For couples
Pair a resort stay or a shoreline setting with confirmed visitor access and dinner. Check the resort's dining calendar and reserve directly where offered.
The island and the lake
Discover Monkey Island
Monkey Island is a peninsula on Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, reached by Highway 125 between Grove and Duck Creek. The island brings together resort lodging, dining, golf, marinas, local services, and ways to spend time on the water.
The area is anchored by Shangri-La Resort, alongside independent waterfront businesses and vacation stays. Check current business and resort schedules directly; seasonal hours and amenities can change.
The name says “island,” but Monkey Island is a peninsula connected to the surrounding road network. Use each destination's address for directions and confirm its access details before setting out.
Spend a Day or Weekend on Monkey Island
Build the visit around the people coming with you and the activities you want to prioritize. These are starting points, not fixed schedules; confirm reservations, hours, trail conditions, and boat access with each operator.
For families
Look into Shangri-La's current activity options, add a meal or local grocery stop, and confirm age policies and availability before planning the day.
For golfers
Start with Shangri-La's official golf information for course details and tee-time availability, then shape meals and lodging around your reservation.
For boating visitors
Contact the marina or rental operator about slips, launch arrangements, weather, and the equipment that fits your group. A waterfront restaurant does not guarantee a guest slip.
Restaurants & Bars
Choose from resort restaurants, marina-side dining, coffee, pizza, and seasonal waterfront spots. For Shangri-La dining beyond the partner listings below, check the resort's official dining information. Confirm hours, menus, age policies, and boat access with each business; a lakefront location alone does not guarantee a guest dock or slip.
Featured Partner placements are paid listings. They are identified separately from this page's editorial trip-planning information and are not rankings or independent endorsements.
The Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda — Closed for the season
Seasonal waterfront dining at Tera Miranda Resort. Check directly for reopening information and future hours.
Official website & updates →
Featured
The Shebang
A Monkey Island dining and entertainment option. Check the business's current Facebook updates for operating status, hours, and events before visiting.
Featured
Whitecap Dining Dock & Cocktails
A waterfront dining option at The Landings Marina. Check current seasonal hours, menu, family policies, and dock access with the business before visiting; previously published summer hours may no longer apply.
Featured
Anchor Crust Co. — Shangri-La Resort
Italian-inspired pizza, wings, beer, and wine inside The Anchor Sports Bar at Shangri-La Resort. The official page currently lists Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday 11am–9pm; Tuesday and Wednesday online orders 2pm–9pm; and Saturday 11am–10pm. Confirm current hours and boat-access arrangements directly before visiting.
Eddy's Lakeside Bar — Closed for the season
Shangri-La Marina's seasonal waterfront bar. Check the resort's updates for reopening information.
Resort updates →
Featured
Doc's Bar & Grill — Shangri-La Resort
Tucked inside Shangri-La Resort on Monkey Island, Doc's serves up American hand-held classics with views of Grand Lake and the resort's pool. A solid lunch and dinner spot — relaxed, casual, and perfectly situated for a mid-day break during a day on the lake. Tue–Thu 11am–9pm · Fri–Sat 11am–10pm · Closed Sunday & Monday.
Featured
Keagan's Coffee
A coffee roaster, coffee shop, and bakery at Littlefield's Corner near the entrance to Monkey Island. Check Keagan's official channels for current offerings, catering details, and hours.
More Places to Eat & Drink on the Island
Monkey Island has no shortage of places to grab a bite or a drink. Here are more spots worth knowing about:
- Chickanella's — A Monkey Island staple worth checking out.
- Road Hog Saloon — BBQ at Littlefield's Corner.
- South 125 Bar & Grill — A solid stop on the island.
- The Summit Restaurant & Buffalo Bar — Fine dining at Shangri-La with stunning views.
Resort life and open air
Golf, Resorts & Recreation
Shangri-La is a resort, dining, marina, and golf anchor on Monkey Island. Check its official golf page for course information and tee times, and its activity listings for current resort recreation.
The Shangri-La partner listing below keeps its lodging and resort information together. Other outdoor plans can include time on the lake, a visit to the local trail, or golf-cart rental—after confirming current details with the operator.
Monkey Island Trail: what visitors should know
The Monkey Island Trail group's public description invites walkers, runners, and bikers onto a paved route of just over five miles. A local rental operator describes the route between Tera Miranda and Shangri-La.
Published route-wide ADA or mobility specifications and a current condition report were not found. Do not assume the entire route is step-free or suitable for every mobility need; ask the trail group about access points and current conditions before planning around it.
Route references: Monkey Island Trail group and Monkey Around. The latter identifies Tera Miranda and Shangri-La as route endpoints.
Check the current calendar
Live Music & Nightlife
Entertainment schedules change by season. Rather than publish a weekly lineup that may go stale, check the Grand Lake events calendar and Shangri-La's official event calendar.
The restaurants and bars above—including The Anchor and the seasonal waterfront venues—are useful places to start. Confirm dates, hours, age policies, and reservations directly with each venue.
