. and the coffee bar 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Coral Grill is the one Hawks Cay kitchen a non-guest won't be eating from, since it sits inside the park gates. Expect tables to fill faster once the park brings more families onto the property. Booking ahead at Salt + Ash and Angler & Ale is the move the resort itself recommends.
The marina came first, and it posts day rates
Before the water park, Hawks Cay's big project was the marina. The resort dates the relaunch to 2025. Keys Weekly covered the reimagined marina's reopening with a public celebration over Dec. 12 to 14, 2025. It now lists 66 slips, room for vessels up to 92 feet, a ship store, bait and fish-cleaning stations.
These marina terms matter most to someone who lives nearby:
| Service | Listed terms |
|---|---|
| Boat ramp | $75 per day plus tax, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily |
| Trailer parking | Reserved for slip-reservation holders; other parking first-come, first-served |
| Fuel dock | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 90-octane non-ethanol gasoline and marine diesel |
| Ship store | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Transient slips | From $6.50 per foot per night, booked through Dockwa |
| Monthly dockage | $61 per foot August to October; $71 per foot November to July |
The monthly rate went up on Nov. 1, so seasonal visitors who dock a boat at Hawks Cay this winter pay the higher of the two rates. Monthly and seasonal inquiries go to 305-289-2943. Live bait is sold to marina guests.
What leaves from the docks
The marina is also where the resort's water trips start. Fishing charters depart from Hawks Cay Marina and book through the resort's linked service. Snorkel-and-sandbar trips and sunset cruises book through Duck Key Watersports and meet at the marina. The resort's dive partner, Better Than Most SCUBA, lists four-hour dive trips from $130, snorkeling at $85 and private charters from $2,000.
On land, Calm Waters Spa keeps 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours daily. Its menu lists the 50-minute Tropical Breeze massage at $185 and the Deep Ocean at $200 for 50 minutes or $320 for 80. A 26% service charge is added automatically. Appointments go through the spa at (305) 289-4810.
The season calendar, from the start line to the fireworks
Hawks Cay's holiday schedule is mostly built for guests. Two events say plainly that neighbors are welcome, and both are worth putting on the calendar now.
- Duck Key Turkey Trot, Thursday, Nov. 26. Hawks Cay calls the 5K open to resort guests and the local community. On RunSignup, entry is $40 through 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 19, then $45, and the field is capped at 350. Registration comes with a shirt, medal, bib and timing chip. Packet pickup is Nov. 25, race-day registration opens at 6 a.m., and the start is at 7. The Thanksgiving buffet that follows is prepaid: $145 for ages 21 and up, $100 for ages 12 to 20, $55 for ages 7 to 11, and free for children six and under, before a 20% service fee and 7.5% tax.
- Holiday Boat Parade & Party on the Promenade, Friday, Dec. 11, 5 to 9 p.m. This one is labeled "open to the public." Hawks Cay runs it with the Duck Key Fishing Club. Lighted boats parade through Duck Key's waterways starting at dusk, followed by live music on the marina promenade. The resort's advice is to come early for a spot. If Coral Cay opens on the reported Dec. 1, the parade falls in the park's second week.
- Dink the Halls Pickleball Tournament, Saturday, Dec. 19, 8:30 to 10 a.m. Open to all skill levels, with medals and prizes, and festive court attire is encouraged. Registration is online through the Christmas events page.
- Christmas Dinner Buffet, Friday, Dec. 25, 2 to 6 p.m. Reservations opened Nov. 6.
- New Year's Eve, Thursday, Dec. 31. The New Year's Eve page lists Salt + Ash from 5 p.m. to midnight and Angler & Ale from 5 p.m. until after midnight. The resort's seasonal calendar adds live entertainment and fireworks, and notes that some events may need reservations or packages.
For more about the island beyond the resort gates, see our Duck Key neighborhood page and the wider Marathon and Middle Keys guide.
If you own on Duck Key or are thinking about a Hawks Cay villa, the way a home's rental arrangement ties to resort amenities like Coral Cay is the kind of detail our Marathon office helps owners sort out. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Keys Real Estate has worked the Middle Keys for decades, and our property management and House Watch teams look after homes when owners are away. Contact Us to talk it through.
