If you are looking for the #1 place to have fun at Grand Lake, then look no further than Monkey Island.
Centrally located between the commercial hub of Grove and the wide-open, deep boating waters of South Grand Lake, Monkey Island has a perfect mix of resort amenities, lake access, and bars and restaurants to help you make the most of your Grand Lake Living!
The luxury Shangri-La Golf Club, Resort, Marina, and Conference Center is absolutely the centerpiece of Monkey Island, and for good reason.
With 27 holes of championship golf, plus other amenities such as a resort hotel & conference center, private fine dining, a resort pool with aquatic slide, pool and lakefront dining, a full-service marina including boat rentals, spa, and fitness center, plus a fantastic and all-new Activity Park featuring tennis, pickleball, a whiffle ballpark, and more – Shangri-La has what you need to make the most of your time at Grand Lake.
But that just gets you started, as Monkey Island has so much more.
Monkey Island has an active and engaged group of residents who work non-stop to improve the quality of life for both full-time residents and visitors.
One of the most popular features is the recently completed Monkey Island Trail (built with ALL donated funds), a 5-mile paved walking and riding trail that follows along Highway 125 and connects Tera Miranda Resort to Shangri-La, and all of the bars, restaurants, and amenities in between.
It’s a community and amenities like this that make Monkey Island truly special.
But, if you’ve landed on this page, you are likely looking for a little more information on Monkey Island. Below you will find some featured places to stay and eat.
Of course, the Shangri-La Resort and Conference Center is the headliner here.
This beautiful full-service resort and conference center is the only one of its kind on Grand Lake.
Besides the hotel, there are several great vacation rentals on Monkey Island. Here is a rundown of several featured properties and places to stay for your Monkey Island getaway.
Are you looking for the perfect Grand Lake family getaway? If so, you’ve got to check out this Monkey Island vacation rental.
This waterfront property with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths sleeps 6 comfortably, but that’s not the whole story.
Since you are at the lake, you want access to the lake, right? We’ll you’ve got that here with a big open deck, plus a boat slip in a dock, and that dock even has an upper deck for the ultimate in Grand Lake relaxation.
And besides ALL of that, the location puts you minutes away from all of the amenities at Shangri-La Resort and other great Monkey Island restaurants and attractions.
Click the links above to check us out on our website, on Facebook, or go ahead and head to our VRBO page to check availability now!
Relax and unwind in this beautiful lofted 1-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo (1 King and 1 Queen). A fully equipped kitchen has everything you may need including a full-size refrigerator with freezer, toaster oven, microwave, glass top stove and oven, silverware, glasses, as well s a French press and drip coffee.
The large living room with a comfy reclining sectional gives you room to play games or cozy up for movie night, and a private patio to grill and enjoy the beautiful outdoors and a partial view of the lake.
Located conveniently in Shangri-La, explore the gated community’s 7-mile golf cart trail, hit the links at the Shangri-La Golf Course, let the kids run free in the arcade at The Anchor, or take a boat out on Grand Lake! Soak up some sun at the community pool (seasonal) and enjoy this home away from home!
Check out this beautiful property on AirBnB HERE for more pictures, pricing, and availability. But you can also feel free to email the owner directly (address above) to inquire about a direct booking.
Monkey Island RV Resort is the newest luxury RV park on Monkey Island, Oklahoma – smack dab in the middle of Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees and all of the action on Monkey Island.
Enjoy 100% concrete roads and pads with all pads wired with 30 and 50 amp electrical service, water and sewer hookups.
Our clubhouse features a laundry room with 3 washers and dryers as well as a folding table and we have clean, private indoor showers.
The cozy cabins rooms all include a queen bed, sleeper sofa, big screen TV with cable, kitchen area and a private bath with shower.
Visit our website or give us a call today to make your reservations for your Grand Lake getaway now!
The Shangri-La Resort Hotel & Conference Center is now open and has immediately become the place to stay on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake.
This lakeside getaway and conference center on Oklahoma’s premier golf course has something for everyone, whether you are looking for a golf getaway, a great lakeside resort or even the perfect place for your wedding or corporate outing.
The Shangri-La Resort Hotel and Conference Center includes:
120 guest rooms
Large resort pool and children’s splash pad area
Luxury spa • 120 seat casual-style restaurant
Bar with roof-top patio overlooking the lake
8000 SF of conference space with ballroom
Call (918) 257- 4204 now to make your reservations or learn more about hosting your event or special occasion.
Are you looking for that perfectly appointed vacation rental at Grand Lake for your next getaway?
Well, you have found your way to the right place, as Grand Life Vacation Rentals has over a dozen homes to choose from, ranging in size from 1,200 square feet to 4,600 square feet that sleep from 6 to 18 people.
These homes are all fully equipped and just waiting for you to enjoy some Grand Lake time!
Click the website HERE to check out what is available.
If you are going to be spending some time on Monkey Island, chances are you are going to stay busy.
Whether you will stay booked up with a tee-time at Shangri-La, or want to rent a boat, maybe do a little shopping, stock up on groceries, go hang out at The Anchor – there are plenty of options.
The Market at 216 is committed to providing you superior food, from farm to table, for your Grand Lake Living.
Our beef is certainly a cut above the rest, but beyond that, we are thrilled to partner with local farms, producers, small community processors, and other specialty food vendors to bring you the best selection of food in our community store centrally located on Monkey Island.
