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 get’s 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.
[Scroll down for a full list of Monkey Island resorts, restaurants, and businesses]
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 it’s 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 knows 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.
Resorts, Bars, Restaurants & Businesses on Monkey Island
Monkey Island is a hub of activity on Grand Lake, from golf, fishing and boating on Grand Lake, to great dining and a happening live music scene.
To help you find what you are looking for, here is a complete list of resorts, restaurants, and businesses you will find at Grand Lake’s Monkey Island:
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!
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.
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.
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.
We are a Mexican-with-a-Twist Restaurant located at the entrance to Monkey Island on Grand Lake. We like to call it “Sweet and Spicy, Smokey and Hokey”.
We bring a flavorful array of Mexican dishes specializing in tacos and burritos and have street tacos available – three for $5 – every day.
We also have amazing breakfast tacos available every day from 7 am to Noon.
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.
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!
If you don’t see what you are looking for above, make sure to visit the Grand Lake Living Business Directory for a complete list of businesses and attractions in the Grand Lake area.
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.
A view from the deck at The Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda Shores on Monkey Island