Boat Sales, Marinas & Boat Rentals
Monkey Island has listings for boat sales, marina services, and rentals. Confirm inventory, fuel and slip availability, equipment, launch arrangements, and current operating schedules directly with the providers.
Boat Sales
Featured
MarineMax Grand Lake
A boat dealer on Monkey Island. Contact MarineMax for current inventory, sales, service, and operating details.
View all Grand Lake boat dealers →
Marinas
Featured
Tera Miranda Resort & Marina
A resort and marina on Monkey Island, and home to The Quarterdeck, which is closed for the season. Check with the resort about current marina services, dock arrangements, and restaurant reopening information before visiting.
Boat Rentals
Featured
H2O Sports Rental – Monkey Island
Boat rentals at Crown Pointe Marina. Check the current fleet, booking details, and requirements directly before your outing.
Where to Stay
Compare resort lodging, vacation homes and cottages, and RV or cabin stays. Check availability, amenities, booking terms, and access details directly with each property.
Resorts & Hotels
Featured
Shangri-La Resort Hotel & Conference Center
Shangri-La is a resort base for lodging, golf, dining, marina services, and recreation on Monkey Island. Check the resort's official pages for current facilities, tee times, room availability, dining, and activities.
Vacation Rentals
Featured
Grand Life Vacation Rentals
Founded in 2020 by Mike Duke, Grand Life Vacation Rentals manages 20+ premium lakefront properties at Grand Lake O' the Cherokees — one of the largest vacation rental portfolios on the lake. Homes sleep 8 to 22 guests, making them ideal for family reunions, group getaways, and corporate retreats. Every property includes a full kitchen, private dock, and top-tier amenities.
- The Grand Blue House — Monkey Island, 14 guests, 5 bed / 4.5 bath
- Moonlight Monkey House — Monkey Island, 14 guests, 5 bed / 4.5 bath
- Sunrise Retreat — Langley, 22 guests, 6 bed / 7.5 bath
- Grand Waterfall — Langley, 18 guests, 5 bed / 5.5 bath
- Modern & Moody on Monkey Island — 14 guests, 5 bed / 5.5 bath
- House on Monkey Lane — Monkey Island, 16 guests, 7 bed / 3 bath
- Grand Waterfront — Langley, 14 guests, 5 bed / 4.5 bath
- Ain't Life Grand — Eucha, 12 guests, 4 bed / 3 bath
- + 12 more properties across Afton, Jay, Vinita & more
Featured
Secluded Country Cottages
Two charming vacation cabins — Sunset Hideaway and Fireside Retreat — each offering a cozy escape for up to four guests. One-bedroom cottages feature queen beds, queen sleeper sofas, full kitchens, WiFi, smart TVs, washer/dryer, and private fire pits for evenings under the stars. Perfect for couples or small families seeking a peaceful Grand Lake retreat.
RV Resorts & Camping
Featured
Monkey Island RV Resort & Cabins
RV sites and cabin rentals on Monkey Island. Check with the resort for current site features, amenities, and availability.
Shopping & Services
Find a grocery stop, golf-cart rental, and other practical services for a lake visit or a longer stay. Confirm current availability and requirements with each provider.
Featured
The Market at 216 Ranch
A specialty market in the Monkey Island area. Check the official site for current products, services, and hours.
Featured
The Golf Cart Guyz
Golf-cart sales, rentals, service, and customization in Northeast Oklahoma. Ask the operator about current rental options and rules for where carts may travel; the Monkey Island Trail is described for walking, running, and biking, not as a golf-cart route.
Monkey Island, by local telling
One local story links the name to the late-1930s construction of Pensacola Dam and a joke about monkeys at the Tulsa Zoo. In the story, someone told a Tulsa World reporter that the peninsula would be “Monkey Island, where the monkeys will be kept.” The account is local lore; we have not found independent documentation confirming the name's origin.
Planning Your Visit
Is Monkey Island an island?
No. Monkey Island is the local name for a peninsula on Grand Lake, connected to the road network and reached by Highway 125.
Are the restaurants and marinas open year-round?
Schedules vary by business and season. The Quarterdeck and Eddy's Lakeside Bar are closed for the season. Check with each operator for reopening information and current schedules before traveling.
Can I arrive at a restaurant by boat?
Do not assume a waterfront restaurant has transient dock space. Ask the restaurant or marina about guest slips, docking, and access before you depart.
Is the Monkey Island Trail accessible?
The trail group describes a paved path used for walking, running, and biking, but no published route-wide ADA or mobility specifications or current condition report were found. Contact the trail group to ask about your needs and specific access points.
Nearby Grand Lake Guides
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Discover the communities, businesses, and services around the southern shoreline.
Explore South Grand Lake →Grand Lake Pet Guide
Plan lake days, lodging, boarding, and daycare when traveling with your dog.
Dog-Friendly Grand Lake →More Dining & Events
Check current restaurant details and the community event calendar.
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