We are knowledgeable about different cuts and, like days of old, can serve as your local grocer with your specific needs in mind.
From holiday occasions to a cookout on a Saturday night, we are here to serve… from our farm store to your home table.
We are located on Monkey Island Highway 125, just south of the Highway 85A Junction and directly across from The Reserves. Store hours are Thursdays from 2 pm to 5 pm, Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
We are thrilled to announce that Live Bliss has found a new home at the Schoolhouse on Monkey Island—a location that perfectly aligns with our mission of holistic transformation. This move marks an exciting chapter for us, offering enhanced amenities that will elevate your experience and deepen your journey toward wellness.
The Schoolhouse comes equipped with a full kitchen, allowing us to prepare nourishing meals for our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) and Mind Body Techniques programs. The spacious bathrooms with showers ensure comfort during extended sessions, while the oversized patio provides the perfect setting for outdoor yoga and community events, inviting connection with nature and each other.
Inside, a large open space awaits, designed to host our yoga classes, personal development sessions, and workshops. This environment, surrounded by the serene beauty of Monkey Island, is ideal for fostering growth, learning, and transformation.
Founded by veteran instructor and retired Air Force serviceman Kerry Steuart, the studio provides a welcoming space for community members to reduce stress, gain strength and flexibility, and cultivate mindfulness. Kerry draws from his personal journey using yoga, breathwork, and meditation to overcome chronic pain and PTSD. His commitment to sharing yoga’s healing benefits now inspires students on their own paths toward inner peace and living with purpose.
The studio is also home to MYKC, a non-profit organization that offers Life coaching including self-care, mindfulness, meditation, healthy boundaries, turning conflict into intimacy, sleep, exercise, and financial intelligence courses to help Veterans, Essential Personnel, and Department of Corrections Personnel.
For anyone seeking to unwind from daily pressures or address specific health goals, LiveBliss Yoga Studio offers transformative practices in a studio designed to uplift body, mind, and spirit.
Make sure to visit the website at https://www.livebliss.org/ for an up-to-date schedule of classes and workshops.
Discover the ultimate golf cart experience with The Golf Cart Guyz – your one-stop shop for sales, rentals, service, and golf cart customization in Northeast Oklahoma.
Single-day and multi-day rental options are available with carts of varying size.
And, you will find a wide selection of new and high-quality used golf carts for sale, from standard models to custom-built designs. The carts are built to last and are perfect for golfers, lake home owners, or anyone in need of some reliable (and stylish) transportation around the neighborhood.
Plus, our expert technicians provide top-notch service and repair options to keep your cart running smoothly – and we can handle ALL of your customization ideas!
The Golf Cart Guyz is your one-stop shop for all of your Grand Lake golf cart needs! Visit their website to find out how they can help with your golf cart rental and sales needs.
Shangri-La’s Summit Restaurant offers Grand Lake’s finest dining experience. With unbelievable views from the highest point on Monkey Island, it is the perfect setting for a truly memorable meal.
Exquisite brunch buffets, beautifully paired wine dinners and weekly specials have all made the Summit the area’s first choice for intimate dinners, entertainment, special events, weddings, receptions and catering.
Reservations are available to the general public 24 hours in advance.
With a great bar menu, a wide variety of beverages, an extensive wine selection and five flat screen televisions, the Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La has become the gathering spot for golfers, sports fans and friends who simply want to relax in an atmosphere of casual elegance. Table seating or bar seating is available.
So much to do at The Anchor Activity Park at Shangri-La Resort!
From tennis and pickleball to the mini-Fenway Park replica whiffle ballpark, to the VR gaming, simulators, and so much more – there truly is something fun and active for everyone.
And you can make a full day of it by enjoying the sports bar and Galley Restaurant as well.
Besides these great options, there are a handful of other popular places to eat.
Bailey’s Bistro and Chickanellas are both great breakfast and lunch options on the island while The Road Hog, located at Littlefield’s Corner at the entrance to Monkey Island has great BBQ. And The Shebang has been serving great food and fun to Monkey Islanders for years.
Monkey Island is also popular for its nightlife, with places like the Blind Swine, Big Shots, and Monkey Island Pub offering live music and dancing most weekend nights.
Where did the name Monkey Island come from?
Not an island at all, actually a 6-mile-long peninsula into Grand Lake, there have been a lot of stories about how Monkey Island got its name but one thing remains true… there have been no real monkeys on the island. Well, maybe some pets and some folks acting like monkeys, but that’s about it.
Anyway, the story goes that some folks from the Bernice area had gone to the Tulsa Zoo about the time the Pensacola Dam was being built and the lake was getting ready to be formed, and they had themselves a fine Sunday that included watching and feeding the monkeys, who were all kept on a small island with a moat around it.
Soon after, a reporter from the Tulsa World came through the Bernice area to do a story on the changes that the lake would bring, and these folks pointed towards what would become known as Monkey Island and said something to the effect of “over there will be Monkey Island, that’s where the monkeys will be kept”.
That story was printed in the Tulsa World a few days later, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Monkey Island is a hub of activity, from golf, fishing, and boating on Grand Lake, to great dining and a happening live music scene.
Whether you are looking to buy a boat, do some fishing, enjoy some great food and fun, or you just want a quiet getaway – for a weekend or a lifetime – you can do that at Monkey Island.
