A Tribute To Mary Peck
River House is a little different than most venues in that it is owned by a private non-profit organization, the St. Johns County Council on Aging. On the weekdays, the building operates as an active senior center with all types of classes and programs for residents and visitors alike. On the weekend, it transforms into an event venue, hosting social and corporate events. Proceeds from the venue rentals directly support the non-profit’s mission and day-to-day upkeep of the building, making River House a dual-purpose facility with truly unique functions.
St. Augustine resident Mary Peck, a longtime supporter and active participant of COA programming, willed that her home be used for the benefit of community elders when she passed away. Her wish was to provide waterfront dining for seniors, so older adults could enjoy the Bayfront view that she had loved during her lifetime. With her donation, a vision was brought to life. Her home was sold and the profit was used as the seed money to build River House.
Cathy Brown, COA’s Executive Director at the time, is credited with the brilliant idea of constructing a building that could house senior programing during the week, and host special events on the weekends. It became the perfect balance — providing St. Johns County with a state-of-the-art, nationally accredited senior center, as well as a prestigious event venue on the Bayfront overlooking the Matanzas River, St. Augustine Lighthouse and Bridge of Lions.
A.D. Davis Construction broke ground in May 2009, and River House opened its doors in January 2010. The River House Ballroom is named in Ms. Peck’s honor, and a portrait of her created by local artist Jean Troemel is displayed there.
To learn more about COA’s mission and impact on St. Johns County, click here.
Reviews of River House
Christa M.
River House in St. Augustine, FL is an amazing venue! From the beginning, Constance and her staff were very professional, responsive and accommodating. You can't beat the view of the river and the lighthouse which made for excellent pictures! They also have plenty of free parking which is a huge plus when it comes to venues in St. Augustine. Highly recommend!
Elysha
If you are considering getting married in the Saint Augustine area, The River House gives you the most BANG for your buck. We looked into other venues in the area and you were limited to only their caterer/vendors as well as being limited to a small space. The entire grounds of The River House is yours for your whole duration of time. They give you recommendations of the vendors they have worked with and prefer. The view inside and out is stunningly beautiful. Lastly, the staff was a complete joy to work with.
Kathryn
My husband and I live 2.5 hours away, planning our wedding in St. Augustine we thought would be difficult since we lived so far. It wasn't at all! The River House staff was incredibly helpful in all aspects of our wedding. Through their recommendations and knowledge it was amazingly easy and stress free. I would recommend this venue for anyone looking for a beautiful, well kept facility. We couldnt have asked for a better wedding day!
